Monday, March 3

Preliminaries

Intermediate Ranking

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Games review

Game 7: 13:00, Monday, March 3
GROUP A
KAZAKHSTAN 6 BRAZIL 9
Referees: Aaron CHANEY (USA), Andrej GJORGJIEVSKI (MKD)
Quarters: 3-1, 0-4, 2-2, 1-2

Teams
KAZAKHSTAN: Dimitriy AXYONKIN, Mixail KOLOTVIN, Amirbek SAPAROV, Nurlan SARTAEV, Alan ORAZALINOV (1), Roman PILIPENKO, Yernur KOILEYEV, Rustam UKUMANOV (3), Mikhail RUDAY, Ravil MANAFOV (1), Adil TEMRXANOV (1), Alexex DENCHENKO. Head Coach: Askar ORAZALINOV.
BRAZIL: Luis SANTOS, Vicente HENRIQUES, Gabriel ROCHA (4), Lucas VITA, Marcelo FRANCO (1), Conrado BERTOWZZI, Bernardo ROCCA (2), Felipe SILVA, Erik SEEGERER, Bruno NOLASCO (2), Mario CAROTINI, Rafael FARIAS, Anderson SOUZA. Head Coach: Barbaro DIAS.

Match report
One would have expected Kazakhstan to run away with this match but the inexperienced team could not find a consistent game. Following a 3-0 start inside the first four minutes, the team was looking good but no further goal came for the Kazakhs until early in the third period. Meanwhile, Brazil scored five straight to take a stranglehold on the game with Nolasco grabbing the first and fifth from two metres. Temrxanov steadied the Kazakh ship with a goal on extra from the near post position to be just one goal behind. The Rocha brothers then sent Brazil ahead, Gabriel with a centre-forward backhand and Bernardo Rocha in extra from the easiest of positions. Then a funny thing happened. A Brazilian player was struck in the face and gained the exclusion. He immediately shot at goal but took the shot from four metres so it was turned over sending Kazakhstan on counter. A timeout was called by Brazil but the buzzer did not sound and Kazakhstan was ready to shoot. After several minutes a penalty was awarded to Kazakhstan for an illegal timeout, which Orazalinov sent into Santos' arms. The same mistake wasn't made a minute later when Ukumanov converted for 7-5 behind. The Kazakh woes returned in the final quarter when Gabriel Rocha was allowed to score two easy goals, one on extra and the second with backhand from two metres for a four-goal lead. Orazalinov shot and scored off the post from seven metres for 9-6 a hint at a draw. Brazil went to a correct timeout at 4:07 but Vita's subsequent shot was possibly not the right option. Time ran out for Kazakhstan and Brazil controlled the ball and the game until the last five seconds when Vita was excluded and Kazakhstan went to a timeout. Sartaev's shot fell off his hand and Brazil was a winner.  Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

In a doua zi a turneului preolimpic de polo pe apa de la Oradea, in primul meci, Brazilia a invins luni formatia Kazahstanului, in Grupa A, cu 9-6 ( 1-3, 4-0, 2-2, 2-1). Cu exceptia primei reprise cand a fost condusa cu 1-3, Brazilia a dominat meciul, avand in Gabriel Rocha principalul marcator cu 4 reusite. Doua golouri au marcat Bernardo Rocha si Bruno Nolasco. Un singur gol a reusit Marcelo Franco. Pentru invinsi au marcat Rustam Ukumanov, capitanul echipei, 3 goluri, Alan Orazalinov, Ravil Manafov si Adil Temrxanov, cate un gol. ROMPRES (A. Bunescu)

Game 8: 14:30, Monday, March 3
GROUP B
MACEDONIA 5 ITALY 14
Referees: Jan BOHAT (SVK), Nikolaos STAVROPOULOS (GRE).
Quarters: 1-3, 2-2, 2-7, 0-2

