Water Polo World Cup (M), Day 4: USA beats Australia 11-9

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - AUSTRALIA 11:9 (3-2, 1-2, 3-1, 0-2) 7:7 (Pens: 4-2)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Merrill Moses, Ryder Roberts, Alex Obert, Michael Rosenthal, Luca Cupido (2), Conner Cleary, Josh Samuels (1), Bret Bonnani (2), Alex Bowen (4), Nolan McConnell, Jesse Smith, John Mann (2), McQuin Baron. Head Coach: Dejan Udovicic.

AUSTRALIA: James Clark, Richard Campbell (1), George Ford, John Cotterill (2), Nathan Power, Jarrod Gilchrist (1), Aidan Roach (1), Aaron Younger (1), Lachlan Edwards, Tyler Martin (2), Mitchell Emery, Blake Edwards (1), Edward Slade, James Stanton. Head Coach: Elvis Fatovic.

Referees: Nenad Peris (CRO), Gabor Vogel (HUN).
Extra Man: USA: 4/16 AUS: 4/10
Pens: -----

USA vs AUS - credit: Russell McKinnon

USA captain John Mann was the ultimate hero in a penalty-shootout victory over Australia. Bowen, Bonnani and Cupido scored their opening penalty shots while Australia started badly with normally safe shooters Aaron Younger (bar) and captain Richard Campbell (metre above crowbar) missing, leaving Aidan Roach and Tylert Martin to convert, forcing USA to the final shot, which Mann made no mistake about. USA should have had no such problems, giving up a three-goal lead in the first quarter and a two-goal advantage at the end of three quarters. USA started with a surge and went three up through Bowen, centre-forward Mann and Cupido. Bowen’s shot came from nine metres out and Cupido also shot from the top while Mann’s was the easiest of turns at two metres. Australia scored twice on extra — through Aaron Younger and Richard Campbell — to close the period at 3-2 in USA’s favour. Bowen opened the second quarter when two Aussie Sharks were ejected. Blake Edwards made it 4-3 from the left side of the pool. John Cotterill drew the match level on extra, 13 seconds from halftime. Cotterill repeated the effort to give Australia the lead for the first time at 6:39 in the third period. Bret Bonnani, so forceful against Serbia on Thursday, and Bowen on extra had the match out to 6-5 for USA. Both teams used their timeouts to no effect and it was left to Josh Samuels to once again give USA a two-goal lead with a swift shot on extra, nine seconds from the final break. Australia nullified the two-shot difference with Martin scoring his first for the tournament on extra and Jarrod Gilchrist accepted a deep cross pass from Younger to equalise at 2:10. Twice USA had an extra-man play in the final minute but had the first attempt thwarted on an intercepted cross pass and then with seconds ticking down, USA failed to take the shot before the buzzer, sending the match to a shootout.