United States, Italy to square off in women’s water polo final

The United States and Italy will play for the gold in Rio Olympics women’s water polo after victories Wednesday over Hungary and Russia, respectively.

The Americans will be the big favorite in Friday’s final at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, having scored 10 or more goals in each match of the tournament and won all of those contests in convincing fashion.

Hungary fought on fairly even terms with Adam Krikorian’s squad in the first quarter, but the United States used a secondquarter run to take a 73 lead and then was able to answer every goal by their opponent the rest of the way to win 1410.

Maggie Steffens was the top scorer for the United States in that semifinal with four goals.

The Italians defeated Russia by five goals in the group phase and won by a slightly closer margin of 129 in Wednesday’s first semifinal, making their move in the second and third quarters by outscoring their opponent 62.

Arianna Garibotti was the Italians’ top scorer with five goals.

Italy’s squad, which won bronze at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia, will now try to pull off a surprise in the final and capture a second gold medal to go with the one it won at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The United States won the title in London four years ago and is one of just four countries to capture the gold medal in Olympic women’s water polo, which was first held at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Russia and Hungary will square off in the bronzemedal match, also scheduled for Friday.

Spain and Australia, which won silver and gold in London, will play off for fifth place after defeating China (116) and Brazil (114), respectively, on Wednesday.

The seventhplace match will pit Brazil against China.