The United States men’s water polo team will not advance from pool play after falling 8-5 to Montenegro in a must-win game at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center in Rio on Friday.
Filip Klikovac put the Montenegrins up within a half-minute of play, but Bret Bonanni netted to even things up. Sasa Misic then scored, and the Yanks missed a power play chance. That double whammy had the U.S. down 2-1.
Montenegro’s stifling defense held up well into the third , when Joshua Samuels’ equalizer woke the game up. Montenegro went back ahead moments later. Were we off and running, offensively-speaking?