Sunday, March 2

Preliminaries

Intermediate Ranking

see Top Scorers  |  see Goalkeeper Statistics  |  see Overall Team Statistics  |  see Cumulative Statistics

Games review

Game 1: 13:00, Sunday, March 2
GROUP A
BRAZIL 6 GREECE 15
Referees: Fillipo GOMEZ (ITA), Nader GHAFOURI (IRI).
Quarters: 1-2, 0-5, 2-5, 3-3

Teams:
BRAZIL: Luis SANTOS, Vicente HENRIQUES (1), Gabriel ROCHA (1), Lucas VITA (1), Marcelo FRANCO, Conrado BERTOWZZI, Bernardo ROCCA, Felipe SILVA (2), Erik SEEGERER, Bruno NOLASCO (1), Mario CAROTINI, Rafael FARIAS, Anderson SOUZA. Head Coach: Barbaro DIAS.
GREECE: Nikolaos DELIGIANNIS, Anastasios SCHIZAS, Dimitrios MAZIS, Konstantinos KOKKINAKIS, Ioannis THOMAKOS (5), Argyris THEODOROPOULOS, Christos AFROUDAKIS (4), Georgios NTOSKAS (2), Georgios AFROUDAKIS (2), Dimitriy MITELOUDIS, Matthaios VOULGARAKIS, Emmanouil MYLONAKIS (2), Georgios REPPAS. Head Coach: Alessandro CAMPAGNA.

Match report:
Greece was always going to be the winner but the manner in which it was to win was the important factor. Greece was tentative at the start, despite two goals from either side of the top on action midway through the first period to complement the early strike by Georgios Afroudakis. Brazil was allowed to score from centre forward. Greece broke out in the second when counter-attacks from stolen balls brought rewards. Ntoskas scored on extra and Christos Afroudakis converted a penalty. Thomakos gained a second on counter. When Ntoskas was excluded for stupidly throwing the ball away after the foul. Brazil could not convert after a timeout and Ntoskas entered the pool down the right, collected the ball and scored for 7-1. Mylonakis converted the extra-man with four seconds left. Greece had the better of the third period at 5-2 but gave up two penalty fouls with Henriques scoring the first but having his second five seconds from time blocked by Deligiannis' left hand. Afroudakis' third goal came after he fired in a long shot but had it disallowed as the referee was calling a major foul at centre forward. However, Afroudakis cleaned up the extra-man play, proving his first shot was just. Older brother Georgios Afroudakis opened the fourth with a goal from two metres after earning an exclusion. Vita caught the Greek defence unprepared for 13-4. Afroudakis for his fourth and Thomakos for his fifth had the Greeks at 15-4 but Silva responded when Christos Afroudakis was arguing with the referee, using the overlap to lob Reppas who was now in goal. Silva grabbed his second on extra a minute later, giving the Brazilians a rewarding tie in the final quarter. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Grecia a invins duminica Brazilia, cu scorul de 15-6 (3-1, 5-0, 4-2, 3-3), in prima partida a turneului preolimpic de polo de la Oradea, care se desfasoara in Bazinul "Ioan Alexandrescu", pana la data de 9 martie. Pentru invingatori au marcat Ioannis Thomakos 5 goluri, Christos Afroudakis - 4 goluri, Georgios Ntoskas, Georgios Afroudakis si Emmanoil Mylonakis - cate 2. Golurile brazilienilor au fost inscrise de Felipe Silva 2, Vicente Henriques, Gabriel Rocha, Lucas Vita si Bruno Nolasco, cate un gol. Primele patru echipe clasate la aceasta competitie vor participa la turneul olimpic de polo de la Beijing. ROMPRES (A. Bunescu)

Game 2: 14:30, Sunday, March 2
GROUP A
RUSSIA 19 KAZAKHSTAN 4
Referees: Mario BRGULJAN (MNE), Doriel TERPENKA (CAN).
Quarters: 5-0, 6-2, 4-2, 4-0

