Olympic Water Polo 2016: Women's Medal Winners, Scores and Results

Russiaclinched a bronze medal in women's water polo for the second time in their history on Friday, where they defeatedHungary on penaltiesto finish in third after a hard-fought podium decider at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.The Russians took home the bronze in Sydney 16 years ago and gave their Friday opponents a challenge they couldn't quell en route to sealing their place on the Rio podium.Friday's defeat is a major blow for Hungary, who have now finished fourth in the last three consecutive Olympics and had the game in their hands before throwing a two-goal cushion to go to extra time.Later on Friday, the United States will hope to defend their water polo crown against 2004 gold medallists Italy, looking to become the first nation in women's water polo history to win back-to-back Olympic gold.RecapEach of the last two Olympic bronze-medal finalsat Beijing 2008 and London 2012have been forced to extra time after draws in normal play,and Friday continued that trend with a penalty-shootout decider.It was a late spurt from the Russians that finally doomed Hungary to once again finish just shy of the podium, and Balazs Furjes, chairman of Hungary's 2024 Olympics bid, was humble in defeat:There was nothing to separate the two teams at half-time, drawing the opening quarter 3-3 before Russia took a one-goal lead at the interval, but the Hungarians hit back hard to win the third quarter 3-1.Hungary's dream of a maiden Olympic medal in women's water polo looked to have been realised after a surge in energy saw coach Attila Biro's side not only take a lead for the first time in the match, but establish a two-goal cushion.It looked as though the victory might be theirs at 11-9, but a courageous Russian fight back saw them make it 11 goals apiece before Hungary again opened the slimmest of leads with seconds remaining.Hungary had the win in their sights, but Russia's pressure told whenAnastasia Simanovich scored her first goal of the match with just one second remaining in normal time to draw 12-12 and force penalties.There was nothing to divide the two teams after six penalties apiece, forcing the shootout to sudden death, where Russia goalkeeper Anna Karnaukh saved Hanna Kisteleki's attempt to win her nation a bronze medal.Hungary will undoubtedly have a difficult time bouncing back from the result after finishing fourth in the Olympics for the third Games in a row, while Russia revel in their first bronze in 16 years.
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