Greece, Spain cruise in Olympic water polo

LONDON - The Associated Press

Ten players scored for Spain in an easy 13-9 win over Australia, while Ioannis Fountoulis netted five goals as Greece overpowered Kazakhstan 11-4 in men’s Olympic water polo yesterday.

Greece boosted its chances of reaching the knockout stage with its easy win over an outclassed Kazakhstan. The Greeks were never threatened in the match, holding their opponents scoreless for a 14-minute stretch to build a 7-1 lead halfway through the third quarter.

Captain Georgios Afroudakis chipped in with three goals for Greece, while Rustam Ukumanov led Kazakhstan with two.

The victory gives Greece three points from three games, with Spain and Australia still to come in the stage. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, remains winless in London and sits at the bottom of the group.

Meanwhile in a balanced offensive display, almosst every outfield player scored for Spain, which is looking for its first medal in men’s water polo since the gold in 1996.

Filipe Perrone Rocha, Albert Espanol Lifante and David Martin Lozano had two goals apiece for the Spanish in the match, while Australian Billy Miller had five goals.

“We are really happy because we think that more than the result, the feeling is that the team is playing together,” said Perrone Rocha, who has nine goals in three matches. “From the 11 players, 10 scored a goal, which shows the team.”