WATER POLO : U.S. Beats Brazil in Rough Game

Chris Oeding scored three goals Saturday as the United States defeated Brazil, 9-7, in a first-round game of the Junior World Water Polo Championships at Corona del Mar High in Newport Beach.

The match was marred by cheap shots by both teams, who brawled briefly in the pool after the match.

The United States played efficiently, using a quick counter-attack style to take a 3-1 first-quarter lead and a 7-3 advantage just after halftime.

But Brazil’s physical, grabbing style of play put the United States out of sync for most of the second half and Brazil came back to tie the score, 7-7, with 5:19 left to play.

After taking the 7-3 lead, the United States went 11:35 without scoring.

“We expected it to be physical but not that bad,” U.S. two-meter defender Gavin Arroyo said. “I was swimming down the first time we had the ball and I got hit in the face. You might expect it more after you get in the game a little. But on the first time?”

Oeding broke the U.S. scoreless spell with 1:02 left in the game when he scored from six meters out in a man-advantage situation for the United States.

Brazil had an opportunity to tie the score on its ensuing possession, but U.S. goalie Larry Bercutt made a big save.

Thorpe Logemann scored on an assist by Arroyo to give the United States a 9-7 lead with 12 seconds left in the game.