United States players react after they were defeated by Netherlands in the gold medal women’s water polo match today. Associated Press Photo.

BEIJING — The Netherlands has won the gold medal in women’s water polo, stunning the United States 9-8 behind seven goals by Danielle de Bruijn. She scored the winner with 26 seconds remaining.

The Americans came to Beijing ranked No. 1, and today night looked as if they might get the gold that eluded them in Sydney and Athens.

They had several chances to tie it up in the waning seconds, but Elsie Windes missed an outside shot and Brenda Villa couldn’t put home the rebound.

De Bruijn scored the first two goals of the game and the Dutch jumped ahead 4-0. She added two more right after halftime to give her country a 7-5 lead. She also scored the last two on power plays.

The U.S. men’s squad knows who it will be playing in the semifinals on Friday: Serbia. The other semi will pit reigning European champs Montenegro against two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Hungary.

Serbia beat Spain to advance. Montenegro moved on by upsetting Croatia, which came in as the world’s No. 1 team.