Last-Second Shot Lifts Yugoslavia, 10-9

Aleksandar Sapic ripped a short shot past Hungary’s Zoltan Kosz as time ran out, lifting Yugoslavia to a 10-9 victory in Olympic men’s water polo today at Sydney.

Yugoslavia (4-0-1) clinched a share of the Group B title. Hungary (3-2-0) will take third in the pool. Both teams already had qualified for Friday’s quarterfinals.

But that didn’t matter in this one between the two traditional water polo powers. Hungary has an Olympic record six water polo golds. Yugoslavia won Olympic titles in 1984 and 1988.

Later, Russia made 18 of its first 20 shots in a 21-5 victory over winless Slovakia and Croatia beat the Netherlands, 11-7.

Croatia (4-0-1) finished tied with Yugoslavia in Group B. But the Yugoslavs will head to the quarterfinals as the top-seeded team from the group based on goal differential.

The Russians (4-0-1) are guaranteed a share of the Group A lead and are in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Slovakia, competing in its first Olympic water polo tournament, will play off for ninth through 12th places this weekend.

If Slovakia hoped to end its Olympic drought in this one, the Russians quickly set things straight. Revaz Chomakhidze had three of his six goals in the first five minutes and Russia led, 7-1, after a quarter.