Australia stands alone atop of the Group A standings with 5 points reflecting their victories over France (today) and Canada (yesterday) and their tie with home nation Greece on the first day of the competition. Greece will face France tomorrow in an effort to catch Australia and perhaps clinch a bye in the qualification round. Australia will take on Puerto Rico hoping to collect another 2 points for a victory if they come out on top.
CRO vs MNE - credit: Ilias Karatsalos
Three team hold 4 points in the Group D standings: Serbia, Spain and the USA. Serbia and the USA will face off tomorrow at 11:00 at the indoor pool and a clearer picture will emerge of the standings. Spain has beaten the USA in head to head competition and they will face Serbia on day 5.
The qualification rounds begin on September 1st with the top 4 teams in each of the Groups taking advantage of a bye. The remaining 4 teams in each group will meet to determine which two teams will advance to the next round of competition. The semi-finals will begin on September 2nd and the final rounds will begin on the 3rd and culminate in final games played on the 4th of September.
Game reports
GAME 17: 09:30, Group C, BRAZIL 12 - EGYPT 3
Quarters: (3-0, 2-3, 2-0, 5-0)
Omar IBRAHIM provided the entire offensive effort for Egypt scoring his teams only goals. IBRAHIM scored all three in the second quarter. At halftime the score would favor Brazil, 5-3. Gustavo GUIMARAES of Brazil scored two of his 3 goals in the first half, his final one would find a way into the next in the 4th quarter. Three Brazilian players each scored two goals and a total of 7 players scored in the game.
BRAZIL: 12 GOALS - *SOUZA, Anderson; JUNIOR, Marcos - 1; MAGALHAES, Douglas - 2; COUTINHO, Gustavo; ALMEIDA Bernardo; GUIMARAES, Ricardo - 2; CRIVELLA, Matheus - 1; GUIMARAES, Gustavo - 3; SANTOS, Yuri - 1; LIMA, Caio; GOMES, Bernardo - 2; CRUZ, Anderson; BRAGA, Lucas. *Team Captain
COACH: SABLIC, Goran.
EGYPT: 3 GOALS - MAGED, Mostafa; MAGDY, Mohamed; ASHRAF, Omar; AMR, Karim; GAMAL, Mohanad; IBRAHIM, Omar - 3; GAMAL, Karim; MAHER, Khaled; WALID, Ahmed; KHALED, Ahmed; *AREF, Ahmed; AMIRY, Ahmed; ADEL, Ramy. *Team Captain
COACH: HASSAN, Mahmoud
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
BRA: 0 of 7 (0%)
EGY: 2 of 5 (40%)
REFEREES: Noel HARROD (AUS), Santiago RODRIGUEZ (ESP)
GAME 18: 11:00, Group C, CROATIA 10 - MONTENEGRO 6
Quarters: (5-2, 3-2, 1-1, 1-1)
The battle for the top of the standings of Group C meant that the struggle in the water would be fierce. Jerko MARINIC was at his best drawing first blood with a goal at 6:53 in the first quarter and then twice more in the first quarter. Nicola MURISIC on Montenegro would even the score within the next 30 seconds but that was a close of a contest as this game would be. MURISIC would add a second goal in the second quarter but his guns would fall silent after that. Croatia's MARINIC would score his 4th goal in the second period. Franko GERATOVIC was Croatia's second highest scorer, all 3 of his bullets would be fired in the first half too. Croatia would lead 5-2 at the end of the first period and the teams would strategize at half time with Croatia holding almost all of the cards 8-4. The second half was a defensive battle as each team scored only once in the remaining two periods, the final score 10-6, the same 4 point margin as at the half. Croatia holds 6 points in the Group C standings and is the only one of the 20 teams to have won three games.
