Croatia Crushes US. Men's Water Polo

Gold medal hopes dashed in Wednesday's defeat

Captain Miho Boskovic led three players with two goals apiece and Croatia cruised to an 8-2 win over the United States to advance to the semifinals of men's Olympic water polo.

Croatia put in a complete performance, pouring it on in the first half to lead 5-0 at the break.

The Americans, who came to London looking to improve on their silver medal in Beijing, clawed back to 5-2 halfway through the third quarter.

Coronado's Jesse Smith and Layne Beaubien started out in the game, but niether scored. Californians Ryan Bailey and Peter Varellas scored the only two points from Team USA.

But Croatia's lockdown defense and efficient shooting at the other end of the pool proved too much.

Croatia, looking for its first water polo medal since silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games, plays Montenegro in Friday's semifinal.

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