Croatia defeated Hungary in the men's water polo bronze medal match at the world aquatic championships in Shanghai on Saturday. European champion Croatia gained a 12-11 (5-2, 3-2, 3-5, 1-2) against Olympic champion Hungary in an unpredictable and dramatic match.
The match was already close to decision in the first half, when Croatia was leading three times by four goals. As consequence, Hungarian goalkeeper Victor Nagy was already replaced in the second period.
Croatia took three more leads by five goals in the third period, bringing the score to 11-6 at 4´21. But Hungary scored five in the third period and the score was 9-11 before the last swim-off. A controversial action happened in the 28 th minute when Daniel Varga´s man-up shot was blocked, and the Hungarians claimed that this was done was by the excluded player Niksa Dobud. Right in the counter-move Ivan Buljubasic scored with a fast-break to bring the score to 12-9 in a phase when the Croatian offence was widely unsuccessful.
Hungary still scored two goals by Denis Varga and Peter Biros to bring the score to 12-11 at 1`40 and the reigning Olympic champion got a last man-up chance at ´51 as well. Interestingly enough, two Croatian players, Miho Boskovic and Andro Buslje, were even red-carded at the same time, but Norbert Hosnyanszky´s shot was intercepted and the ball was taken by Croatia.
Less than one year before the 2012 Olympic Games, the Hungarians are still waiting for the next medal after their historical third Olympic title in a row at the 2008 Games. 2007 World champion Croatia took a second bronze medal in this competition after the third place at the 2009 FINA World Championships at Rome, Italy.
Croatia head coach Ratko Rudic took his third medal in a row.
