WORLD YOUTH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS Perth 2012, Day 3 (Men): Brazil takes on and nearly upsets Serbia

Russell McKinnon, FINA Press Commission Member

POLO AIR INDONESIA, December 3, 2012 PERTH - Brazil nearly gate-crashed Serbia’s party when they clashed in a Group D men’s match at the FINA World Youth Water Polo Championships at Perth’s Challenge Stadium on Monday. Brazil rattled in three unanswered goals to start the game and kept Serbia honest for the rest of the match. Brazil trailed 4-3 at halftime and 7-6 at three-quarter time and was just 9-8 behind inside the final five minutes before Serbian Olympic bronze medallist Dusan Mandic scored his third consecutive goal and cruised to 12-8 before conceding a late goal for 12-9. It was a fantastic effort from the Brazilians who will be hosting the 2016 Olympic Games and augurs well for the future of the game in the country.

While Brazil’s shooters were piercing Serbia’s wall at will, the closeness of the match can be laid at the feet, or more importantly, hands of goalkeeper Bernardo Campos. His blistering speed and ability to stop shots in the corners was paramount to Brazil’s ability to stay in the match. He stopped a minimum of 12 telling shots and set up goals at the other end. Finally, Serbia’s strength and calmness under pressure showed through for its third victory.

Kazakhstan scored the other Group D win, its first of the tournament, downing Peru 15-6. In Group B, Croatia slammed New Zealand 17-4 with a hat-trick from Luka Bukic, son of 1984 and 1988 Olympic champion Perica Bukic, who played for the then Yugoslavia. Fittingly, Perica’s coach from that era, current Olympic champion coach Ratko Rudic, was in the stands watching the Croatian youngsters. In the second Group A match, Australia, thanks to seven goals from Gordon Marshall, defeated South Africa 15-4.

In Group C, Greece sent off Iran 16-5 and Romania had a tough time shaking off Uzbekistan 9-8. Romania earned a brutality foul when 4-3 ahead after Abbas Sayliev (UZB) allegedly kicked his opponent in the head midway through the second period. Romania converted the penalty but in the ensuing four minutes of a man down, Uzbekistan acquitted itself well with a 1-1 scoreline. Later in the match, with Uzbekistan coming back, Romania called an illegal timeout and Kirril Rustamov, who scored 15 goals against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, swam up to take the penalty and hopefully his fifth goal in the dying seconds but struck the left upright.

Canada beat Egypt 14-10 in the only Group A match. It was Egypt’s first game of the tournament and it played well but against a Canadian team desperate for a first victory.

Mon 3 December
17	GRE	vs	IRI	16-5
18	ROU	vs	UZB	9-8
19	PER	vs	KAZ	6-15
20	SRB	vs	BRA	12-9
21	EGY	vs	CAN	10-14
24	CRO	vs	NZL	17-4
23	AUS	vs	RSA	15-4