USA Men Taste First Defeat Italian Style

(Photo: Jeff Cable, Jeff Cable’s Photography Blog)

In the third of their preliminary games, the USA Men’s Water Polo Team faced off against Team Italy, the world champions. Drew Holland was in net for the Americans while Marco Del Lungo guarded the goal for the Italians.

Italy’s Stefano Luongo won the sprint to start the game, but USA’s Alex Obert stole the ball. Italy was soon whistled for a penalty and Hannes Daube hit a post on the first attempt with the extra player. Obert got the rebound and sent the ball in to put the Americans on the scoreboard first.

During the first quarter Italy attempted nine shots, with five of them finding their way to Holland. He was up to the challenge and saved all but an extra player shot and an action shot. Team USA on the other hand with their nine shots managed to get seven to Del Lungo who was only able to stop three. It looked good for the Americans.

The second quarter showed a slight tilt in the favor of the Italians, who once again won the sprint. A turnover foul early in this quarter by Daube gave the Italians an opportunity on the counter attack and they made it count. Nicholas Presciutti put Team Italy within one on that goal. Had they not taken two penalties almost simultaneously, they may have been able to continue their forward momentum. Vincenzo Dolce was whistled at 6:45 and six seconds later Matteo Aicardi was sent off. Del Lungo was strong during USA’s extra player time, but it did give the Americans some additional confidence. Daube’s direct shot on the free throw to put USA back up by two was followed a couple of minutes later with Luca Cupido’s extra player shot that first hit a post and then went in, giving the USA a 6-3 lead.

The Italians weren’t going to make this an easy game for the Americans, to be sure. A turnover foul by Johnny Hooper resulted in a a goal for Italy, made by Francesco di Fulvio and it was clear Holland wasn’t pleased with himself on that ball getting by him. Cupido capitalized with a nice top shelf shot while on the power play to regain the three-goal lead with 35 seconds remaining in the half, but with one second to go, while on a power play, Pietro Figlioli gave the Italians their fifth goal, trailing by only two goals going into the half break.

Hooper won the sprint to begin the third quarter and after Di Fulvo was whistled for an infraction, Hooper put the ball home. At the other end Obert was called for a penalty and the Italians likewise capitalized. The third quarter saw a lot of back and forth in goal scoring, with Team USA getting a little breathing room and Italy coming right back. Many of the goals were extra player goals for both teams, though Italy would notch one more than the USA on the power play throughout the game. As the third quarter came to a close, USA was leading 9-8 and Italy wasn’t backing down.

The final quarter saw Figlioli tie the game at 7:11. USA pushed ahead once again gaining a two-goal lead from an action shot and an extra player shot to lead with a little space, 11-9. Luongo’s power play goal at 4:35 crept Italy closer and Di Fulvio’s penalty shot tied the game at 2:22. There was still a lot of time in the game though and it could have gone any number of ways. However, Hooper was whistled for a penalty at 2:07 and as soon as the Italians had possession of the ball they used their timeout to discuss their man advantage situation. Luongo’s attempt hit a post, but Presciutti got the rebound and put it home. Italy was leading 12-11 with 1:40 remaining in the game.

A mirror opportunity came along for the Americans when Figlioli took a penalty. USA used their timeout, but Cupido just couldn’t put the ball behind Del Lungo to get the tie. And as the clock ticked down Team USA—despite having led until the last 1:40 of the game—just couldn’t pull it out.

Note: If you love the photo, be sure to check out more by visiting Jeff Cable’s Photography Blog here.