Paris 2024 men's water polo: Thrilling Olympic quarter-final matches settle final four on 7 August
“Drama” was the word of the day in the men’s water polo tournament at Olympic Games Paris 2024, as the quarter-finals served up a delightful platter of upset victories, last-minute goals and incredible matches on Wednesday, 7 August.
Paris La Defense Arena was the site of this aquatic opera, with thousands of spectators showering praise down on the athletes each time they scored a goal, blocked a shot or earned a turnover.
Croatia, a team that underperformed according to expectations in the group stage, set the tone for the day, upsetting an undefeated Spain 10-8 in the first quarter-final match.
Serbia must have seen that game, as they knocked out Greece, the only other undefeated team in the group stage, 12-11 in the second quarter-final match.
With the two likeliest candidates for gold gone after the first two matches of the day, it was anyone’s guess who would win the clash between Australia and Team USA at Paris 2024.
Game of the Day: Australia vs. USA
Australia and Team USA entered the quarter-finals after a group stage of mixed fortunes. Both teams scored big wins and unexpected defeats in their first five matches at Paris 2024, meaning both were eager to prove themselves in the quarter-finals.
Australia took the early lead with goals from Luke Pavillard and Milos Maksimovic. Johnny Hooper responded for Team USA to keep the game close.
Unfortunately, Hooper mistook Paris La Defense Arena for Stade Roland-Garros, engaging in a boxing match with Chaz Poot after the Australian held his head underwater. Poot was given a field exclusion, but Hooper was shown a red card, with Australia being awarded a penalty shot.
The momentum would swing in Australia’s favour, with the men in green and gold taking a 5-3 lead by the end of the second period.
However, Team USA wasn’t down and out just yet. They rebounded in the third period to tie the game at 5-5, with goals from Ryder Dodd and Hannes Daube.
Both teams would net two goals in the fourth period, sending the match to a penalty shootout. They would go tit-for-tat until USA goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg stopped a shot from Maksimovic, giving his team a one-shot advantage.
Stops from both teams meant the pressure was on Marko Vavic to make the winning shot for the United States.
He did just that, sending the USA on to the semi-finals with an 11-10 victory.
“It was nerve-racking,” said Vavic. “I played in college with [Nic] Porter [Australia’s goalkeeper]. We practised together for four years.”
“He was chirping me, but I just tried to keep my composure and luckily I stuck it.”
Players of the Day: 7 August
Vavic’s perfect shot under pressure made him an easy candidate for one of the top players of the day. His performance was complemented on the other side of the ball by Hungary’s Soma Vogel, who earned not one, not two, but three saves in a penalty shootout against Italy.
“We've had many medals, gold medals, won by penalty shootout, so it proves that training and trying again and again brings you to your goal,” said Vogel.
Serbia’s Dusan Mandic was prolific in the water, scoring on five of six attempts against Greece. His total was matched only by Hungary’s Krisztian Manhercz, who scored on five of 10 shots against Italy in the last match of the day.
Australia’s Pavillard also distinguished himself in the quarter-finals, netting four goals on as many shots against Team USA.
Water polo results for 7 August
Men’s Quarter-finals
Croatia 10 - 8 Spain
Greece 11 - 12 Serbia
USA 11 - 10 Australia
Italy 10 - 11 Hungary
What’s next in Paris 2024 water polo tournament? Schedule for 8 August
All times local CEST
- 13:00 Women’s 5th-8th classification match - Italy v. Canada
- 14:35 Women’s Semi-final - Netherlands v. Spain
- 18:00 Women’s 5th-8th classification match - Greece v. Hungary
- 19:35 Women’s Semi-final - Australia v. United States of America