Teams:
RUSSIA: Seman DAVITASHVILI, Sergey LISUNOV (2), Sergey EVSTIGNEEV, Evgeny FINAEV (2), Roman BALASHOV, Alexander ERYSHOV (1), Pavel KHALTURIN (2), Dmitry STRATAN (1), Andrey REKECHINSKIY (3), Marat ZAKIROV (3), Sergey GARBUZOV (4), Irek ZINNUROV (1), Dmitry DUDKIN. Head Coach: Boris POPOV.
KAZAKHSTAN: Dimitriy AXYONKIN, Mixail KOLOTVIN, Amirbek SAPAROV, Nurlan SARTAEV, Alan ORAZALINOV, Roman PILIPENKO, Yernur KOILEYEV, Rustam UKUMANOV (3), Mikhail RUDAY, Ravil MANAFOV (1), Adil TEMRXANOV, Alexex DENCHENKO. Head Coach: Askar ORAZALINOV.

Match report:
Russia was intent on exerting its authority from the very start against a Kazakhstan team that is rebuilding. Many of the team that unsuccessfully defended its Asian Games crown in Qatar 14 months ago were gone. Head coach Orazalinov said his aim was 2012 but the campaign starts here in Oradea and Russia was a tough assignment first up. Kazakhstan's best was Ukmanov with three, two of which came in just over two minutes at the end of the third period, both on extra. Garbuzov was in top form, grabbing four goals in the game with two in the first quarter. It could have been three in the first but Axyonkin thwarted him in the penalty attempt. It was a rounded effort by Russia with big shooters claiming many goals and counter-attack proving devastating. Head coach Popov would have to be pleased with his team's form, which included excellent centre-forward goals from Rekechinskiy and Lisunov and smart movements in front of goal, gaining space and collecting short passes to score. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Rusia a castigat duminica partida cu Kazahstanul cu scorul de 19-4 (5-0, 6-2, 4-2 ,4-0), in turneul preolimpic de polo pe apa de la Oradea, Grupa A. Rusii au dominat categoric prima si ultima repriza, cand au inscris de noua ori fara sa primeasca gol. Jucatorii antrenati de Boris Popov au castigat si celelalte doua reprize, dar atunci sportivii din Kazahstan au reusit cate doua goluri. De la invingatori s-a remarcat prin eficacitate Serghei Garbuzov, cu 4 reusite, urmat de Andrei Rekecinschi si Marat Zakirov, cu cate 3 goluri, Serghei Lisunov, Evgheni Finaev, Pavel Khalturin - cate 2 goluri, Alexander Erishov, Dmitri Stratan si Irek Zinnurov, cate un gol. Cel mai bun jucator de la nationala din Kazahstan a fost capitanul Rustam Ukumanov, cu 3 goluri, al patrulea gol fiind inscris de Ravil Manafov. In primul meci al zilei, Grecia a invins Brazilia cu 15-6. ROMPRES (A. Bunescu)

Game 3: 16:00, Sunday, March 2
GROUP B MEXICO 9 MACEDONIA 18
Referees: Nikolaos STAVROPOULOS (GRE), Mikhail STEPANOV (KAZ).
Quarters: 2-4, 1-2, 2-9, 4-3

Teams:
MEXICO: Orlando ORTEGA, Diego CASTANEDA, Rainer SCHMIDT, Jorge LOPEZ, Daniel VAZQUEZ (1), Maximiliano AGUILAR (1), Oliver ALVAREZ (3), Fausto VAZQUEZ (1), Armando GARCIA, Richard SCHMIDT, Gonzalo MEJIA (1), Jorge PEREZ (2), Andres ONETO. Head Coach: Raul DE LA PENA.
MACEDONIA: Dalibor PERCINIC, Risto MAGKOVIC (3), Ivan VUKSANOVIC (3), Goran KRSTONOSIC (3), Hebojsa MILIC (1), Saso POPOVSKI (2), Marko MICIC (1), Vladimir KRECKOVIC (1), Dusan KRSTIC (1), Marko BASIC (3), Dimitah DIMOVSKI, Danijel BEHIC, Milos UROSEVIC. Head Coach: Alexandar KRSTONOSIC.

