Day 1 Match Reports
WOMEN
Game 2: 9:00, Group A, INDONESIA 6 UZBEKISTAN 8
Quarters: 1-1, 2-4, 2-3, 1-0
Referees: Dion Willis (RSA), Rob Hammond (ZIM)
Extra Man: INA 2/9, UZB 0/4
Pens: IND 0/1 UZB 1/1
Teams:
INDONESIA: Ayudya Suidarwanty Pratiwi, Sarah Manzilina, Starlet Viersa Utami, Dewi Ratih (1), Chyntia Pradjipta Putri (1), Dwi Anggela Olsen Tiger, Erica Fernanda, Ariel Dyah Cininta Siwabessy (3), Glindra Patricia Legawa, Febrika Indirawati (1), Veriza Adera Pratiwi, Amanda Raudania Santoso, Aldila Putri Santoso. Head Coach: Shuli Cai.
UZBEKISTAN: Elena Dukhanova, Nellya Dadabaeva (2), Ekaterina Palkina, Eseniya Piftor (1), Ziyeda Teshabaeva (1), Elina Kalimullina, Ekaterina Morozova, Regina Shaydullina, Liliya Umarova (3), Valeriya Kozlovskaya (1), Anastasiya Osipenko, Maftuna Pulatova, Aleksandra Dokuchaeva. Head Coach: Boris Rustamov.
INA vs UZB - credit: Anthony Pearse
Uzbekistan proved that experience is a telling factor when it won the tournament’s opening women’s encounter 8-6 against international newcomer Indonesia in Challenge Stadium’s outdoor 10-lane pool on Sunday.
Three goals from livewire No 9 Liliya Umarova (UZB) gave her team a huge impetus as a three-goal edge appeared in the second quarter and maintained into the fourth and on to victory. The match was tight in the first quarter with Dewi Ratih gained some kudos as the first scorer for her nation’s women at a FINA World Championship.
More goals were to come for Indonesia in the second quarter, along with two open shots missed, as Uzbekistan started to settle with a 5-1 lead before the half closed at 5-3.
In the third period, No 9 stepped up with two goals but Indonesia was not to be deprived with two extra-man goals for 8-5 down. Both teams took timeouts at the top of the final period with only Indonesia converting a goal for 8-6 through Ariel Siwabessy her third. A blocked penalty shot by Sarah Manzilina stopped what could have been a close finish at 3:17.
Indonesia, and the game’s best, was goalkeeper Ayudya Pratiwi, who made numerous saves with her high body position and made top critical saves from the advancing Umarova just before the final minute. The fact that Indonesia won the final period was a feather in its cap.
Uzbekistan Head coach Boris Rustamov said his team was “still sleeping after just arriving in Perth yesterday.”
“Now it is 5am at home. I was not happy with the game but tomorrow we have Czech (Republic) so maybe we will be better.”
Indonesian Head coach Shuli Cai said the game was “OK”. However, his thoughts were on the next game against Australia (Monday). “They are very good and it will be very tough.”
Game 3: 10:20, Group B, BRAZIL 13 NEW ZEALAND 10
Quarters: 4-4, 4-2, 3-1, 2-3
Referees: Gabor Vogel (HUN), Michail Kouretas (GRE)
Extra Man: BRA 4/13, NZL 3/7
Pens: BRA 0/2 NZL 2/5
Teams:
BRAZIL: Victoria Chamorro, Diana Abla (2), Tabata Dalio, Adhara Lavatori, Luiza Moraes (2), Mariana Roge, Roberta Hernandez, Izabella Chiappini (8), Bruna Couri, Heloisa Warren, Mirella Coutinho (1), Viviane Bahia, Raquel Pinho. Head Coach: Antonio Canetti.
NEW ZEALAND: Elisabeth Andree Wiltens, Ricci Ferigo (1), Jaymee Graham, Rebecca Parkes (3), Simone Couree-Campbell, Lisa Tuke (1), Chelsea Geary (1), Caitlin Lopes Da Silva (1), Abigail Cunninghame, Renuka Mahadevan, Miranda Chase, Kate Enoka (3), Courtney Miller. Head Coach: Richard Claridge.
BRA vs NZL - credit: Anthony Pearse
Brazil’s Izabella Chiappini almost single-handedly blew New Zealand out of the water in their first-day, Group B women’s clash, winning 12-10. Chiappini scored one in the first quarter, three in the second, three more in the third and a big outside shot in the fourth for a match tally of eight goals. While counter-attack was her forte (four goals), she was equally devastating on extra-man attack as the go-to person, scoring three goals.
