2009 WORLD AQATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Read about Tony Azevedo's play at the World Aquatic Championships in Rome, Italy
from July 18 to August 1, 2009.

Tony will blog from the World Championships, Click Here For More

DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
AZEVEDO
GOALS
NOTES

Record:
4 -2-0

12
Team USA finished fourth at the World Aquatic Championships, an improvement from ninth place two years ago at the same tournament.
7/20/09
vs. Italy
W 9-8
4
Against the home Italians and a crowd of 5,000, the Americans opened up to a 5-2 lead, led Italy slip back to tie it at 6-6, before Team USA came away with a one-goal victory in a tough first round matchup. Offensively the difference maker came at the 1:23 mark when Azevedo on a man advantage scored from outside off a solid pass to put the lead back up at 9-7.
7/22/09
vs. Macedonia
W 13-6
4
The Americans remained undefeated following an easy 13-6 win over Macedonia, paced by another four goals from Azevedo. Team USA went up 3-0 after the first period and 8-2 at the break and never looked back. Azevedo's three straight goals made it 5-0 en route to the victory.
7/24/09
vs. Romania
W 7-5
1
Team USA earned a bye into the Quarterfinals following a perfect record in pool play following a 7-5 win. After falling behind 2-1 after the first period, the Americans responded to lead 3-2 at the half. They would go up 4-2, before Romania came back to tie it at 4-4. But the U.S. responded with two straight to lead 6-4 early in the fourth, before Romania closed to within 6-5 with 5:08 left. Azevedo's shot and score was the gamebreaker as it came at the 1:16 mark in the fourth quarter, as he rose up and fired home a shot to put the contest out of reach.
7/26/09
vs. Germany
W 8-5
0
In the final game of the preliminary round, Team USA secured a chance at a medal following an 8-5 win over Germany. Eight different goal scorers kept the Americans undefeated. Azevedo's assist tied the game at 2-2 in the second after the Germans took a 2-1 lead after the first period. After trading goals, Team USA would then build a 7-3 lead with four unanswered en route to the win.
7/28/09
Quarterfinals
bye
--
--
7/30/09
Semifinals
vs. Spain
L 6-7
1
The Americans were denied a chance for the Championship Game, after falling to Spain by a single goal. The U.S. went up 2-0 early, but let Spain crawl back early in the second period, 2-2, and despite leads of 5-4 and 6-5, could not hold on.
8/1/09
Consolations
vs. Croatia
L 6-8
2
Team USA led early, but Croatia owned the third period and came away with the bronze medal, denying the Americans their first medal of the games. Azevedo put the U.S. up 1-0 early and Team USA led 4-2 in the second, before Croatia responded to make it 5-4 in the third. Team USA tied it at 5-5, and closed to within 7-6 on an Azevedo score, but Croatia sealed it with 27 seconds left.