Hungary’s men overcome Romania as expected

Four goals from Márton Szivós helped Hungary on their way to a routine 12-8 victory against Romania, their points total now standing at five ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Russia.

Yesterday’s 14-14 draw against Canada means Hungary need to win every remaining match by as big a margins as possible in order to qualify from Group A in first place, therefore receiving a theoretically easier quarter-final draw. Tibor Benedek’s team started appropriately then, Szivós scoring while his team held a one-man advantage before Balázs Hárai celebrated his 29th birthday with a superb goal.

Romania’s Ghiban struck back but Balázs Erdély and Norbert Hosnyánszky extended Hungary’s lead to 4-1 before Tehorai complete the first-period scoring. Dénes Varga made it 5-2 from a five-metre penalty before Negrean scored twice and Romania almost equalised, Viktor Nagy coming to the rescue for Hungary. That equaliser did eventually come though via the hand of Chiveanu, but Márton Vámos’ powerful strike gave Hungary a somewhat underwhelming 6-5 lead at the half-time break.

However, the third period was a different story, Gergő Zalánki giving Hungary a two-goal cushion which was then furthered by goals from Dénes Varga, his brother Dániel, Szivós again and Krisztián Manhercz. Romania’s Gheorge replied but the 10-6 scoreline with one quarter left meant the most of the hard work had been done, a 2-2 draw in the final period featuring two more goals from the man of the match Szivós to leave the final result at 12-8. Hungary will follow up this routine victory with their next match against Russia at 17:50 tomorrow, again live on the M4 sports channel.

Result – Men’s Olympic qualification tournament, Trieste
3rd round, Group A

Hungary 12–8 Romania (4–2, 2–3, 4–1, 2–2)
Officials: Gomez (Italy), Smit (Netherlands)

HUNGARY: Nagy V. – Zalánki 1, Erdélyi 1, Szivós 4, Varga Dániel, Varga Dénes 2, Hárai 1. Replacements: Vámos 1, Manhercz K. 1, Hosnyánszky 1, Decker Á., Bedő. Head coach: Benedek Tibor

ROMANIA: Stonescu – Radu, Negrean 3, Gheorge 1, Oanta, Busila, Teohari 2, Chiveanu 1, Goanta, Szabó R., Ghiban 1, Popovicu. Head coach: Dejan Stanojevic

Press release – waterpolo.hu

Photo: MTI

Source: waterpolo.hu