BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 12 : Americans Lack Extra Effort in 8-5 Loss to CIS : Water polo: The U.S. scores only one goal in eight manpower-advantage situations. The team must defeat or tie Germany today to reach the semifinals.

Failing to execute in one of the most fundamental aspects of the game, the United States’ water polo team lost to the Commonwealth of Independent States, 8-5, on Wednesday and is a loss away from missing the medal round for the first time in three Olympics.

The CIS (4-0) reached the semifinals after the United States missed on seven of eight six-on-five opportunities, a situation similar to the power play in hockey. In water polo, players are ejected for 20 seconds after committing a major foul.

The CIS converted six of nine extra-man situations.

“If we are going to get back into this, we have to shut down on the five-on-six situations, and convert on our own,” Terry Schroeder of Agoura Hills said. “No team can expect to win without doing this.”

The United States (3-1) can advance to the semifinals with a victory or a tie today against Germany (2-1-1), which finished fifth at the 1991 World Championships behind the fourth-place Americans. Germany and Australia tied, 7-7, on Wednesday.

The United States led the CIS, 2-0, after one quarter on goals by defense specialist Erich Fischer of Reedley, Calif., and two-meter man Chris Humbert of Lodi. The Americans led at halftime, 4-3.

But the CIS took control in the third quarter when Dmitri Apanassenko scored his second goaland Alexandre Ogorodnikov got his first for a 5-4 lead.

In the last period, the Americans gave up two goals in less than a minute to Vladimir Karaboutov and Alexandre Kolotov. The CIS team, made up entirely of Russians, ended its scoring on a penalty shot by Sergei Markotch with 1:20 remaining.

“When we fell behind in the fourth quarter it was like a panic--hurry up and catch up,” Mike Evans of Ontario said. “We made mistakes. But I don’t think it will hurt our gold-medal chances.”

Said Bill Barnett, U.S. coach: “We weren’t patient enough and we didn’t stick to the game plan.”