The Georgian water polo team lost in the 1/8 final match against Russia at the European Championship, but in spite of a tense game there could have been another outcome.
13:14 – this is the final account that tells us everything. Russia won 6:4 in the first period and as the subsequent developments showed, it had a major impact on the final result. The opponent won the second period too, but then Georgia took the advantage. In the final seconds of the third period Marco Jelaca’s goal reduced the difference (11:10). Eight minutes were left and everything could change but unfortunately it did not happen. The final quarter ended with a draw 3:3 and finally in favor of Russia 14:13.
The victory was due to Igor Bychkov’s excellent play, who scored 5 goals and Konstantin Kharkov showed himself four times, who played with 80% accuracy. As for the Georgian team, Fabio Baraldi and Marko Jelaca scored 3-3 goals, Zurab Rurua, Boris Vapenski and Damir Tsrepulia scored double.
Georgia failed to advance to the quarterfinal. However, they hit the top 12 teams, which is already a historic result. Now, Revaz Chomakhidze’s team will play for ninth-twelfth places in Budapest.
Russia - Geogria 14:13 (6:4, 3:2, 2:4, 3:3)
Goals: 1:0 Bychkov (07:27), 1:1 Tsrepulia (06:18), 2:1 Bychkov (05:52), 3:1 Kharkov (04:58), 3:2 Magrakvelidze (04:41), 3:3 Baraldi (03:43), 4:3 Suchkov (03:10), 5:3 Merkulov (01:23), 5:4 Rurua (00:54), 6:4 Bychkov (00:08), 7:4 Ashaev (06:45), 7:5 Rurua (06:02), 8:5 Bychkov (03:40), 8:6 Jelaca (03:18), 9:6 Kharkov (01:51), 10:6 Nagaev (07:35), 10:7 Vapenski (07:06), 10:8 Vapenski (05:51), 11:8 Bychkov (05:24), 11:9 Baraldi (02:36), 11:10 Jelaca (00:03), 12:10 Kharkov (07:31), 13:10 Kharkov (06:23), 13:11 Jelaca (05:48), 14:11 Dereviankin (04:19), 14:12 Tsrepulia (03:47), 14:13 Baraldi (01:27)
Russia: Fedotov, Suchkov, Vasilev, Dereviankin, Ashaev, Kharkov, Merkulov, Nagaev, Bychkov, Kiselev, Lisunov, Shepelev, Statenko
Georgia: Shubladze, Kavtaradze, Tsrepulia, Imnaishvili, Bitadze, Jelaca, Jakhaia, Baghaturia, Rurua, Magrakvelidze, Baraldi, Vapenski, Razmadze
