The Dutch water polo players failed to reach the final of the World Cup in Budapest on Thursday. The team of national coach Evangelos Doudesis lost 12-13 to host country Hungary in an exciting semi-final battle.
The Orange started the game well and led 3-2 after the first quarter. Hungary then recovered, with the teams going into halftime at 6-6.
After the interruption, the Hungarian women quickly opened a gap of two points. The Netherlands then narrowed the difference to one point, but could not clear the deficit in the third quarter.
That worked out in the last quarter, although the video arbiter had to be involved. A bet by Simone van de Kraats was approved after the intervention of the VAR, making it 12-12. Hungary then scored once more and did not relinquish the lead.
With a victory, the Dutch water polo players had qualified for a World Cup final for the sixth time. In 1991, the Orange won the world title and in 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2015 the final battle was lost.
In the battle for bronze, the Netherlands will face Italy on Saturday. Earlier in the day, that country lost 6-14 to the United States in the other semifinal battle, against Hungary in the final on Saturday.