USA Junior Men Suffer Second Straight Shootout Loss Dropping 13-12 Decision To Spain

Kuwait City, Kuwait - December 19 - The USA Water Polo Men's Junior National Team fell in a shootout for the second straight day, this time dropping a 13-12 decision to Spain in the 5th-8th semifinal at the FINA Men's Junior World Championship. The loss sends Team USA off to the seventh place match on Friday where they will meet Japan at 5:30am et/2:30am pt. The match will stream live via FINATV.live (subscription required). Marko Vavic led Team USA with three goals in regulation in the loss to Spain.

Recap via FINA/Russell McKinnon

For the second night in a row, United States of America lost a penalty shootout, forcing it from what could have been a top-four position on Wednesday to playing for seventh ranking on Friday. Spain made the front-running and USA had to come back for 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3. USA then shot ahead to 5-3, 6-4 and 7-5 by the close of play in the third period. Spain levelled through Albert Ponferrada (7:18) and Lluc Bertran (2:43). USA went to a timeout at 1:07 and the centre-forward backhand over-rotated, giving Spain a timeout at 0:45. Fran Valera, Ponferrada and Bertran all had their shots blocks by their defenders, regaining the ball twice. This forced the penalty shootout, something USA knows a lot about, having lost the shootout 4-1 against Greece the night before. Spain only led the match for less than six minutes until the final whistle. The shootout was eagerly watched as the first rotations scored and the third missed. Four and five converted to force it into sudden death at 11-11. The first rotation scored and on the second, Valera made it 13-12; Molten fumbled the ball and failed to shoot, sending Spain through to the play-off for fifth.

Match 66, 17:20, SPAIN 13 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 12 in sudden-death penalty shootout (FT: 7-7. Pens: 6-5)
Classification 5-8 Semifinal
Quarters: 3-2, 1-3, 1-2, 2-0
Referees: Michiel Zwart (NED), Mikhail Dykman (CAN)?
Extra man: ESP: 4/9. USA: 3/10.
Penalties: ESP: 1/1.
Teams:
SPAIN: Unai Aguirre, Bernat Sanahuja (+2), Albert Ponferrada (1+1), Sergio Prieto, Pau Linares, Fran Valera (2+2), Lluc Bertran (1+1), Victor Alegre, Oscar Montes (1), Nikolas Paul, Oriol Rodriguez, Oscar Asensio (2), Victor Garcia. Head Coach: Svilen Ivanov.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Adrian Weinberg, Quinten Osborne, Marko Vavic (3+2), Tommy Gruwell, Leo Yuno, Garrett Zaan, Hannes Daube (1+1), Jacob Ehrhardt (1), Mason McQuet, Ash Molthen (2+1), Quinn Woodhead (+1), Warren Loth, Kent Emden. Head Coach: Jack Kocur.