Netherlands and Hungary qualify for Olympic women’s water polo tournament

Hungary beat host Italy after the Dutch beat Greece in a close affair.

They are the last two nations to qualify for the 10-team Olympic tournament.

The Netherlands had followed Greece 3-4 after two quarters, but a superb defense has now allowed them to pass.

Each of the last two quarters have gone 2-0 in favor of the Dutch, giving them a 7-4 triumph.

In contrast, Hungary took an early advantage and never looked back.

Dorottya Szilagyi opened the scoring and Rita Keszthelyi added two more unanswered, giving Hungary a three-goal cushion in three minutes.

Keszthelyi finished with six goals as Hungary won 13-10, ensuring the Rio 2016 runner-up will not compete in Tokyo.

Hungary finished fourth at Rio 2016, London 2012 and Beijing 2008.

The Dutch won the gold medal in the Chinese capital and are eight-time World Cup winners.

Japan, home to the defending champions, the United States, Spain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, China and Russia have already qualified for this year’s Olympics.

A final, as well as playoffs for third, fifth and seventh places, are scheduled for tomorrow in Trieste.