Greece Pulls Off Miracle Comeback Against Serbia in Water Polo World Cup

Greek players observe aft the stunning comeback against Serbia. Credit: KOE, Hellenic Swimming Federation

Despite trailing 11-4 successful the 2nd period, Greece’s Men’s Water Polo National Team refused to backmost down. In a show of unthinkable grit, they clawed their mode backmost to an epic 16-15 triumph implicit Serbia, sealed by a precocious victor from Argyropoulos.

Playing successful Alexandroupoli, Thodoris Vlachos’ broadside turned the tide aft a constrictive opening-day nonaccomplishment to Hungary. Greece present faces the Netherlands connected Wednesday, needing a triumph to unafraid a top-two spot successful Group A and a summons to the World Cup Finals successful Sydney.

How Greece turned astir the h2o polo game

The “Galanolefki” took an aboriginal 3-2 lead, but antiaircraft lapses saw them concede a staggering 7-0 run, falling down 9-3. The shortage widened to 11-4 conscionable earlier halftime, arsenic Serbia capitalized connected each man-up opportunity.

However, the momentum shifted erstwhile Gkillas scored astatine the buzzer to extremity the fractional 11-7. With Zerdevas providing important saves aft coming disconnected the bench, Greece leveled the people astatine 13-13.

The last turning constituent came with 1:34 remaining: Serbia’s Petar Jakšić was excluded for brutality, leaving the “Plavi” shorthanded for the remainder of the game. Argyropoulos stepped up to person the resulting punishment and past fired location the winning extremity with conscionable 45 seconds near connected the clock.

Quarter scores: 3-4, 4-7, 6-3, 3-1.

Related: Greece Sinks Italy to Claim Bronze successful the Water Polo European Championship