Teams
MACEDONIA: Dalibor PERCINIC, Risto MAGKOVIC, Ivan VUKSANOVIC (1), Goran KRSTONOSIC (1), Hebojsa MILIC (1), Saso POPOVSKI, Marko MICIC, Vladimir KRECKOVIC (1), Dusan KRSTIC, Marko BASIC (1), Dimitah DIMOVSKI, Danijel BEHIC, Milos UROSEVIC. Head Coach: Alexandar KRSTONOSIC.
ITALY: Stefano TEMPESTI, Francesco POSTIGLIONE (1), Leonardo BINCHI, Fabrizio BUONOCORE (1), Luigi DI COSTANZO, Maurizio FELUGO (3), Andrea MANGIANTE (1), Alberto ANGELINI (3), Fabio BENCIVENGA (3), Alessandro CALCATERRA (1), Leonardo SOLTANI (1), Federico MISTRANGELO, Fabio VIOLETTI. Head Coach: Paolo MALARA.

Match report
This was a game that could have exploded into a brawl of major proportions. As it was, two players were suspended of which one had blood streaming down his face. The major incident came in the second period when Mistrangelo allegedly struck centre forward Basic in the face. A dark patch appeared under Basic's left eye and blood started flowing down his face. He advanced on Mistrangelo after appealing to the referee and dragged the hat off his head. Players crushed in to diffuse a fight and confusion reigned for some minutes. Basic, leaving the pool to seek medical attention was excluded for misconduct, although it wasn't clear. The question was answered at halftime when the referee stated he was sent for misconduct. Earlier Vuksanovic was suspended just six minutes into the game for allegedly striking a player after a foul. It was obviously a closely watched match with Italy struggling to shake off the Macedonians in the first half. The experience of the Italians shone through in the third period with a raft of goals. One of the best was Calcaterra's centre-forward turn and shot from five metres. Felugo, fresh from two goals in the third period, lobbed deftly from a five-metre foul at the start of the fourth period. With less than two minutes remaining Krstic was allegedly struck on the back of the neck and left the game and with the game almost over, Binchi decided to tap someone on the face after gaining his third major, attracting a fourth and suspension foul. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Italia a invins luni echipa Macedoniei cu 14-5 ( 3-1, 2-2, 7-2, 2-0) intr-o partida pentru grupa B a turneului preolimpic de polo pe apa care are loc la Oradea. In al doilea meci al zilei, elevii antrenorului Paolo Malara au reusit sa se impuna castigand reprizele 1, 3 si 4, cel de-al doilea sfert al timpului de joc s-a terminat la egalitate 2-2. Cei mai eficace pentru italieni s-au dovedit Murizio Felugo , Alberto Angeli si Fabio Bencivenga, cu cate 3 goluri. Ei au fost urmati de Francesco Postiglione, Fabrizio Buonocore, Andrea Mangiante, Alessandro Calcaterra , capitanul echipei, si Leonardo Sottiani, fiecare cu cate un gol. Cele 5 goluri ale formatiei din Macedonia au fost reusite de Ivan Vuksanovic, Goran Krstonosic, Milic Nebojsa, Vladimir Krekovic si Marco Basic. ROMPRES (A. Bunescu)

Game 9: 16:00, Monday, March 3
GROUP B
CANADA 15 IRAN 5
Referees: Sergei NAUMOV (RUS), Decio PATELLI (BRA).
Quarters: 3-0, 7-1, 3-2, 2-2

Teams
CANADA: Robin RANDELL, Constantine KUDABA (1), Devon DIGGLE (1), Kevin MITCHELL (1), Justin BOYD, Thomas MARKS (2), Brandon JUNG (1), Kevin GRAHAM (3), Aaron FELTHAM (2), Sasa PALAMAREVIC, Jean SAYEGH (3), Nathaniel MILLER (1), Nicholas YOUNGBLUD. Head Coach: Dragan JOVANOVIC.
IRAN: Ali Reza SHAHIDIPOUR, Arameh AGHAZARIAN, Seyed MIR MEDI (2), Mahdi KARAMIZARANDI (1), Mohammad MEHDI TEIRAN, Ali PIROZKHAH, Kambiz AFSHARI (2), Khadempir SOHEIL, Mohsen JALILI, Shirijian ALIAKBAR, Sadjad ABDIHANJANI, Amir HOSSEIN KHANI, Meisam JAFARI (1). Head Coach: Nevan KOVACEVIC.

