BEIJING, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Tony Azevedo scored three goals Friday and the United States used a strong second half to reach the Olympic men's water polo final with a 10-5 win over Serbia.
The Americans will take on two-time defending Olympic champion Hungary in Sunday's gold medal game. The Hungarians outlasted Montenegro in the other semifinal 11-9.
The United States fell behind by a goal on three occasions during the first half, but Ryan Bailey gave the Americans a 5-4 lead with 1:26 remaining in the second period.
Bailey and Azevedo then scored the first two goals of the third period and the American defense took over, putting the United States in the final for the first time since the boycotted Olympics of 1984.
The silver medal won by the Americans in those Games has been their only medal in men's water polo in the last 36 years.
Hungary overcame a three-goal deficit in the second period. The traditional water polo power has won eight Olympic gold medals in the sport -- the first of them coming in 1932.
