A match won twice, a feat at the end that has the signature of the Italian captain Francesco Di Fulvio. The Settebello is there and the goal doesn’t fail: the Azzurri return among the best four in the world, beat Greece 11-10, reaching the semi-finals of the Doha World Cup. After the Olympic pass here is another great result for Sandro Campagna’s team who manages to take another step forward in Qatar.
The match against the Greeks was very tough, full of twists and turns, errors and great plays: the Azzurri twice found themselves significantly behind, twice they reversed the situation and now they will go to play the penultimate act against Spain.
The Settebello opens the first quarter with the lead scored by Andrea Fondelli, but then the Azzurri get into difficulty and the Greeks fly: within three minutes three goals arrive and the +2 at the end of the first period. Second quarter full of emotions: Greece even finds the +3 with Fontoulis on a penalty, then comes the Italian comeback thanks to an important episode. Argyropoulos is sent off for brutality (knee to Iocchi Gratta), penalty and four minutes of superiority for Italy who, thanks to a wild Condemi, scored four goals in a row to take a 6-4 lead before Kalogeropoulos’ double superiority goal which meant 6-5 at half competition.
The third quarter opens with an absolute pearl from Luca Damonte: a wonderful left-footed shot. Greece, however, responds and, thanks to its numerical superiority, reaches 8-8 before the final period. Italy suffers in the last quarter, Zerdevas saves everything and, afterwards a naivety of Echeniquehaving entered the water with seven Italians already lined up, Genidounias’ penalty arrives which means +2 for Greece 2.30 minutes from the end. The match seems over, but it’s Francesco Di Fulvio’s time: winning counterattack, penalty won (and scored by Di Somma), winning shot from distance. Three goals in the space of a few seconds and a national triumph.