The match was riveting with New Zealand starting 2-0 up but then the game was levelled five times to 6-6, Brazil slipping out to 8-6 at halftime. Thanks to the Chiappini hat-trick in the third, the margin was 11-7.
At the start of the fourth, a remarkable fifth penalty goal attempt was blocked out of six shots with Brazil’s Victoria Chamorro claiming three saves and New Zealand’s Elisabeth Wiltens two. The sixth penalty shot was converted as New Zealand lifted to 12-9 behind and swapped goals yielded the final score of 13-10. While Brazil raced to the dressing room to celebrate, the Kiwi women were left to ponder what could have been.
Head coach Richard Claridge (NZL) said: “We made silly mistakes, we were in the wrong positions and did not learn from the first quarter. They were dumb mistakes on defence that kept them in the game and eventually won the game.”
Game 5: 11:40, Group C, ITALY 4 HUNGARY 7
Quarters: 1-2, 0-1, 2-3, 1-1
Referees: Matan Schwarts (ISR), Carl Burt (CAN)
Extra Man: ITA 3/15 HUN 4/11
Pens: HUN 0/1
Teams:
ITALY: Fabiana Sparano, Giulia Viacava, Giusy Citino, Agnese D'Amico, Francesca Bonino, Sara Dario, Giuditta Galardi, Chiara Tabani (2), Arianna Gragnolati, Claudia Marletta, Roberta Grillo (1), Carla Carrega (1), Federica Lavi. Head Coach: Paolo Zizza.
HUNGARY: Anna Horvath, Annan Krisztina Illes (1), Diana Ziegler (1), Greta Gurisatti (1), Ibolya Kitti Miskolczi (2), Vivien Kovesdi, Alexa Anett Gemes (1), Krisztina Garda (1), Diana Sikter, Nikolett Kele, Brigitta Horvath, Orsolya Hajor, Vanda Zsanett Doroszlai. Head Coach: Andras Meresz.
ITA vs HUN - credit: Anthony Pearse
Hungary’s man-down defence paid huge dividends with a 7-4 victory over close rival Italy in day-one women’s action. The damning statistics show that poor conversion on the crucial man-up situation cost Italy dearly at a time when Italy’s defence was more than adequate when down.
Hungary controlled the game from the start and, apart from allowing two goals in midway through the third period for 3-3, proved too strong for Italy. It was two left-handed goals from Ibolya Miskolczi in the last two minutes of the third period that gave Hungary a 5-3 lead going into the final quarter.
The margin became four when Krisztina Garda scored on extra-man attack, just before she was ejected for her third major foul. Carla Carrega scored on extra for 7-4 with the last minute looming but the damage was done.
Dual scorer Miskolczi said: “The game was very good. I was a little scared of playing after playing them (Italy) in a training camp two weeks ago. We play them a lot but this is a championship game, but it was all good. We always win.”
Italian Head coach Paolo Zizza laid the loss at the door of extra-man attack. “Hungary is a lot stronger. Italy is good at defence but not six on five. We had many problems and made more mistakes. This team is young and inexperienced. However, the extra-man attack was the difference.”
Game 6: 13:00, Group C, INDIA 0 UNITED STATES 34
Quarters: 0-7, 0-8, 0-9, 0-10
Referees: Karel Dvoracek (CZE), Edmundo Rodrigues (BRA)
Extra Man: IND 0/1, USA 6/11
Pens: USA 1/1
Teams:
INDIA: Vismaya Vijayakumaran, Sreekutti Jaya, Manasi Ravindra Gawde, Priya Chandran, Ambili Archa Anil Kumar, Puja Nandu Kose, Rajeshree Raju Gugale, Divya Vijayakumari, Swapnali Vijay Suryavanshi, Kalutri Mitra, Monica Peniel Moses, Aishwarya Krishna Murthy, Srabanti Das. Head Coach: Tarak Nath Shaw.
USA: Gabrielle Stone, Mackenzie Barr (7), Melissa Bergesen (2), Mary Brooks (2), Makenzie Fischer (2), Devin Grab (2), Danijela Jackovich (3), Emily Loughlin (3), Madison McLaren (2), Stephanie Mutafyan (4), Cassidy Papa (1), Alys Williams (6), Carlee Kapana. Head Coach: Kyle Kopp.
IND vs USA - credit: Anthony Pearse
India’s initiation to the FINA World Championship level came at a price — a 34-0 loss to medal favourite United States of America.