Match report:
Macedonia had the better all-round game than Mexico. The Macedonians had the smarter game sense and were more controlled on attack. That, added to the inability of the Mexicans to stifle the centre forwards, led to the Americans' downfall. If it wasn't for Alvarez and his accurate shooting and a late burst, Mexico could have been in more dire straits. Macedonia, with its fair selection of former Serbians knew how to upset Mexico, especially with long shots, which Mexico allowed to be taken. Too often Macedonia gained a two-metre break to score and those breaks weren't gained quickly, just subtly. The score started mounting in the third quarter as the Macedonians hit stride. It started that way in the fourth until 17-5 but then Mexico strung together four goals to Aguilar, Vazquez, Mejia and Perez, forcing Macedonia to take a timeout and settle at 2:03. The great differential had been chipped away. Macedonia closed the scoring through Kreckovic on counter at 0:30. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Macedonia a invins duminica Mexicul cu 18-9 (4-2, 2-1, 9-2, 3-4 ) in a treia partida a turneului preolimpic de polo de la Oradea. Formatia din Macedonia, antrenata de Alexandr Krstonosic, a dominat autoritar intalnirea lor cu sportivii mexicani, care au reusit sa termine in avantaj doar ultima repriza, 4-3. La invingatori s-au remarcat Risto Marcovic, Ivan Vuksanovic, Goran Krstonosic si Marco Bsic, fiecare cu cate 3 reusite, Saso Popovschi 2 goluri, Milic Nebojsa, Marko Micic, Vladimir Kreckovic si Dlisah Krstic, fiecare cu un gol. Cel mai eficace jucator al mexicanilor au fost Oliver Alvarez, cu 3 reusite, urmat de Jorje Perez cu 2 goluri, Daniel Velazquez, Maximiliano Aguilar, Fausto Vazquez, si Gobzalo Mejia cu cate un gol. In primele doua meciuri, Grecia - Brazilia, 15-6 si Rusia - Kazahstan 19-4. ROMPRES (A. Bunescu)

Game 4: 17:45, Sunday, March 2
GROUP B IRAN 2 ITALY 20
Referees: Radu MATACHE (ROU), Jan BOHAT (SVK).
Quarters: 1-7, 0-2, 0-5, 1-6

Teams
IRAN: Ali Reza SHAHIDIPOUR, Arameh AGHAZARIAN, Seyed MIR MEDI, Mahdi KARAMIZARANDI, Mohammad MEHDI TEIRAN, Ali PIROZKHAH (1), Kambiz AFSHARI (1), Khadempir SOHEIL, Mohsen JALILI, Shirijian ALIAKBAR, Sadjad ABDIHANJANI, Amir HOSSEIN KHANI, Meisam JAFARI. Head Coach: Nevan KOVACEVIC.
ITALY: Stefano TEMPESTI, Francesco POSTIGLIONE (2), Leonardo BINCHI (1), Fabrizio BUONOCORE (1), Luigi DI COSTANZO (2), Maurizio FELUGO (2), Andrea MANGIANTE, Alberto ANGELINI (1), Fabio BENCIVENGA (2), Alessandro CALCATERRA (2), Leonardo SOLTANI (3), Federico MISTRANGELO (4), Fabio VIOLETTI. Head Coach: Paolo MALARA.

