Croatia beats host Hungary to win water polo world title

By AP
Published

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Croatia ended host nation Hungary's hopes of a fourth world title in men's water polo with an 8-6 victory in the final on Saturday.

Captain Sandro Sukno scored a hat trick for Croatia, which claimed its second world title and first since 2007, when it also defeated Hungary in the final.

The visitors raced into a 4-0 lead as they kept the Hungarians scoreless for a whole quarter for the first time in the tournament.

Hungary pulled two goals back through Bela Tarok and Marton Vamos in the second quarter, and more from Balazs Erdelyi and Krisztian Peter Manhercz to equalize in the third.

However, Javier Garcia Gadea replied with two quick-fire goals for Croatia, and Sukno added another.

Vamos scored another two for an exciting finale to the world championships, but Sukno sealed it with his third of the game.

Croatia, which beat the United States and topped its group, edged Olympic and defending champion Serbia 12-11 in the semifinals on Thursday. Serbia defeated Greece 11-8 for the bronze medal.

Hungary's silver was the country's seventh.