Australia’s chances of qualifying for the men’s water polo quarter-finals hang by a thread after they copped a brutal reality check in a heavy 14-8 Tokyo Olympics loss to Serbia.
The Sharks were no match for the reigning Olympic champions, who raced to a 6-0 lead at quarter-time that left the Aussies – particularly goalkeeper Anthony Hrysanthos – shellshocked.
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By halftime, when the score was 10-1, the match was effectively over.
The Aussies showed fight in the second half, with Blake Edwards bagging two goals and the Sharks’ attack much more threatening.
After bagging two hat-tricks to start the tournament, Richard Campbell was kept to just the solitary goal.
Serbian goalkeeper Branislav Mitrovic was brilliant, saving 11 of 19 shots on goal, while Dusan Mandic grabbed four goals and Strahinja Rasovic three.
It was a humbling defeat for the Aussies after two impressive performances in their opening two matches when they pushed world No.1 Montenegro hard in a 15-10 loss before upsetting Croatia 11-8.
Australia slipped to fourth in Group B, with two preliminary round matches remaining against Spain – who are top of the pool – and Kazakhstan, who are bottom.
Only the top four from each group advance to the quarters.
Montenegro sit in fifth with matches against Kazakhstan and Serbia to go.
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