India began its international women’s career at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the current batch of youngsters have also found out how hard it is to score goals or even maintain possession against a superior team. USA was fired up and pressed the Indians hard for much of the match, forcing them into errors and converting the won ball.
India’s inability to get the ball to heavily marked players was telling but there was still plenty of spunk in some of the players, managing to take long shots at goal. The best effort creased the crossbar and nearly fell into the centre forward’s lap. Mackenzie Barr (7) and Alys Williams (6) headed the scoring for the USA as all field players scored at least once. India will now have to face Italy on Monday, another tough assignment.
USA Head coach Kyle Kopp said the experience was invaluable.
“None of these girls has played at a world championship, from the preparation, the team talk, to the walk-in, the presentation and the game. It’s great to have a win, especially leading into the next two days where we play Hungary and Italy.”
Game 7: 14:20, Group D, SOUTH AFRICA 9 ZIMBABWE 1
Quarters: 2-1, 0-0, 5-0, 2-0
Referees: Nicola Johnson (AUS), Michael Brooks (NZL)
Extra Man: RSA 3/11, ZIM 0/5
Pens: RSA 1/1, ZIM 0/1
Teams:
SOUTH AFRICA: Alexandra Gascoigne, Nicole Haird (2), Carly Wessels, Nicole McKenzie, Shelley Oosthuizen, Kim Rosslee (1), Kelly-Lauren Gasson (3), Lindsay Killeen (2), Thembelihle Mkhize, Chloe Bradley, Tayla Webb (1), Meaghan Oosthuizen, Bianca Van Ellewee. Head Coach: Paul Martin.
ZIMBABWE: Jordyn Clipston, Roxanne Shepherd (1), Natasha Lawson, Heidi McWade, Amilee Fury, Jessica Smith, Sarah Gentleman, Savannah Stead, Kelsey Hunter, Brittany Lightfoot, Joanna Beare, Sinead Cockcroft, Jessica Harris. Head Coach: Laura Barrett.
RSA vs ZIM - credit: Anthony Pearse
South Africa eventually swam away with the continental clash against Zimbabwe 9-1 after the game was frozen at 2-1 for a long period in the women’s Group D encounter. Zimbabwe opened the scoring through Roxanne Shepherd in the first minute but two minutes later South Africa had a 2-1 lead.
It was 17 minutes later — midway through the third period — that the score changed as the South African assault of “Fort Zim” finally reaped rewards. By storming the wall, Lindsay Killeen started an avalanche of goals — five goals in three minutes.
The Zimbabwean defence was in tatters as South Africa started the fourth period 7-1 up and quickly moved to 9-1 to secure an important victory in what is a tough group containing Russia and Greece.
South African captain Chloe Bradley said it was a “very good start” to the tournament. “We’ve played them before and won but to win at the World Championships is special. We are looking forward to playing all the girls from around the world.”
Zimbabwe Head coach Laura Barrett said while it was her country’s first foray into the FINA World Championship sphere, the two countries clashed in the qualification series earlier this year. “We lost three matches but were 4-4 going into the last chukka in one match.
“We didn’t play well today. There were some positives as many of the girls are under 17. We are not used to playing under pressure at home because we have no people (to play against),” she said.
Game 8: 15:40, Group D, RUSSIA 9 GREECE 11
Quarters: 4-1, 1-4, 4-2, 0-4
Referees: Emanuel Taylan (TUR), Axel Bender (GER)
Extra Man: RUS 2/7 GRE 2/6
Pens: GRE 0/1
Teams:
RUSSIA: Alina Litovchenko, Olga Kiseleva, Anastasia Simanovich (2), Elvina Karimova (3), Natalia Perfilyeva (1), Alina Tuchina, Tatiana Zubkova, Daria Ryzhkova, Ksenia Balay, Liubov Zubkova (1), Nadezhda Yarondaykina (2), Yana Degtereva, Anastasia Verkhoglyadova. Head Coach: Alexandr Naritca.
GREECE: Chrysoula Diamantopoulou, Alkistis Christina Benekou (1), Eleftheria Plevritou (1), Ioli Angelike Benekou (1), Eleni Xenaki (1), Ionna Charalampidi (2), Aikaterini Zantou (1), Margarita Plevritou (1), Christina Kotsia, Stefania Charalampidi (2), Marina Florou (1), Stamatina Kontogianni, Stefania Terefou. Head Coach: Georgios Morfesis.
RUS vs GRE - credit: Anthony Pearse
A pair of potential finalists slugged it out under the hot Perth sun before Greece staged a remarkable four-goal comeback to defeat Russia 11-9 in a Group D women’s match. The last time the FINA World Championships featured 18 & Unders, Russia won in Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia in 2009. It was a winning streak then but not in Perth in what was an amazing match.