CROATIA: 10 GOALS - GERATOVIC, Franko - 3; *MILAKOVIC Kristijan; PAVICIC, Marko; IVANKOVIC, Marko - 1; BIJAC, Marko; MACAN, Marko; VLAHOVIC, Andrija; SANTINI, Toni; BENIC, Hrvoje - 1; VISKOVIC, Ante - 1; MARINIC-KRAGIC, Jerko - 4; LUSIC, Duje; SELEM, Petar Juraj. *Team Captain
COACH: DAMJANIC, Milorad
MONTENEGRO: 6 GOALS - KANDIC, Slaven; SUBOTIC, Gavril; Markovic, Nikola; POROBIC, Igor; NIKCEVIS, Miljan; BANICEVIC, Bojan; FANFANI, Bozo; *SARIC, Jovan - 1; LATINOVIC, Radovan; MURISIC, Nikola - 2; POPOVIC, Mikjan - 1; VICO, Nemanjal - 1; LUCIC, Branko - 1. *Team Captain
COACH: VICO, Petar
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
CRO: 5 of 7 (71%)
MNE: 3 of 11 (27%)
PENALTY SHOT GOALS:
MNE: *SARIC, Jovan - 1
REFEREES: Cem FILIKSAC (TUR), Paulo RAMOS (POR)
GAME 19: 12:30, Group D, SPAIN 17 - REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 1
Quarters: (4-1, 6-0, 4-0, 3-0)
Spain's team captain Gemar CARRILIO would strike first but South Africa's Nicholas WALKER tied the game at 1-1 at 5:43 in the first period. Walker and his South African teammates would not land another goal in the rest of the game taking a 17-1 licking from the Spanish. CARRILIO and Gerard REIXACH BOIX each scored 4 goals in Spain's 17-1 victory over South Africa. Spain, Serbia and the USA each have 4 points in Group D standings.
SPAIN: 17 GOALS - TEBAR CRIADO, Diego; CABANAS PEGADO, Victor - 1; DE LERA CALERO, Ruben - 2; *CARRILIO GEMAR - 4, Oscar; CARABI GASOL, Adria - 1; SANCHEZ, Carlos; GUTIERREZ SANTIAGO, Victor; FERNANDEZ CERDA, Victor; REIXACH BOIX, Gerard - 4; BUSTOS SANCHEZ, Jose Javier - 1; LARUMBE GONFAUS, Marc - 1; MONPEAT PORTANA, Joshua - 1; ESTELA XUCLA, Marti. *Team Captain
COACH: COLET, Joaquin
SOUTH AFRICA: 1 GOAL - MONTGOMERY, Gareth; CARD, DEVON; BOHATA, Wesley; MALAN Matthew; RODDA, Nicholas; CAMPBELL, Shaun; WALKER, Nicholas - 1; *MOSTERT, Jason; NAIDOO, William; SPENCER, Mark; BAKER, Christopher; DU PLESSIS, David DAVID; BROWN, Wesley. *Team Captain
COACH: WOODS, Duncan
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
ESP: *CARRILIO GEMAR, Oscar - 1
PENALTY SHOT GOALS:
ESP: 5 of 12 (42%)
RSA: 0 of 0 (0%)
REFEREES: Mansour SANEI (IRI), Aleksandar ADZIC (MNE)
GAME 20: 14:00, Group D, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 17 - MEXICO 4
Quarters: (2-0, 6-1, 4-1, 5-2)
USA's team captain Josh SAMUELS and teammate Bret BONANNI each scored three goals in the lopsided victory over southern neighbor Mexico. Antonio AVALOS, the Mexican team captain was his team's leading scorer with 2 goals. The 8 goals by the Americans in the first half was just too much to overcome. Nine different USA players would find the net contributing to a 17-4 final score. The USA and Spain both have 4 points in the Group D standings but their match on the first day of competition found the USA on the losing end of the score, 4-7. Serbia also has 4 points in Group D standings.