Match report
Canada used the match for preparation for the harder games ahead. Iran used the game unwisely at times, allowing too much space between the defender and the shooter. Canada was allowed to stroll in and shoot at will in the first half, especially in the second quarter. Canada, on the other hand, pressed out Iran and poor shots were produced. Iran lacked the confidence for the big shot while Canada drove close to goal often, taking shots that would normally be defended. It looked like a training session for Canada. Iran did show some strong defensive qualities for four minutes in the first quarter, not allowing Canada through. The fact that Canada has had a strong preparation in Europe, including matches against already qualified Hungary and Australia, showed. Mir Mehdi broke the drought for Iran from the top two minutes from halftime. Jafari scored from the penalty line past Youngblud and Mir Mehdi struck again off a fast shot from nine metres for 12-3 in the third. But Canada had the game sewn up at 13-3 and went on to win 15-5. Iran drew a penalty with a minute remaining and Afshari converted his second, the second Iran goal of the period after a blast from four metres by Karamizarandi. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Formatia Canadei a reusit luni o noua victorie in cadrul turneului preolimpic de polo pe apa, de la Oradea, invingand echipa Iranului cu scorul de 15-5 (3-0, 7-1, 3-2, 2-2). In a doua zi a competitiei de la Bazinul olimpic "Ioan Alexandrescu", canadienii s-au impus prin golurile reusite de Kevin Graham -3, Marks Thomas , Jean Sayegh si Aaron Feltham cate 2, Constantine Kudaba, Devon Diggle, Kevin Mitchell, Brandon Jung, Sasa Dalamarevic si Nathaniel Miller cate un gol. Pentru Iran au inscris Sayed Mir Mehdi - 3, Mahdi Karamizarandi si Kambiz Afshari, cate un gol. ROMPRES (A. Bunescu)

Game 10: 17:30, Monday, March 3
GROUP B
MEXICO 1 GERMANY 29
Referees: Mikhail STEPANOV (KAZ), Luka VULETIC (CRO).
Quarters: 0-5, 0-8, 0-9, 1-7

Teams
MEXICO: Orlando ORTEGA, Diego CASTANEDA, Rainer SCHMIDT, Jorge LOPEZ, Daniel VAZQUEZ, Maximiliano AGUILAR, Oliver ALVAREZ, Fausto VAZQUEZ (1), Armando GARCIA, Richard SCHMIDT, Gonzalo MEJIA, Jorge PEREZ, Andres ONETO. Head Coach: Raul DE LA PENA.
GERMANY: Alexander TCHIGIR, Florian NAROSKA (4), Timo PURSCHKE, Marko SAVIC (2), Steffen DIEROLF (2), Mark POLITZE (1), Heiko NOSSEK (4), Thomas SCHERTWITIS (3), Tobias KREUZMANN (4), Moritz OELER (5), Andreas SCHLOTTERBECK (3), Soren MACKEBEN (1), Michael ZELLMER. Head Coach: Hagen STAMM.

Match report
Germany, Germany, Germany. Enough said, almost. Germany was like a runaway train - just shovel in the coal and it just gets faster. Germany was fast. Way too fast for Mexico. By three-quarter time 12 of the 22 goals came from counter-attack with Ortega trying his best to stop anything. He couldn't stop the penalty goals and often came out to pressure the attacker but lobs proved his downfall, too. The Germans ran rampant and even when the goalkeepers were swapped at halftime, the defence held strong. Mexican coach De La Pena probably had some mixed emotions, having played for Germany at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He was quietly jubilant when he called a timeout at 2:55 of the last quarter and Fausto Vazquez converted from right-hand catch, sending the crowd into raptures. Ortega stopped Germany from hitting 30 goals when he blocked Dierolf's last-gasp attempt on counter. Only Purschke could not score of the German field players. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Game 11: 19:00, Monday, March 3
GROUP A
ROMANIA 11 RUSSIA 8
Referees: Erhan TULGA (TUR), Fillipo GOMEZ (ITA).
Quarters: 3-2, 5-3, 3-1, 0-2

