Greece’s women’s water polo team achieved a remarkable victory in the final of the World Cup, winning the gold medal after a stunning performance that swept aside pre-tournament favorites, Hungary.
The Greek squad proved its mettle by dominating the final from the start. They led at half-time by 8-4. They continued their high tempo in the second half and sealed a historic victory 12-9.
This is the second time that Greece’s women’s water polo team wins gold in the Wold Cup after the triumph of 2011. This also the first time they beat world power Hungary in a major competition.
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Greece dominated the water polo World Cup
In the first medal semifinal, World Cup champion Greece dethroned world champion United States of America 14-9 in a close match in which Greece swam away with the final quarter 5-2. In the second semifinal, Hungary swam roughshod over Olympic champion Spain, winning 15-9.
World Cup champion Greece had too much firepower and experience for world champion United States of America. In a game that will be etched in history, the Greek women’s national water polo team delivered one of the most dominant performances in its history, stunning the USA with an emphatic and utterly deserved 14-10 victory. This incredible triumph secures Greece a place in the grand final of the World Aquatics Championship in Singapore.
The “blue and white” squad displayed unmatched fighting spirit against the formidable Americans. Anchored by a superb defensive performance and the heroic saves of goalkeeper Ioanna Stamatopoulou, Greece controlled the tempo of the semi-final and secured a long-awaited, monumental victory over the sport’s global powerhouse.
On Monday, Greece’s men’s national water polo team stood on the brink of a historic upset against Spain in the semifinals of the Singapore World Championships, a mere one-tenth of a second away from an unthinkable qualification. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, Spain equalized with just 0.1 seconds remaining, forcing a penalty shootout in which Greece ultimately fell, 4-2.
The final score, however, belies the monumental battle waged by Thodoris Vlachos’ squad. Trailing by a daunting 6-2 just three minutes into the second quarter, the Greek team mounted a defensive masterclass, shutting down the formidable Spanish attack for an astonishing 18 minutes and 59 seconds.
For nearly three quarters of the match, Greece held the game’s destiny in their hands, their comeback a testament to unparalleled grit and tactical brilliance. The agonizing late equalizer from the Iberians, their first goal in nearly 19 minutes, was a bitter pill that sent the semi-final to the lottery of penalties.
