The men's water polo team had a successful start at the World Water Championships

On Monday, the Hungarian team started their participation in the men's water polo tournament of the World Olympic Qualification Championship in Fukuoka with a 16-8 success against the hosts.

The Japanese held their own until the middle of the third quarter, but after that the difference in skills between the two teams became apparent.

Although it was not a full house, compared to Sunday's women's game day, a good number of spectators - there were even a few "hardcore" members of the home team - welcomed the teams that had met each other at the previous two Olympics, in Rio (17-7) and Tokyo (16- 11), the Hungarians won a confident victory.

From the 15-man squad, national team captain Zsolt Varga did not call Erik Molnár and Vincé Vigvári to the meeting, the first goal of which had to wait almost two and a half minutes: then Gergő Zalánki silenced the hall with a goal post shot. The left-handed Hungarian, who won the Champions League in two consecutive seasons with the Italian Pro Recco, also flashed in the next attack, and then the first domestic goal that caused a stir came. After a turnover, the Japanese equalized with a nice drop by Szeija Adacsi, but the other left-handed Hungarian bomber, Márton Vámos, who was voted the best at the 2017 World Cup held in Hungary, came, who, unlike Zalánki, pulled the ball back into the short. The Japanese took advantage of a defensive error to equalize, Vogel Soma had no chance against the close draw. The hosts took the lead with a long-range shot 24 seconds before the end of the quarter - for the first time in the game - but Toni Német was able to equalize before the final whistle.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Zalánki hit the net again with great force, but on the other side, Vatanabe Taijo surprised Vogel from a distance while covering the blocking hands. The Japanese took the lead again with another long-range bomb, but Hungarian World Cup record holder Dénes Varga, the Olympic champion in his ninth such tournament, equalized with an individual solution on the other side. The Hungarians took back the advantage through Ádám Nagy, leading 7-6 after two quarters.

At the beginning of the third quarter, the team captain Jansik Szilárd was also among the scorers, from five meters. The defense of the Hungarians was generally okay, the Japanese nevertheless caught up again, but Vámos responded immediately on the other side. The home team seemed to be getting tired, Jansik increased the difference to three with a close shot, and after an exhibition, Zsolt Varga asked for time, but Zalánki's close attempt was blocked by the Japanese substitute goalkeeper.

Márton Lévai also got a chance in goal for the final eight minutes. Among the Hungarians, Angyal scored his first World Cup goal, then Zalánki sank the Japanese goalkeeper, and then put Jansik in an unmissable position.

The Japanese were ready with their strength, they didn't even notice the attack clock and it didn't even look like there were more people in the water. The "double difference" (14-7) was created with Krisztián Manhercz's first goal, but the Japanese, on the other hand, ended their longer scoreless streak thanks to a bouncing ball. Up front, Varga easily turned his man around and shot into the net, then served Jansik with a fine move. At the back, Lévai made a big save at a disadvantage, and the Japanese substitute goalkeeper also proved himself at the end.

According to national team captain Zsolt Varga, the Hungarian national team confidently won its opening match 16-8 thanks to its defense.

“Last year when we trained with them it took two days to find the antidote to their game, now we needed two quarters. Obviously, the analysis of their previous matches also helped, and in the second half of the meeting their attack was paralyzed", Zsolt Varga told MTI, who said that the key to the victory was defense, which is also supported by the fact that the hosts only sold one of their nine man advantage.

The specialist - who as a player was last selected here in Fukuoka in 2001 - told Hungarian journalists that defense will be the key in Wednesday's match against the Croatians, which will decide the group lead. He added that in the person of Josip Vrlic, the Croatians have one of the best centers in the world, neutralizing him promises to be the most important task, which, if accomplished, will increase the chances of victory in the second half of the match.

According to team captain Jansik Szilárd, the beginning of the meeting was typical of a first match, which is not surprising, since there are many World Cup newcomers in the team, and in addition, they have traveled several time zones in recent weeks.

"We are right where we need to be, we knew they would last for about a half. They play a special game, they risk a lot. We reacted well to this from the half, we found the antidote and broke them," said the Ferencváros water polo player, who noted that one half of good play will not be enough against the Croatians, and that the Croatians must not concede more than the eight goals they just conceded, so they could fight for the direct quarter-finals with extra rest.

According to Márton Vámos, who scored two goals, fortunately they did not underestimate the Japanese team, they played nervously for two quarters, but then they calmed down, thanks to which the defense came together.

The Olympiakos player emphasized that the Japanese audience created a great atmosphere, but at the same time, he is aware that, unfortunately, such a large audience cannot be expected in the other matches.

According to Vendel Vigvári, despite the difficult start, they dominated the match from the end of the second quarter, but the match against the Croatians will of course be much more difficult.

"The WC starts from here, we know the Croatians, we prepared against them. Everyone is aware of the stakes, we will go into that match in light of this," he promised.

MTI