The U16 water polo team from Montenegro fell just short of earning a medal at the World Championship in Malta.

After two opportunities, the team suffered a defeat in the semi-finals against Italy (15:14) and later struggled in the bronze medal match, where Hungary triumphed over Nenad Vukanić’s squad with a score of 12:10 in the penultimate game of the tournament.

The match for third place was highly competitive; until the middle of the third quarter, it was neck-and-neck. However, Hungary surged ahead with a 3:0 run, pulling away with a 9:6 advantage, marking the first significant lead in the game.

Montenegro responded effectively, narrowing the gap to 9:8 thanks to goals from Danilo Roganović and Pavle Dabić, entering the final period just one point behind.

The final quarter brought considerable tension, with missed opportunities on both sides. Nevertheless, Hungary maintained control over the game and the score, even as Montenegro had several chances to level the match.

In terms of scoring, Stefan Vraneš led Vukanić’s team with three goals, while Luka Todorović, Roganović, and Andrej Durutović contributed two goals each, and Dabić added one.

For the Hungarian side, Benedek Rab was outstanding, netting eight goals, including seven of the first nine scored by his team in the crucial match.

Spain ultimately claimed the world title, decisively defeating Italy in the final with a score of 18:6.

This powerful “Furija” team also showcased their strength against Hungary in the semifinals on Sunday, winning comfortably with a score of 14:6.

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