World League

The Serbian-Croatian battle (Group B) took the spotlight on day 2 of the 2010 FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final, being played in Nis (SRB) from July 13-18, with the Serbians conquering their second victory at home since the beginning of the competition, with a tight 9-8. In Group A, Montenegro triumphed over Spain by 11-7, while the American squad defeated China (11-5).

Also in Group B, Australia secured a victory against South Africa with a comfortable 19-4 score. Australia’s Billy Miller alone scored four goals, this second round’s best performance.

The Croatian squad was brilliant during the first period of the game, dominating Serbia by 3-0. In the second period, however, the local team had tied 4-4. Excitement reached its peak when Serbia surpassed Croatia in the third period 7-6 and tightly kept the lead until the end of the game.

Quarters:1:3, 4:2, 2:1, 2:2
SERBIA: Slobodan SORO, Marko AVRAMOVIC 1, Zivko GOCIC, Vanja UDOVICIC 2, Boris VAPENSKI 1, Dusko PIJETLOVIC 2, Slobodan NIKIC 1, Milan ALEKSIC, Nikola RADJEN, Filip FILIPOVIC, Andrija PRLAINOVIC 2, Stefan MITROVIC, Gojko PJETLOVIC.
Coach: Dejan UDOVICIC

CROATIA: Marko NIZIC, Damir BURIC, Miho BOSKOVIC, Niksa DOBUD 2, Maro JOKOVIC 1, Frano KARAC, Pavo MARKOVIC, Andro BUSLJE 2, Sandro SUKNO, Petar MUSLIM 3, Fran PASKVALIN, Paulo OBRADOVIC, Josip PAVIC.
Coach: Ratko RUDIC

The Montenegro squad was strong during the entire game and despite a little relaxed phase in the second period, in which Spain managed to climb back at 2-3, it proved insufficient to stop fast Montenegro players, Mladjan Janovic and Milan Ticic, from firing two goals each, offering their team its second victory so far.

Quarters: 4:2, 4:3, 1:1, 2:1
MONTENEGRO: Zdravko  RADIC, Drasko BRGULJUAN, Vjekoslav PASKOVIC, Damjan DANILOVIC, Nikola VUKCEVIC, Milan TICIC 2, Mladjan JANOVIC 2, Nikola  JANOVIC 3, Aleksandar IVOVIC 1, Boris ZLOKOVIC 1, Vladimir GOJKOVIC 2, Predrag JOKIC, Milos SCEPANOVIC.
Coach: Petar POROBIC

SPAIN: Inaki AGULIAR, Mario GARCIA, David MARTIN 1, Gonazalo LOPEZ, Guillermo MOLINA 2, Marc MINGUELL, Ivan GALLEGO, Albert  ESPANOL, Xavi VALLES 2, Filipe PERRONE 1, Blai MALLARACH, Xavi GARCIA 1, Dani LOPEZ.
Coach: Rafel AGUILAR

Despite China’s growing pressure during the game, the American team easily dominated the operations for the four periods, eventually widening the gap to conquer victory by an 11-5 score.

Quarters: 3:2, 3:0, 2:1, 3:2
USA: Merrill MOSES, Peter VARELLAS 1, Michael SHARF, Jeff POWERS 1, Adam WRIGHT 1, Brian ALEXANDER 1, Shea BUKNER 2, Tony AZAVEDO 1, Ryan BAILEY 1, Tim HUTTEN 2, Jesse SMITH 1, James KRUMPHOLZ, Andy STEVENS.
Coach: Terry SCHROEDER

CHINA:  Weiqing GE, Feihu TAN 1, Zhongxing LIANG 1, Lijun YU, Junliang GUO, Ning PAN 1, Yang WANG, Junmin XIE, Bin LI 1, Beming  WANG 1, Zhidang HAN, Nianxiung LIAND, Honghui WU.
Coach: Tianxiong CAI

Australia’s strength was visible in its game against South Africa, with a first and last period made fully their own. Contrary to its first game against Serbia, South Africa managed this time to score four goals.

Quarters: 7:2, 2:0, 3:1, 7:1
AUSTRALIA: James STANTON, Rob MAITLAND, Billy MILLER 4, Joel SWIFT 2, Aaron YOUNGER 2, Johnny COTTERILL, Nick O’HALLORAN 3. Sam MCGREGOR 2, Anthony MARTIN, Richie CAMPBELL 1, Mitch BAIRD 2, Rhys HOWDEN 3, Joel DENNERLEY.
Coach: John FOX

SOUTH AFRICA: Grant BELCHER, Devon CARD 1, Donn STEWART 1, Patrick MCCARTHY, Bevan MANSON, Gavin KYTE, Gareth SAMUEL 1, Ryan BELL 1, Richard DOWNES, William NAIDOO, Nicholas MOLYNEUX, Mark SPENCER, Matt KEMP.
Coach: Brad ROWE

Also collaborated to this article: Jana Todorovic