FINA World Championships 2013: Spain stuns USA at Barcelona 2013 Water Polo tournament to reach quarter-finals

POLO AIR INDONESIA, Spain's men's national water polo team dominated the cross-group game against the USA at the Picornell Pool today, sending their American rivals home to secure a quarter-final berth. Coached by Rafa Aguilar, the Iberians won three of four quarters (4-2, 1-2, 2-1, 3-1) to claim a deserved 10-6 victory in front of the home crowd. Spain will face the winner between Italy and China in the Round of the last 8 on Tuesday

Under the eyes of the members of the Spanish Synchronised Swimming team that claimed seven medals at Barcelona 2013, the home team played more confident than in the group stage and showed a brilliant defensive performance from the start of the complicated encounter against the USA. The combination of a superb match of Spain’s goalkeeper Iñaki Aguilar, who prevented the opponent from fighting back in the second half on various occasions, and four goals of Albert Espanyol was sufficient to see off the American side.

“We dealt very well with the pressure today. We are ready to beat any team now and are going to give 100 percent against our next opponent,” said goalkeeper Aguilar after his impressive performance today.

Although the Americans scored to successive goals to get closer to Spain in the fourth period (6-7), the Iberians kept cool and netted three consecutive goals to close out the game. Guillermo Molina (3), Marc Minguell (1) and Espanyol scored the last three goals for the Spanish side.

“We have played the way we wanted. We just had to concentrate on our game and we have made it. If we play against Italy, it will be much more difficult because their system doesn´t fit us — they are very technical,” said Molina in the mixed zone.

It was the fourth win in a row for Spain over USA - 2010 FINA World Cup, 2011 FINA World Championships and the 2012 Olympic Games in London and today