Match report
This was another mismatch where one team did not have to work too hard. Italy had the firepower and counter-attack when it wanted but like the game before, it was allowed to manoeuvre in centre forward and cross passes found their target all too often. Iran struggled to get the ball consistently to the centre forward as he was always fronted. Opportunities to send in decent shots were rare and the Italians revelled in the counter, no matter how slowly they took that option. One Iranian counter in the final quarter came to nothing as the attacked slowed, allowed the defender to come and then lost the ball after the cross pass. Italy would regard this match as little more than a training run. Coach Malara will be asking his team how many easy chances went begging. The Iranians were happy when Pirozkhah backhanded after 28 seconds of possession following a timeout at 1:56. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Game 5: 19:15, Sunday, February 17
GROUP A
ROMANIA 7 SLOVAKIA 6
Referees: Aaron CHANEY (USA), Luko VULETIC (CRO).
Quarters: 2-2, 2-2, 1-1, 2-1

Teams
ROMANIA: Bertina NENCIU, Cosmin RADU (2), Tiberiu NEGREAN, Florin BONCA, Andrei IOSEP (4), Andrei BUSILJA, Gheorghe DUNCA, Ramiro GEORGESCU (1), Edward ANDREI-DINA, George GEORGESCU, Cosmin BAIDOC, Kalman KADAR, Robert DINU. Head Coach: Vlad HAGIU.
SLOVAKIA: Michal GOGOLA, Peter NEBAL, Juraj ZATOVIC (2), Josef HROSIK (1), Lukas SEMAN, Alexander NAGY, Martin PALASCAK (1), Karol BACO, Andrej JANICEK, Martin MRAVIK, Michal KRATOCHVIL (2), Thomas BRUDER, Michal HRUSKA. Head Coach: Ante NAKIC.

Match report
This match lived up to all expectations with the neighbours only normally being separated by a goal. Slovakia took the lead in the first quarter and Romania took charge in the second. Both teams led twice. Slovakia gained one on extra and the other from seven metres while Iosep and Ramiro Georgescu levelled each time. Iosep and Radu took the leads for Romania in the second. Radu's was a lucky goal as he toiled at two metres and when turning he had the ball flicked out of his hand and into the goal. That made it 4-3 for about four minutes before Kratochvil struck after a Slovakian timeout. He seized on a rebound and backhanded from the centre-forward position 22 seconds from halftime. Kratochvil accepted a cross pass from Hrosik after indecision by the Romanians but not the referees to take a 5-4 lead inside the first minute of the second half. Two minutes later, the Romanian lion, Iosep, converted a penalty drew by centre forward Radu on Seman. The next five minutes was pure defence with no goals. Romania had a let-off at 6:38 of the fourth when Seman scored for Slovakia after what appeared to be an exclusion foul. The Romanian started to leave the water and Seman received the ball and scored. However, the referees stopped the game to settle the confusion and the reset clock leaving Slovakia with no real chance to score with only five seconds on the shot clock. A Romanian timeout straight after failed to get a result. Seman had his revenge when he secured a penalty foul on Kadar. Baco stepped up but his shot sheered off the shoulder of Nenciu. Slovakia gained an exclusion and Nenciu again deflected the shot. Slovakia had a third attempt and regained the ball after a block but lost the ball at two metres. Radu drew an exclusion on Hrosik and Romania called a timeout at 3:57. The ball stuttered around the arc before finding Iosep for a second time, scoring from deep right for 6-5 at 3:36. Slovakia called a timeout at 3:20 on extra but the resulting shot was deflected by a defender. Romania did not connect with a pass to the counter and Slovakia shot back and a quick shot by Zatovic on five metres levelled the game at 2:25. Radu drew an exclusion and the ball swiftly went from Iosep across the cage to Radu who scored at 1:52, much to the delight of the packed house. Both sides missed an attack and inside the last half-minute Baco's shot went wide. Romania kept possession for the popular victory. Romania scored three from five on extra and Slovakia three from six. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Romania a reusit duminica o victorie extrem de pretioasa in tentativa de a se califica la turneul olimpic de polo de la Beijing, invingand Slovacia cu 7-6 ( 2-2, 2-2, 1-1, 2-1) in competitia preolimpica gazduita de Oradea. In mare forma, Iosep Andrei a reusit patru goluri. El a fost urmat de Radu Cosmin cu doua reusite si Radu Georgescu 1 gol. De la Sovacia s-au remarcat Juraj Zatovic si Michal Kratochvil cu cate doua goluri, Josef Hrosik si Martin Palascak, 1 gol. Publicul a sustinut frenetic echipa noastra, a fost practic un jucator in plus care i-a purtat pe tricolori spre victorie. Inainte de inceperea meciului, Octavian Bellu, presedintele ANS, a urat susces tuturor competitorilor, a spus ca cel mai bun sa invinga, iar Romania sa se califice la JO din China. Bellu a subliniat performanta Primariei de a realiza o bijuterie de bazin, si a sugerat sa se construiasca si o sala de 7000 de locuri si atunci se vor rezolva problemele de programare dintre handbal si box. Alte meciuri din prima zi Grecia- Brazilia 15-6, Rusia -Kazahstan 19-4, Italia - Iran 20-2. Luni, echipa Romaniei va intalni intr-un meci dificil formatia Rusiei.