USA: 17 GOALS - SIBLEY, Jon; BONANNI, Bret - 3; RASCON, Nicholas - 1; SMITH, Collin - 2; RUDOLPH, Paul - 1; WALTERS, Jon - 2; WENDT Christopher - 2; HAMBY, Spencer; *SAMUELS, Josh - 3; WHERRY, Alex - 2; HOVERSTEN, Nick; BOWEN, Alex - 1; PARSONS Justin. *Team Captain
COACH: LYNN, Robert
MEXICO: 4 GOALS - BECERRIL, Francisco; ORTIZ, Cedar; *ALAVOS, Antonio - 2; CERRANO, Jesus - 1; BISCAINO, Juan - 1; JUAREZ, Eric; IBARRA, Anvar; CALVA, Himbler; CARBALLO, Pablo; MORALES, Ivan; GILBERT, Armando; ORTIZ, Ivan; ALILA, Isac. *Team Captain
COACH: BIART, Pedro
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
USA: 3 for 5 (60%)
MEX: 1 for 7 (14%)
PENALTY SHOT GOALS:
USA: BONANNI, Bret - 1
REFEREES: Victor SALNICHENKO (KAZ), Monier FARID (EGY)
GAME 21: 20:00, Group A, GREECE 19 - CANADA 1
Quarters: (5-0, 5-1, 4-0, 5-0)
Michael BLAIR of Canada did all that he could to help his team and finding the net at 1:43 in the second quarter was his contribution. Playing in front of a loud and supportive home crowd, the Greek team didn't hold back so you can be sure BLAIR's goal was well earned. Seven Greek athletes zipped their missiles past the Canadian defenders and 19 of them landed successfully. Mario KAPOTSIS claimed 5 of the 19 and Konstantinos GENIDOUNIAS and Emmanouil SOLANAKIS each netted 4 goals to the cheers of the home nation. Greece will face France at 22:00 tomorrow for a stake in the top ranking in the Group A standings.
GREECE: 19 GOALS - GALANOPOULOS, Stefanos; SOLANAKIS, Emmanouil - 4; LAPPAS, Dimitrios - 2; GOUVIS, Konstantinos; DERVISIS, Georgios; PAPADOGIANNIS, Georgios; VITELLAS, Konstantinos; *VLACHOPOULOS, Angelos - 1; XENAKIS, Antoniios; KAPOTSIS, Marios - 5; GENIDOUNIAS, Konstantinos - 4; DERMITZAKIS, Dimosthenis - 2; PONTIKEAS, Kyriakos - 1. *Team Captain
COACH: DAMASKOS, Periklis
CANADA: 1 GOAL - Michael BLAIR - 1; Robbie FISHER; Luka GASIC; Nicholas GOW-LEACH; Ogi GUTOVIC; Colin JAMIESON; Aner KLINO; Nikola MITROVIC; Dusan RADOJCIC*; Milan RADENOVIC; Ryan SIMONYIK; Lambert TANGUAY-RIOUX; Alec TASCHEREAU; Taylor VENNER. *Team Captain
COACH: PARILLO, Brian.
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
GRE: 7 of 8 (88%)
CAN: 1 of 5 (40%)
REFEREES: Mladen RAK (CRO), Gyorgy KUN (HUN)
GAME 22: 16:00, Group A, AUSTRALIA 10 - FRANCE 5
Quarters: (3-2, 2-0, 1-1, 4-2)
France would score first but once the Australian score, they never fell behind again. Team Captain Blake Edwards and Aaron Younger led the Australian team to the top of the Group A standings with a 10-5 victory over France. Edwards and Younger each scored three goals, one of Younger's was on a penalty shot. Emrick ADDISON would connect for two goals for France. Australia's 5 points in the Group A standings make them a strong favorite for medal play.
AUSTRALIA: 10 GOALS - CLARK James; DAVIE, Jeremy - 1; *EDWARDS, Blake - 3; FANNON, James; GILES, Matthew - 1; HOWDEN, James - 1; POLIVKA, Adam; QUINN, Sam - 1; REDBOND, Nick; SINDONE, Paul; SLADE, Edward; YOUNGER, Aaron - 3; FORD, George. *Team Captain
COACH: RICHARDSON, Adam
FRANCE: 5 GOALS - STAJIC, Konstantin; VERON, Lucas; KHASZ, Enzo - 1; MENNUCCI, Alexandre; MONNERET, Sebastian; BRESSOLIER, Thomas - 1; IZOINSKY, Michal; ARDISSON, Emrick - 2; LADOUCE, Remy-Pierre - 1; MISSY, Nicolas; *JELEFF, Loris; ESTEBE, Nicolas; CHEVALIER, Alexandre. *Team Captain
COACH: Nardon, Samuel
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
AUS: 3 for 6 (50%)
FRA: 2 for 7 (29%)
PENALTY SHOT GOALS:
AUS: YOUNGER, Aaron - 1
REFEREES: Mario BIANCHI (ITA), Mark LEVIN (ISR)
GAME 23: 17:20, Group B, HUNGARY 15 - IRAN 3
Quarters: (3-0, 2-0, 5-2, 5-1)
Hungarian team captain Benca BATORI and his teammate David JANSIK each scored 3 goals in a wipe out of the team from Iran. Three Iranian players would score one goal each in the second half. Hungary led 5-0 at the half and they would score 5 goals in each of the final two quarters. Hungary replaces Iran at the top of the Group B standings with 4 points, two consecutive victories in two games. The Hungarian team has scored 46 goals in the tournament only letting in 3 goals from the Iranian team in today's game.
