Spain and Serbia sink favourites to reach final in Rome

IT'S the tale of the underdog as Spain and Serbia fight it out for men's water polo World Championship gold in Rome on Saturday.

Spain saw off the USA - silver medallists in Beijing - in their semi-final while Serbia took the scalp of reigning world champions Croatia. 

Filip Filipovic scored four goals while captain Vanja Udovicic bagged a hat-trick as Serbia triumphed 12-11 in a 23-goal thriller. 

It was Serbia's second upset of the tournament having beaten Hungary - gold medallists at the last three Olympic Games - in the quarter-finals. 

Guillermo Molina was the hero for Spain - his third goal making the score 7-6 and proving decisive with just over three minutes remaining.

Spain are twice former winners of the competition while Serbia will be going for the title for the first time, having won gold twice previously as Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro.