The US men, now 3-0 in qualifying for the Water Polo World League, are as good as qualified from the six team intercontinental tournament. A 19-7 win over Kazakhstan makes the US 3-0 with an uncompetitive China team still to come. Bret Bonanni was the offensive star scoring nine goals in the game. John Mann and Alex Roelse each had three goals. McQuin Barron had a team-high five saves in.
The US will face 2-1 Brazil on Friday. Brazil has qualified for the last four World Leagues and finished third last year, defeating the US in the bronze medal game on penalties.
The US men went to 2-0 in qualifying for the Water Polo World League after holding off Japan 17-14 in a high scoring game. The US led 4-1 after the first quarter and still held the three point lead after the first half, though by a 9-6 margin. After leading 13-9 going into the fourth Japan made it a bit closer but the US held on. Alex Obert led the US with four goals while John Mann and Bret Bonanni added three goals each. Merrill Moses made seven saves in the win.
The US is the only 2-0 team in the tournament and by going to 3-0 with a win over 1-1 Kazakhstan on Thursday the US would basically lock up a spot in the World League. Kazakhstan has only made the World League once and the US defeated them 17-11 in a knockout match last year.
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The US men opened qualifying with a big 8-6 win over Australia to grab three points in their first game. Neither team scored in the first quarter but the US held a 2-1 lead at the break and a 5-2 lead going into the final eight minutes. Australia rallied but the US held on for the win. Tony Azevedo and Josh Samuels each scored two goals for the US while Merrill Moses made five saves.
Up next for the US will be Japan on Wednesday. The Japanese opened with a dominant 21-5 win over China but have only qualified for the World League twice since 2006. The US defeated them 10-6 last year in the qualifying group stage.
The US men are set to compete in qualifying for the 2016 FINA Men’s Water Polo World League with five games in five days in Yokohama, Japan. The top four of six teams will qualify for the World League and with the US having finished fifth or better in every world league since 2006 they are big favorites.
The US opens with Australia on Tuesday before facing Japan, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and China. Along with the US Brazil, China, and Australia all competed in the World League last year. The US faced Australia twice last year, once in qualifying and once in the World League group stage. The Australians got the win 17-16 in OT in qualifying and in another tight one 10-9 in the group stage.