U.S. water polo team loses again; medal hopes in jeopardy

The U.S. men’s water polo team suffered its second defeat Monday, losing 10-9 to Spain and putting its hopes of advancing to the medal rounds at extreme risk.

The U.S. opened play on Saturday, losing to Croatia, 7-5.

“We have to win the next three games,” captain Tony Azevedo said after the game. “We’ve got to win now. We have to play like a team and stop feeling sorry for ourselves. Right now we’re playing like victims and babies and everyone is worried about everything but what they need to worry about.”

Azevedo was born in Rio but grew up in Long Beach. He has been on the Olympic team since Sydney in 2000. His team won a silver medal in the Beijing Games in 2008.

Spain took an early lead, but Azevedo responded quickly, launching an outside shot into the upper left corner and putting the U.S. on the scoreboard. Over the next two quarters the teams swapped control, but at the end of the third quarter Albert Español Lifante popped a power play shot just over the head of veteran U.S. goalie Merrill Moses, giving Spain a lead they never lost.

With about a minute to play, Alex Bowen muscled in his third goal to bring the U.S. to within one goal, but it was too late to save the U.S. from a decidedly disappointing start in Rio.

“We need to get in a new state of mind,” Azevedo said.

Bret Bonanni from Huntington Beach scored four goals. The next game is Tuesday against France.

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