Rio Olympics: USA tops Hungary to reach women’s water polo final
Team USA celebrates winning the women's water polo semifinal match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games against Hungary at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 17, 2016. Credit: EPA / Orestis Panagiotou
It will be the United States versus Italy for women’s water polo gold.
Maggie Steffens scored four times and the U.S. beat Hungary 14-10 in the Rio semifinals. Maddie Musselman and Kiley Neushul had two goals apiece for the U.S., which is trying to become the first country to repeat as Olympic champions.
Italy advanced with a 12-9 victory over Australia in the first semifinal. Arianna Garibotti pumped in five goals and Roberta Bianconi scored twice as Italy improved to a perfect 5-0 in Rio de Janeiro.
Italy won the gold medal in 2004, but slipped to sixth in Beijing and finished seventh in London four years ago.
The United States has won 21 in a row, including its five games in Rio by a combined score of 61-27. It’s the only country to finish on the podium in each of the five Olympics for women’s water polo.
