Serbia-Montenegro - Greece 5-3

Barcelona, SPAIN, July 26 (fina.org) - Serbia & Montenegro won its first World Championship medal as a new nation, beating Greece with a controlled game. It started without the services of Aleksandar Sapic and Dejan Savic, who were both banned by FINA today for incidents following the semifinal clash with Italy. Sapic received a nine-month ban and Savic six months. It was a goal apiece in the first quarter with Predrag Jokic scoring early on from right-hand catch.

There was no further score until Ioannis Thomakos, Greece's top scorer, sent in his 11th of the championship on penalty, nine seconds from time. Both goalkeepers made some excellent saves in the first half, with Nikola Kuljaca especially in top form. Danilo Ikodinovic scored on extra and Antonios Vlontakis replied when left unattended on the post. Vladimir Vujasinovic took Serbia & Montenegro ahead on right-hand catch late in the quarter. Vanya Udovicic took it out to a two-goal margin with a long shot from the top. Greece called a timeout in the final half-minute but lost the ball on the extra-man attack. Greece's extra-man shooting was hesitant, causing concern to coach Alessandro Campagna. Theodoros Chatzitheodorou scored on extra for 4-3 down but the final goal went to the recently crowned European champion via Ikodinovic when Greece had two men excluded at 0:40.

FINA world water polo championships, Third Place Match, Barcelona, SPAIN, July 26

Serbia-Montenegro - Greece 5-3 (1-1, 2-1, 1-0, 1-1).

Goals in man-up: Serbia-Montenegro 2/6; Greece 1/8. Penalties: Greece 1/1. Referees: Gyorgy Juhasz (HUNGARY), Marc Levin (ISRAEL).

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: Kuljaca, Nikic, Zlokovic, Udovicic (1), Ikodinovic (2), Jelenic, Gojkovic, Ciric, Vujasinovic (1), Jokic (1), Sefik. Coach: Nenad Manojlovic.

GREECE: Reppas, Schizas, Mazis, Loudis, Chatzitheodorou (1), Theodoropoulos, Christos Afroudakis, Kalakonas, Georgios Afroudakis, Stefanos, Vlontakis (1), Deligiannis, Thomakos (1). Coach: Alessandro Campagna.