WATER POLO : Disputed Call Spoils U.S. Tie With Spain

NEWPORT BEACH —  Controversy overshadowed the second-round match between the United States and Spain at the World Junior Water Polo Championships, which ended in a 10-10 tie Wednesday night at Corona del Mar High School.

With 34 seconds remaining and the score tied at 9, Zach Holder of the U.S. was whistled for a foul on Spain’s Ignacio Pubill after both players attempted to catch a pass coming from the opposite side of the pool. According to Team USA Coach Ricardo Azevedo, the foul should not have been called because time had expired on the shot clock.

Australian official John Whitehouse awarded Spain a four-meter penalty shot, and Daniel Ballart scored his 15th goal of the tournament to give Spain a 10-9 lead.

“I’m not saying that the call cost us the game by any means,” Azevedo said. “But the problem with the (foul on Holder) was that the time judge said the 35-second shot clock had expired when the referee whistled the foul.

“But the referee overruled the time judge and so my view is that if he is going to overrule, why have a time judge?”

On the United States’ ensuing possession, Puerto Rican official Manuel DeJesus whistled Ballart for a foul on Troy Barnhart with 22 seconds remaining, and Jose Santiago scored the final goal of the match on a four-meter penalty shot.

“That was one of the finest junior level water polo games I have ever seen,” Azevedo said. “I wasn’t happy with the final score, but I was proud to be a part of it.”

Neither team led by more than one goal and the United States held the lead only twice. Team USA’s last lead, 9-8, came with 3:34 left when Holder scored his second goal of the match on a pass from Gavin Arroyo, who also had two goals.

Team USA’s Chi Kredell scored three goals. He also shadowed the high-scoring Ballart for the majority of the match, limiting him to two goals.

“Chi did a fantastic job tonight, and that was against one of the finest players in the world,” Azevedo said.

Up next for the United States at 6 p.m. tonight at Corona del Mar is Bulgaria, which lost to Hungary, 14-10.

The United States can advance to the medal round only if Hungary defeats Spain in their match at 7:30 tonight, and the United States defeats Bulgaria by a goal differential of six.