U.S. pulls out silver in water polo
BEIJING -- Peter Biros scored three goals to lead Hungary to a 14-10 win over the United States and a third consecutive gold medal in Olympic men's water polo.
Hungary became the first country to win three straight gold medals in the sport since Britain in 1920.
The Hungarians stretched their Olympic unbeaten streak to 17 games, with the latest victim being an American team that surprised just about everyone by getting to the final.
The Americans kept it close early and had it tied at 9 in the third quarter. But the Hungarians pulled away down the stretch, scoring five unanswered goals and turning a close match into a blowout.
U.S. goalkeeper Merrill Moses even got benched during the spurt. But it wasn't all his fault. Hungary scored on three counter attacks, essentially beating the Americans across the pool and getting one-one-one shots against Moses.
"They are well-coached, they've got good athletes and they beat us," U.S. coach Terry Schroeder said. "They beat us good."
The Americans (5-2) were content with returning to the medal stand for the first time since 1988.
The United States came to Beijing ranked ninth in the world, and many expected the team would finish sixth or seventh -- the same spot it had the last three Summer Games. But the Americans upset Italy, Croatia, Germany and Serbia en route to the silver medal.
The Hungarians (6-0-1) didn't lose a match for the second consecutive Olympics. And for Biros, Zoltan Szecsi, Tamas Kasas, Gergely Kiss, Tibor Benedek and Tamas Molnar, it ended with their third gold medals.
No other country has ever accomplished that feat in water polo. Britain had three players win three gold medals in 1920, and two Hungarians took home two when they won gold in 1952 and '56.
But the Hungarians are in a class of their own now.
Daniel Rudolf Varga also scored three times for the Hungarians, and Denes Andor Varga added two goals.
U.S. captain Tony Azevedo led the Americans with four goals on 4-of-5 shooting, but his teammates were a combined 6-of-23 in the water. And Moses couldn't bail them out this time around.