Teams
ROMANIA: Bertina NENCIU, Cosmin RADU (2), Tiberiu NEGREAN (2), Florin BONCA, Andrei IOSEP (3), Andrei BUSILA (1), Gheorghe DUNCA, Ramiro GEORGESCU, Edward ANDREI-DINA (3), George GEORGESCU, Cosmin BAIDOC, Kalman KADAR, Robert DINU. Head Coach: Vlad HAGIU.
RUSSIA: Seman DAVITASHVILI, Sergey LISUNOV, Sergey EVSTIGNEEV, Evgeny FINAEV (1), Roman BALASHOV, Alexander ERYSHOV (1), Pavel KHALTURIN (1), Dmitry STRATAN, Andrey REKECHINSKIY (2), Marat ZAKIROV (1), Sergey GARBUZOV (1), Irek ZINNUROV (1), Dmitry DUDKIN. Head Coach: Boris POPOV.

Match report
In the most impressive game so far, Romania pleased a home crowd with a stunning 11-8 dissection of Russia. The intensity in this game was no less than Romania's match with Slovakia last night but the standard of the play had lifted considerably. Here were two class teams with a win apiece in mortal combat. Andrei-Dina hit mega status with three of Romania's first five goals. He not only inspired his team but the capacity crowd as well. The second was on extra but the other two were from well outside at lightning speed off the hand. Russia levelled twice but it was Busila who gave Romania the lead with a screamer from nine metres just eight seconds from time. Radu and Andrei-Dina had the game at an incredible 5-2. Then goals were traded for the rest of the period with Iosep, the star of last night, claiming two goals, including the outside shot at 0:14. It was Romania's moment in time and three goals to one in the third period said it all. The delight on Iosep's face and his two hands with an index finger extended had the crowd on its feet. Negrean scored twice down the left, one on counter and the other on extra leaving Iosep to take the glory in the last minute of the period. Rekechinskiy scored an easy goal on extra from two metres when unguarded right in front of Nenciu. It was Rekechinskiy who opened the fourth on the first attack, turning his man in the hole and backhanding the shot past Nenciu for 11-7. Romania missed a two on one when Radu tried unsuccessfully to lob Davitashvill. Russia went to a timeout at 5:09 and the ploy was to shift from three-three to four-two and score in the confusion. Zakirov was left open on the far post and he scored for 11-8. Russia's chances had dissolved and even a timeout at 0:22 couldn't see Rekechinskiy get his centre-forward shot past the impressive Nenciu. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Declaratii
Andru NENCIU (Oradea) andru.nenciu@prosport.ro

Hagiu
"Tadici ne sustine incontinuu" POLO La finele meciului cu Rusia (11-8) de la preolimpicul din Oradea, selectionerul reprezentativei de polo Vlad Hagiu a declarat ca Gheorghe Tadici i-a transmis mesaje de incurajare si de felicitare dupa cele doua succese din orasul bihorean. "Suntem pe un drum bun, toata echipa a fost senzationala. Nu doar marcatorii si portarul. Un jucator precum Baidoc a facut un travaliu exceptional. Baietii si-au dat sufletul in apa. Ne-am pregatit foarte mult pentru situatiile de om in plus si azi au functionat bine superioritatile numerice. Rusia a fost clar peste Slovacia, dar baietii s-au mobilizat. Imediat dupa meci Gheorghe Tadici mi-a dat un sms in care ne-a felicitat. El ne sustine incontinuu"

Edi Andrei
"Important e ca a mers excelent toata echipa, nu ca am marcat eu trei goluri. Bineinteles ca mi-am dorit mult sa si inscriu. Sunt extrem de fericit ca suntem aproape de calificarea la JO. Eu as fi dupa 12 ani pentru a doua oara la o asemenea competitie. E ceva unic in cariera unui jucator"

Cosmin Radu
"Un portar in polo inseamna cam jumatate din echipa, iar Bertini ne-a scos azi din multe momente dificile. N-a mai functionat voleibalata, cine stie, poate maine ne va iesi cum trebuie. Nu am obtinut inca biletul la JO"

