Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Italy defeated Georgia 18-12 in a quarterfinal match of the World Cup water polo tournament. Italy took an early lead with four unanswered goals, but Georgia responded with two, keeping the match competitive. Italy’s Filippo Ferrero contributed two goals, while Georgia’s Valiko Dadvani scored three times, including a double extra goal. Dadvani then received a red card after his third goal, impacting Georgia's momentum.
Italy capitalized on the advantage, with Matteo Iocchi Gratta scoring on an extra opportunity. The teams went into halftime with Italy leading 7-5. In the third quarter, despite efforts from Georgia’s Sandro Adeishvili, Italy extended its lead by scoring five unanswered goals, including two on extra shots and one counterattack. Giacomo Cannella scored the last of these in the period.
In the final quarter, both sides exchanged goals, with Adeishvili scoring for Georgia and Alessandro Carnesecchi converting a penalty for Italy. Italy secured an 18-12 win, earning a place in the semifinals and moving closer to the gold medal.
The result highlights Italy’s skill and resilience against a determined Georgian team.