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Young guns Russia holds off Azevedo and U.S. 11-10Latest: Monday October 09, 2000 09:30 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Russia beat the United States 11-10 Friday to end the Americans quest for a medal in Olympic water polo. The last time the United States won a medal in water polo was 12 years ago in the Seoul Games when the Americans won silver. "The veterans were playing so timid," said the Ameericans' youngest player, Tony Azevedo. "We didn't come to play. The anger in the voice of the 18-year-old Azevedo was unmistakable -- and it was clearly directed at his more experienced teammates. "I looked up to them, I still look up to some," he said. "But this was the biggest game of their lives, the thing they put their lives on hold for. You've got to be ready." Azevedo scored three times and had the ball in the dying seconds but could not squeeze off a shot. "I sitting here disappointed at my first Olympics," he said. "I can tell you that's the last time it's going to end like this." The United States won't get to the semifinals. The U.S. men's medal drought will last through Athens 2004 when Azevedo says he will make sure it ends. "We're playing for the future," Azevedo said. "That's what's left for us." Azevedo nearly kept them going at the Sydney Games, but his last-second breakaway was spoiled for Russian goalie Nikolai Maximov. "I was definitely fouled," Azevedo said. "It wasn't called." Russia, undefeated at 5-0-1, moves to the 17,500-seat Sydney International Aquatic Center for the medal rounds. The U.S. effort was shocking after its last game, a near-perfect display of goaltending, defense and firepower to defeat Greece 9-3. The United States, which finished seventh in Atlanta, falls to the second group of four to compete for fifth through eighth spots at the Sydney Games. "We need a couple of hours to get over this disappointment," said Wolf Wigo, who like Azevedo had three goals. "I think we all want as much as we can get and that's fifth place." It was an ugly display at times by the Americans, especially in the first quarter. They dumped balls to scorer Chris Humbert that were easily collected by Russian defenders. They left Alexander Erychov open twice for simple goals. And goalie Dan Hackett let in a shot from three-quarters of the pool away - a typical last-chance try that almost never works -- as time ran out for Russia's 3-0 lead. "We gave them too many gifts," coach John Vargas said. But as quickly as the United States gave away goals, it got them back during the next two minutes. When Azevdo put in a short shot from the left side, it was 3-3. The United States led 7-6, its only lead of the game, on Humbert's assist to Wolf Wigo. It wouldn't last, though. That puzzled Azevedo. "When you get down and get back up, you don't get down again," he said. "We did." Sergei Garbouzov scored two of his three goals in a second-half stretch as Russia went ahead 9-7. The Americans tried to play catch-up the rest of the way. Azevedo's goal from the left side cut the lead to 9-8 with six minutes to go, but Erychov, who scored four times, restored the two-goal lead a minute later. A penalty shot by Erychov with 2:37 to go made it 11-9. Azevedo brought the United States again within a goal, 11-10, with 1:26 left. Then he looked as if he would be the team's biggest hero of the Sydney Games when he and Chris Oeding swam in on a tying break. But with Maximov and another defender closing in, Azevedo couldn't grip the ball and never got the chance to shoot. "I should have tried to get the ball to him earlier," Oeding said. "He didn't have enough room." The United States will play the loser of the Spain-Croatia match. Russia will meet the winner as it tries for its first water polo medal as a federation. The Soviet Union won the 1988 bronze. The Unified Team did the same four years later.
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