Despite trailing 11-4 in the second period, Greece’s Men’s Water Polo National Team refused to back down. In a display of incredible grit, they clawed their way back to an epic 16-15 victory over Serbia, sealed by a late winner from Argyropoulos.
Playing in Alexandroupoli, Thodoris Vlachos’ side turned the tide after a narrow opening-day loss to Hungary. Greece now faces the Netherlands on Wednesday, needing a win to secure a top-two spot in Group A and a ticket to the World Cup Finals in Sydney.
How Greece turned around the water polo game
The “Galanolefki” took an early 3-2 lead, but defensive lapses saw them concede a staggering 7-0 run, falling behind 9-3. The deficit widened to 11-4 just before halftime, as Serbia capitalized on every man-up opportunity.
However, the momentum shifted when Gkillas scored at the buzzer to end the half 11-7. With Zerdevas providing crucial saves after coming off the bench, Greece leveled the score at 13-13.
The final turning point came with 1:34 remaining: Serbia’s Petar Jakšić was excluded for brutality, leaving the “Plavi” shorthanded for the remainder of the game. Argyropoulos stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and then fired home the winning goal with just 45 seconds left on the clock.
Quarter scores: 3-4, 4-7, 6-3, 3-1.
Related: Greece Sinks Italy to Claim Bronze in the Water Polo European Championship