The women’s water polo national team, the reigning world champions, qualified on Thursday for the final of the 2012 European Championship in the Netherlands by defeating Hungary in the semifinal with a 14-12 score.

The players of coach Giorgos Morfesis have not yet reached the standard of playing that saw them win the world title last year, but their quality was enough to see them through to Saturday’s final where they will face Italy. Greece was ahead 4-2 after the first period and 7-6 at halftime, but the Hungarians equalized 10-10 at the end of the third period and were leading 11-10 at the start of the fourth.

However, led by Antigoni Roumbesi, who netted five goals on the night, the Greeks scored four goals and conceded just one thereafter to win the semifinal at Eindhoven. Elena Kouvdou was exceptionally good in goal for Greece. The men’s team could do no better than reaching the last eight of the championship as it went down 11-9 to Montenegro on Wednesday in the quarterfinal.

Source: Kathimerini