Sharks to Face Olympic Champion Serbia in FINA Worlds Quater-Final

The Aussie Sharks face a crunch quarter-final match-up with reigning Olympic champion Serbia at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest.

The Aussies earned their heavyweight clash after recording an 8-3 win over Brazil in their final group stage match.

WA athletes James Fannon (two goals) and Andrew Ford were both on the scoresheet in the Sharks’ victory, with the boys joined in action by Aaron Younger, George Ford, Edward Slade and Tim Putt.

After an even first quarter, the Australians established a two-goal break to halftime before stretching their advantage over the third and fourth quarters.

“We played well, from the beginning we controlled the game and we didn’t allow Brazil to come closer and played good defence which was our main goal for this game.We can be proud of the game and how we played,” said assistant coach Dean Kontic.

A quarter-final contest with the best team in the world awaits, with the opportunity an enticing one for a developing and youthful Aussie set-up.

“Now we will play against Serbia and they have been the best team in the world for the last four or five years.It will be a difficult game but of course we will try to do our best and prepare as best we can,” he said.

Rio Olympian George Ford said the team were pleased to do what was needed to progress through to the quarter finals.

“We are happy to have won this game. It could have been better, of course, but we put in a great effort.

“We had a solid defence and allowed only one goal in the last three quarters, so happy with that result,” he surmised.

The Sharks face Serbia in their FINA World Championships quarter-final from 2.30am on Wednesday 26 July, Perth time.