Serbia earns semifinal date with Americans

Beijing -- Dusko Pijetlovic scored four goals Wednesday to carry Serbia past Spain 9-5 and set up a semifinal meeting with the United States in men's Olympic water polo.

The Americans lost once in the five-game preliminary round that that was a 4-2 setback to Serbia, which finished third in the group and was forced to play in Wednesday's quarterfinals.

The winners of the two groups -- the United States and Hungary -- received byes to the semifinals.

Serbia put together a five-goal second period to take a 5-2 halftime lead.

Montenegro defeated Croatia 7-6 earlier Wednesday and will meet two-time defending Olympic champion Hungary in Friday's other semifinal.

This is the first Olympic appearance for athletes from Montenegro and water polo is the only sport in which the nation is competing in Beijing.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.