Russia had the game won at 9-7 heading into the final period but Greece was not to be denied. Under the guidance of Shanghai 2011 FINA World Championship-winning head coach Georgios Morfesis, the Greeks were inspired to lift for victory.
The game was tight throughout with the game locked at 4-4 and then 5-5 by halftime. Greece went two up but a three-goal spurt in just over a minute had Russia poised at 9-7 with two minutes left of the third period. In the first minute of the fourth quarter, Ioanna Charalampidi and Eleftheria Plevritou drew Greece level with the latter goal coming from eight metres.
Greece took a timeout at 3:42 but could not convert when a player up. However, No 10 drilled a shot from an acute angle on the deep right for the 10-9 lead. Three minutes later the ball swung right and left and then into centre forward Stefania Charalampidi, who grabbed the ball with her right hand, turned 180 degrees and backhand-lobbed the goalkeeper for 11-9 with 0:32 left on the clock. Russia went to a timeout but the final shot from Valeria Kolmakova failed to narrow the gap.
Morfesis said it was the first time his team had an official game with three players returning from United States colleges three days before departing to Perth. Other players were just released by their professional clubs.
“This was the first reason” for the tough game, he said. “The second reason is we didn’t really play very good. We were very nervous, without reason. “I think we played well from the bench and when we changed our defence, that worked.
“It was a very important win and should see us in the top four positions (at the end of group play). But we have to play well in the future,” he said.
For 15-year-old Eleftheria Plevritou it was an excellent start to her international career. “I’m very happy, of course, as I think we can win (the championship). But we made a lot of mistakes, very easy mistakes.”
Game 1: 18:30, Group A, AUSTRALIA 22 CZECH REPUBLIC 2
Quarters: 4-1, 5-1, 6-0, 7-0
Referees: Stefano Riccitelli (ITA), Alexey Kaprivin (RUS)
Extra Man: AUS 3/7, CZE 1/5
Pens: AUS 1/1
Teams:
AUSTRALIA: Lilian Hedges, Ainsley Masek (1), Belinda Symons (2), Montana Perkins, Madeleine Quinn (2), Shannan Martin (5), Fiona Walsh (1), Lenke Dauda-Board (3), Maddison Schmid (2), Chloe Barr (2), Kassia Ralston, Jessica Zimmerman (2), Stephanie Calaizis. Head Coach: Aleksandar Osadchuk.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Barbora Pavlikova, Nikola Busauerova, Aneta Sornova, Tereza Halova, Karolina Vavurkova, Karolina Kopencova, Karolina Hlavata, Leona Brozova, Linda Chladkova, Karolina Parabkova, Rozalie Fugnerova, Barbora Hlavata, Anezka Sesulkova. Head Coach: Michal Broz.
AUS vs CZE - credit: Anthony Pearse
Local favourite Australia opened its world championship account with an emphatic 22-2 victory over Group A rival Czech Republic. Maddie Schmid provided the first two avenues to goal courtesy of blistering counter-attacks set up by keeper Lilian Hedges.
Madeleine Quinn scored the third off a Belinda Symons earned exclusion, before Shannan Martin scored her first through a slick centre-forward movement. The young Aussies continued the momentum in the second quarter with an impressive five-goal haul.
Shannan Martin again proved dangerous at centre forward adding two more goals, while Symons, Jessica Zimmerman, and Chloe Barr each found the back of the net.
Czech Republic sisters Barbora and Karolina Hlavata provided the only attacking force for the Europeans, with the pair scoring their team’s only two goals. Australia’s 9-2 halftime lead was extended soon after with Barr racing away for a clean two-on-one conversion.
Martin added her fourth for the game at the 3:40 mark of the third term, before Symons executed a brilliant backhander to push the margin out to 10. The Czech Republic tried valiantly to push but the execution and fast transition of the Australians was too much.
The Australians kicked away even further with Lenke Dauda-Board netting a last-quarter hat trick, to go with goals from Quinn, Ainsley Masek, Jessica Zimmerman and Fiona Walsh.
Schmid, who was brilliant on the counter-attack all game, said it was great to get the first game out of the way and was looking forward to progressing through the tournament in front of her home crowd. “It was pretty exciting. We we’re a little bit nervous but the team has come together well,” Schmid said.
“We’re just taking one game at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves. Each quarter, each minute, each second!
The crowd was fantastic tonight, it was great to play in front of our family and friends and they really helped.”