Fans Get a Taste of International Water Polo

NEWPORT BEACH —  It’s a water polo truism that nothing matches the intensity of games in the Olympics. But Wednesday night, the United States and Italy gave about 800 spectators at Corona del Mar High School a taste of Olympic-style action.

Italy, which won the 1992 Olympic gold medal and remains one of the top teams in the world, and the Americans, who finished fourth at the World Cup in September, finished a week of mutual training sessions with a heated battle that included a couple of mid-pool altercations and a disputed goal.

The U.S. team rallied with three goals in the final 3 1/2 minutes to salvage an 11-11 tie. The tying goal--one of six by Chris Humbert--was disputed by Italy.

Humbert was fouled in the hole in the final minute and then took a quick pass from outside and snapped in a backhanded shot. Some, including Italy Coach Ratko Rudic, thought referee Gary Robinett waved off the goal.

“It does not exist,” Rudic said. Robinett, however, said he didn’t hesitate in awarding the U.S. team the goal with 29 seconds left. Italy had a final chance to score, but U.S. goalkeeper Chris Duplanty knocked away a point-blank shot by Luca Giustolisi just before time expired.

It was an encouraging result for the Americans, especially when paired with a 10-8 victory over Italy Saturday, but Duplanty said the U.S. team is focusing on the future.

“We don’t want to get too wrapped up in results,” said Duplanty, a former UC Irvine All-American. “It shows that we are improving, but the time that really matters is ahead of us.”

That would be this July in Atlanta. All the work now is in preparation for a run at the elusive Olympic gold medal. The Americans won the silver in 1984 and 1988 and finished fourth in 1992.

Italy is almost certainly going to be in the medal round. The U.S. team is starting to show that it could be there as well, but it still has a ways to go.

Wednesday, Italy scored nine of its goals in six-on-five situations and one on a four-meter penalty shot. The Italians converted all but three of their power play opportunities. The U.S. team, on the other hand, converted only six of 13.

U.S. Coach Rich Corso said he is encouraged that his team has proved it can be competitive with one of the best teams in the world. “We’re in position, that’s the most important thing,” Corso said. “Once you’re in position, all the hard work, tactics and preparation come into play and that’s what this week has been about.”