Vlad Hagiu, antrenorul echipei de polo a Romaniei, a declarat duminca seara ca echipa sa a obtinut o victorie foarte importanta impotriva Slovaciei.

"Este o victorie foarte importanta. In ultimii patru ani am obtinut mereu victorii dificile in fata jucatorilor slovaci, la diferente mici de scor. Adversarii se agata de orice minge" a spus tehnicianul nostru. Hagiu a mentionat ca a avut 5 jucatori cu febra din primii 7, dar cu eforturi supraomenesti din partea echipei medicale, ei au putut jucat duminica. "S-a vazut tracul, primul meci este intotdeauna cel mai greu. Noaptea aceasta ne va linisti. Nu a fost cel mai bun meci al nostru, de o saptamana analizam jocul Slovaciei si s-au facut si greseli. Apararea a functionat, nu am primit decaat 6 goluri", a spus Hagiu. Antrenorul nostru a mai mentionat ca apara interesele tuturor jucatorilor de la primul la cel cu numarul 13 trecut pe foaia de arbitraj. "Urmeaza Rusia, un adversar de calibru, sper ca luni sa vedem o alta fata a echipei", a spus Hagiu La finalul conferintei de presa de la Oradea, Vlad Hagiu a tinut sa felicite in mod special publicul care s-a comportat exemplar, declarand ca asteapta si luni o sistinere la fel de puternica, in partida cu Rusia, din partea unei Sali arhipline. Rompres(A. Bunescu)

CALUTUL PUR SANGE
Andrei Iosep a fost principalul artizan al victoriei chinuite cu Slovacia din debutul preolimpicului de la Oradea.
Andru NENCIU (Oradea) andru.nenciu@prosport.ro

INTRO: Romania are in maini painea si cutitul pentru a se califica la masa bogatilor din China, dupa ce aseara, in debutul de la Oradea, a scufundat dupa un meci mai greu decat se credea Slovacia, scor 7-6 (2-2, 2-2, 1-1, 2-1)

"Prima infruntare e cea mai dificila", prefata confruntarea Vlad Hagiu, in timp ce presedintele George Gaita a sintetizat la final perfect cursul tensionat al jocului: "Era sa mor aici!". Atat tricolorii cat si fanii care au creat o atmosfera incendiara au murit si au inviat de mai multe ori pe parcursul confruntarii. Lipsa aruncarilor de la distanta, mizarea perdanta pe angajarea centrilor, dar si replica buna a oaspetilor a facut ca dupa cel de-al doilea sfert (4-4) tabela sa afiseze un scor surprinzator si enigmatic. Hagiu si-a certat toata banca tehnica, a rulat intregul lot, dar inaintea ultimului act scorul era (5-5), gratie sclipirilor lui Iosep. Tot "Calutul" a avut un rol hotarator in repriza finala, iar dupa ce Bertini Nenciu a parat un penalty poate decisiv, Iosep ne-a distantat la o lungime (6-5). Slovacii au egalat imediat dar cu 90 de secunde inainte de final dupa o combinatie a celor doi stangaci Iosep si Radu, ultimul a inscris printr-o voleibalata, iar atacul ulterior al adversarilor n-a mai schimbat nimic. Tot Iosep, autor a patru goluri, a celebrat printr-un final de zece secunde decupat din NBA, invartindu-si mingea pe deget. Ceilalti marcatori pentru Romania au fost Radu (2) si Ramiro Georgescu, iar in cazul in care inving maine-seara Rusia (ora 19:00 . in direct TVR 2) si castiga urmaoarele doua partide la Oradea, Edi Andrei si Co isi adjudeca grupa A si implicit viza de JO.

