In Budapest, the Spanish water polo squad faced a crucial battle this Wednesday as it secured a place in the semi-finals by dethroning Montenegro 7-6 in a tightly contested quarterfinal. The win pits Spain against Croatia for a spot in the final, continuing a campaign that has showcased their defensive grit and counterattacking precision on the world stage.
The scoreboard reflected a duel where both teams defended with ferocity. Goalkeepers Dejan Lazovic and, crucially, the Spanish stopper Unai Aguirre stole the show with a string of pivotal saves, keeping the scoreline tight and the momentum in Spain’s favor.
Aguirre’s heroic play was decisive in sealing the victory and the semi-final berth after Bogdan Durdic’s final attempt clanged off the crossbar and skimmed the net, narrowly avoiding a Montenegro equalizer. The Spaniard’s performance earned him recognition as the match’s standout player, posting a 54 percent save rate and turning away more than half of Montenegro’s shots as the duel reached its most intense moments.
While Aguirre anchored the Spanish defense, Lazovic kept Montenegro alive with explosive reflexes. His sprawling reach and determined stance repeatedly thwarted Spain’s attempts to widen the gap, keeping the thriller competitive into the late stages.
With just over two minutes left in the third period, Spain found breathing room. Sergi Cabanas extended the advantage to 6-3 with a precise strike, giving the team a three-goal cushion and momentarily tilting the pressure in their favor.
Yet Durdic answered with a pair of strikes, signaling the Balkan side’s intent. His two powerful shots cut the deficit to 6-5, reminding everyone that the balance could shift in an instant. Durdic’s performance also illustrated the Balkan team’s depth and execution under high-stakes conditions, turning a defensive contest into a high-octane finale.
Fans watched as a crafty move by Durdic, a signature underwater touch, disrupted Bernat Sanahuja’s attempts at a late-quarter penalty, a reminder that Montenegro’s top scorer can swing momentum with a singular moment. The early fourth period intensified, and Spain’s defense rose to the challenge. Blai Mallarach delivered a critical goal to push the margin to 7-5, placing David Martín’s squad a step ahead as the clock ticked under four minutes remaining.
Despite the setback, Montenegro pressed on. Kanstantsin Averka trimmed Spain’s lead to a single goal with one and a half minutes to go, keeping the outcome uncertain until the final seconds. Lazovic’s final heroics and Aguirre’s unwavering presence in goal sealed the result for Spain, who remained confident that the win would propel them toward another tough test against Croatia in the upcoming Friday matchup. The earlier round saw Spain advance by erasing Serbia’s challenge in a dramatic 14-12 quarterfinal win, underscoring their resilience on the road to the podium.
Data sheet:
7 – Spain: Aguirre; Munarriz (1), Granados (1), Larumbe, Famera (1), Tahull (1) and Perrone; Lorrio (ps), Sanahuja, De Toro, Cabanas (1), Mallarach (2) and Bustos
6 – Montenegro: Lazovic; Averka (1), Cuckovic, Popadic (1), Banicevic (1), Matkovic (1) and Petkovic; Tesanovic (ps), Mrsic, Vucurovic, Radovic, Durdic (2) and Perkovic
Partial: 2-1, 3-2, 1-2, and 1-1
Referees: Goldenberg (USA) and Colombo (ITA)
Events: The Budapest World Cup quarter-final was contested at the Alfred Hajos complex in the Hungarian capital.
[Cite: International Water Polo Federation match report, Budapest 2022, Spain 7-6 Montenegro]