HUNGARY: 15 GOALS - LEVAI, Marton; KORENYI, Balazs; ANGYAL Daniel - 2; VAMOS, Marton Gyorgy - 2; CSAPO Miklos; *BATORI, Bence - 3; JANSIK, David - 3; SZENTESI, Adam; KERESZTES, Istvan - 2; FULOP, Bence - 1; KOVACS, Peter; FAZEKAS, Tibor Zsolt - 2; MEIXNER, Marcell; VERECZKEY, Zoltan; ILLES Sandor. *Team Captain
COACH: SZEKELY, Bulcsu
IRAN: 3 GOALS - CHAHABDARSHIRAZI, Saeed; HOSSEINMOHAM, Mohammad; DEHDARI, Amir; *DAEETAGHI, Mahdi - 1; JAMALIFARD, Aslan - 1; TIRAFKANKHOTBEH SAR, Amir; TIRAFKANKHOTBEH SAR, Amin; HOSSEIN-BARAEI, Amir; REZA SOLTANI, Ali; BARKHORDY ROZB, Ataollah; ZIAEI, Malek; MALEK KHANBANAN, Hamed - 1; OSATI, Ramtian. *Team Captain
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
HUN: 4 of 7 (57%)
IRAN: 2 of 8 (25%)
REFEREES: Toshio FUKIMOTO (JPN), Nenad GOLIJANIN (SRB)
GAME 24: 18:40, Group B, KUWAIT 2 - ITALY 26
Quarters: (9-0, 3-0, 7-0, 7-2)
Kuwait drew huge cheers when they scored twice in the 4th quarter. The spectator stands were packed with fans arriving early for the final game of the evening between Greece and Canada, but they roared with their support of the beleaguered Kuwaiti team that was more than 20 goals behind Italy. Kuwait's Yousef BOSAKHAR, captain of the Kuwait team scored the only two goals in today's effort. His twin brother and two cousins are also members of the Kuwait team in Volos. Italy's Luca DAMONTE scored at least one goal in every period, a total of 5 goals in the game. Andrea FONDELLI also scored 5 goals and team captain Cristano MIRARCHI netted 4 for Italy. Nine Italian players would advance the ball past the Kuwaiti goalies reach. Italy counts 4 points and will likely rest at the top of Group B standings after the final games of the day.
KUWAIT: 2 GOALS - BOSAKHAR, Huseen; *BOSAKHAR, Yousef - 2; BOSAKHAR Younis; ALFOUDARI, Mahmoud; ALMKEEMI, Athbi; BOLOUSHI, Mohammad; BOSAKHAR, Abdulhameed; ALRUMAIDHIN, Mohammad; ALASKARI Mohammad; ALMAZIAD, Homoud; ALFERAIJ, Mubarak; ALDOUSARI, Abdulwahab; ALSHATI, Hasan. *Team Captain
COACH: HORVATH, Viktor
ITALY: 26 GOALS - MUGELLI, Luca; BARABINO, Aimone; DAMONTE, Luca - 5; BIANCO, Giovanni; GIANNI, Giacomo - 1; GITTO, Matteo - 3; *MIRARCHI, Cristiano - 4; MARZIALI, Luca - 2; ROTONDO, Raffaele - 2; FONDELLI, Andrea - 5; PRESCIUTTI, Nicholas - 1; DI FULVIO, Francesco - 3; VESPA, Lorenzo. * Team Captain
COACH: AMEDEO, Pomilio
EXTRA PLAYER GOALS:
KUW: *BOSAKHAR, Yousef - 1
PENALTY SHOT GOALS:
KUW: 0 of 7 (0%)
ITA: 3 of 5 (40%)
REFEREES: Reynel CASTILLO (PUR), Dion WILLIS (RSA)