DECLARATIE VLAD HAGIU: "Unii jucatori au mers slab azi, dar cine stie poate vor evolua mai bine maine. A fost un meci mai putin reusit, dar imi felicit baietii. Slovacia e piaza rea pentru noi. Mereu castigam cu foarte mare greutate in fata lor. Ma bucur ca am trecut cu bine de primul meci"

Game 6: 20:45, Sunday, March 2
GROUP B
GERMANY 11 CANADA 6
Referees: Erhan TULGA (TUR), Decio PATELLI (BRA).
Quarters: 2-0, 3-4, 3-1, 3-1

Teams
GERMANY: Alexander TCHIGIR, Florian NAROSKA, Timo PATSCHKE, Marko SAVIC (1), Steffen DIEROLF, Mark POLITZE (5), Heiko NOSSEK (2), Thomas SCHERTWITIS, Tobias KREUZMANN (2), Moritz OELER (1), Andreas SCHLOTTERBECK, Soren MACKEBEN, Michael ZELLMER. Head Coach: Hagen STAMM.
CANADA: Robin RANDELL, Constantine KUDABA (1), Devon DIGGLE, Kevin MITCHELL, Justin BOYD (2), Thomas MARKS, Brandon JUNG, Kevin GRAHAM, Aaron FELTHAM (2), Sasa PALAMAREVIC, Jean SAYEGH, Nathaniel MILLER, Nicholas YOUNGBLUD. Head Coach: Dragan JOVANOVIC.

Match report
Both teams fancied themselves in this game and it looked like Germany would move to victory the quickest, especially after the first quarter. However, Canada had the better of the second period, playing decisively to keep its hopes alive. However, Politze scored three on extra in the third period for an 8-4 lead. The second goal came after a timeout. Kudaba snapped one in from seven metres at 2:01 to reduce the deficit but that was the score at the final break. Little separated the teams at the top of the fourth but Oeler converted Germany's extra chance while Canada saw its shot come off the right post. Kreuzmann and Sayegh traded goals and Politze had the last say with his fifth goal on extra from the top. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Day 1 Report

Main teams untroubled on opening day

Oradea, Romania (March 2)
There's nothing like a home crowd to spur a team on. Romania needed it tonight when playing neighbour Slovakia at the men's Olympic Games Qualification Tournament at the Ioan Alexandrescu Pool here. A packed house of 1300 watched as Romania and Slovakia locked the first three periods and again in the fourth before the home team claimed the winner 1:52 from time. It's typical for these two countries to finish only a goal different but the result meant more tonight as Romania gets a leg up en route to hopefully qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games. The top four teams from here, like the women in Imperia, Italy a week earlier will gain the final four berths for Beijing. In a tough group, Romania edged closer to the glittering prize. But the win placed it in third place after day one as earlier in Group A games, Russia defeated a youthful Kazakhstan 19-4 after being 11-2 ahead at halftime. Then Greece eased through the first day with a 15-6 margin over Brazil. In Group B, Macedonia and Mexico promised much at halftime when the former led 6-3 but it became a romp in the third period, won 9-2 by Macedonia. A late revival by Mexico yielded four goals but Macedonia had the game 18-9. Italy was untested against Iran, winning 20-2 and Germany surely but slowly built a 11-6 win over a defiant Canada. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press