Game 12: 20:30, Monday, March 3
GROUP A
SLOVAKIA 9 GREECE 11
Referees: Mario BRGULJAN (MNE), Ulrich SPIEGEL (GER).
Quarters: 2-5, 1-2, 3-2, 3-2

Teams
SLOVAKIA: Michal GOGOLA, Peter NEBAL, Juraj ZATOVIC (1), Josef HROSIK (2), Lukas SEMAN (3), Alexander NAGY, Martin PALASCAK, Karol BACO (3), Andrej JANICEK, Martin MRAVIK, Michal KRATOCHVIL, Thomas BRUDER, Michal HRUSKA. Head Coach: Ante NAKIC.
GREECE: Nikolaos DELIGIANNIS, Anastasios SCHIZAS, Dimitrios MAZIS (3), Konstantinos KOKKINAKIS, Ioannis THOMAKOS (3), Argyris THEODOROPOULOS, Christos AFROUDAKIS (1), Georgios NTOSKAS, Georgios AFROUDAKIS (3), Dimitriy MITELOUDIS, Matthaios VOULGARAKIS, Emmanouil MYLONAKIS (1), Georgios REPPAS. Head Coach: Alessandro CAMPAGNA.

Match report
Greece came from two goals down in the opening quarter to 5-2 ahead at the first break and onward to a narrow victory. This was an engrossing encounter with Slovakia still fresh from the one-goal loss to Romania the night before. Once Slovakia had gained the 2-0 lead by 5:53 it looked good but Greece was patient and, with Mazis scoring twice, Greece was 5-2 four minutes later. That was five goals in three and a half minutes. Hrosik scored his second but Mylonakis and captain Georgios Afroudakis gave Greece a handsome halftime lead. Thomakos extended it to 8-3 and Greece was thinking of tomorrow's match. Bad thoughts! Seman scored twice and after a timeout, Baco converted and Slovakia was back in the game. Thankfully for Greece, Mazis netted a third goal for 9-6 at the final break. Slovakia still wasn't done and Zatovic converted extra for 9-7 on the first attack of the fourth period. The Afroudakis brothers combined with Cristos zipping the ball into Georgios on extra for 10-7 at 6:45. Thomakos put the result beyond doubt on a drive at 2:51 but Slovakia still pressed the attack, gaining a goal through Baco at 1:20. Slovakia took a timeout at 0:24 and Baco claimed his third goal for 11-9. Greece took a timeout at 0:03 with Thomakos not getting the shot away. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press

Day 2 report

Fiery clash between Macedonia and Italy

Feelings ran high in an action-packed day at the men's Olympic Games Qualification Tournament at the Ioan Alexandrescu Pool here today. Day two pitted some good teams together but it was the Macedonia-Italy match, which attracted much attention earlier on day two. Italy finished on top 14-5 but it was a tough game in which two Macedonians were given marching orders before halftime and an Italian gained his fourth, and misconduct, foul in the dying moments of the incident-packed game. Marko Basic was allegedly struck in the eye and blood flowed freely down his face. He retaliated and was suspended. In the first quarter, team-mate Ivan Vuksanovic was sent for misconduct after slapping someone on the face on the way from the pool. Leonardo Binchi did the same thing late in the game. It was definitely a fascinating match, despite the scoreline, which gained the wide margin in the third quarter. It was the match of Group B while Canada cruised against Iran, winning 15-5, failing to send Iran to the cleaners in the final drawing, drawing the period 2-2. Germany was totally untroubled against Mexico, winning 29-1. Group A had the best two games of the day in terms of match-ups. Romania did the business with Russia, winning 11-8 and always had control of the match. Both teams played exceptionally but Romania carried the day with a capacity crowd behind the players. Greece came from two goals down at the start to defeat Slovakia 11-9 and take top position on goal differential. It could have been different as Greece had four-goal leads several times. At the bottom end of the ladder, Brazil upset Kazakhstan 9-6 after Kazakhstan led 3-0 in the first period. Russell McKinnon, FINA Press