Group Progress Points:
Group A: Hungary 2, Italy 2, Kazakhstan 0, Turkey 0.
Group B: United States of America 2, Greece 2, Japan 0, Uzbekistan 0.
Group C: Netherlands 2, Australia 1, Canada 1, South Africa 0.
Group D: Spain 2, New Zealand 2, Serbia 0, Croatia 0.

Group A

Photos courtesy of Sandic Photography

KAZAKHSTAN 3 ITALY 16
Italy started its campaign with a solid 13-goal differential over Kazakhstan. Italy led 3-1, 6-2 and 10-3 at the breaks and looked a little tentative, something that will improve as the days progress. Kazakhstan was persistent in applying pressure. Italy converted two of three penalty attempts and swam away with three counter-attack goals in the final quarter. Italy converted two from six and Kazakhstan three from seven on extra-man attack.

Match heroes
Morena Leone was the undoubted star with six goals from 11 attempts, followed by Emma De March with three.

What they said
Morena Leone (ITA) — Player of the Match
“The game was very good. It was the championship’s first opening match, so I was a bit nervous. Overall, it was a nicely played game. On expecting to be the best player of the match? “Yes, I did (laughs). Our captain was expecting that as well, so I wasn’t really surprised.”
Alina Ozkaya (KAZ) — Player
“The game was rather difficult for our team since we don’t have enough experience and this was our first meeting with the Italian team.”

TURKEY 2 HUNGARY 32
Hungary shot down Turkey with a romp that started with a 7-0 opening quarter, had the margin at 15 by halftime and led 25-2 after three quarters. Hungary countered on 12 occasions and generally had the control of the pool, as expected. Turkey used the ball to the best of its ability and scored with a lob and a skip shot. It was Hungary’s day and Turkey’s baptism at this level will be something to remember, as were the first goal scorers‚ Defne Guclu and Yagmur Simsek. Hungary was perfect on extra-man, converting 11 from 11 and Turkey missed all four chances.

Match heroes
Kata Hajdu topped the scoring with six goals while three players netted five —Eszter Varro, Tekla Aubeli and Zoe Lendvay.

What they said
Marton Benczur (HUN) — Head Coach
“I expect the most important thing – to improve our play. Of course, we would like to get a medal, but it’s not the major thing we ‘must’ accomplish.” On if there was anything else he would change for the next match? “We will try harder because I believe Kazakhstan has a stronger team than Turkey. We must constantly improve ourselves.”
Zelma Koka (HUN) — Player
“I think this game was a great warm-up for the next matches. I’m particularly happy that everyone on my team scored a goal. All in all, I have very positive thoughts on the game.”
Elif Gurelli (TUR) — Player
“The opponents were strong and it was hard for us to maintain such a pace, but also it was a great experience and the match was enjoyable. For the next match, we will focus on our defence as well as our reflexes.“

GROUP B

JAPAN  11 GREECE 22
When a team can dominate the two-metre zone, it spells trouble for the opposition. Greece was the mistress of the centre-forward position, scoring at least 12 goals from close in, making the most of small openings. Greece was adventurous by taking passes that might have been low percentage and then converting. The march was relentless and Japan slowed somewhat in the middle with indecision, but then decided to take chancy shots and came up with 11, two from the penalty line. Greece had the 6-3 quarter-time lead, shot out to 13-6 by halftime and went into the final quarter with a 16-7 advantage, showing how good Japan can be by winning that stanza 4-3. Greece also had the smoother flow on extra-man attack and frequently pressured the Japanese line from close in. Greece nailed four from five on extra and Japan one from three.

Match heroes
Stefania Santa, named player of the match, was in scintillating form with a match-high seven goals. Dionysia Koureta followed up with five goals. Haru Yamamoto (JPN) sent in four.

What they said
Stefania Santa (GRE) — Player of the Match
“I think I played well. My team has helped me a lot and I am really grateful for that.” On if the coach was happy with your performance? “I believe he is. I did my best and gave my all!”
Sakura Katada (JPN) — Player
“It was fun and enjoyable. We fought hard and did our best.”

 

UZBEKISTAN 7 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 26
USA did what it does best and that is play superb water polo with excellent skills all around the pool. Uzbekistan was not to be over-shadowed, making the scoresheet seven times, including holding USA to 5-2 at the quarter break. This became 11-4 and 18-6. The 8-1 final quarter put a full stop on the match. Seven of USA’s goals came from the deep-wing positions. Uzbekistan scored two excellent goals with a centre-forward tip into the cage by Ulyana Umurzakova and then goalkeeper Ava Knepper coming up to halfway to bounce in a shot for 24-7 at 1:31. USA converted four from six on extra-man attack and Uzbekistan two from four.

Match heroes
Rachel Gazzaniga took the award with four goals from four attempts while team-mate Emily Ausmus topped the scoring with five from seven attempts. Ugiloy Abdulkhaeva was the best for Uzbekistan with three.

What they said
Rachel Gazzaniga (USA) — Player of the Match
“Great team effort, we started a little bit rocky, but it was our first game. I’m excited about our next games and to be better than our opponents. We have practised for a long time, and we came well prepared. We have a very versatile and fast team, which is committed to winning.”
Valeriya Konovalova (UZB) — Goalkeeper
“We enjoyed our game and our loss will not jeopardise our enthusiasm and perseverance to win. We have been preparing for this championship for about two years. Our training was hard and intensive; we trained twice a day. Our second place in the Asian Games proved our team to be powerful and cooperative.

GROUP C

CANADA 12 AUSTRALIA 12
In the Commonwealth battle, the closest match of the day produced many amazing moments. The most amazing was Serena Browne’s contribution for Canada with an incredible 10 goals, including two of her three penalty goals consecutively in the final quarter. Australia’s inability to close her down proved critical. Australia also missed three one-on-ones in the third period, which could have been the difference in the match. That, and giving up two extra-man goals in the dying minute that lifted Canada from one down to one ahead at the halfway mark. The biggest goal of the match went to Australia’s Magali Ogg. She took the ball for the restart after a go-ahead Browne goal and, from 17 metres, fired the ball toward goal, bouncing over the goalkeeper for 9-9. Australia grabbed the lead three times and had to come back from two down in the last three minutes to secure the draw. Canada had the better of the six-on-five attack with five from 11. Australia managed just two from eight.

Match heroes
Serena Browne with her incredible haul of 10 goals for Canada. For Australia, Sienna Green was best with four goals. 

What they said
Philip Bower (AUS) — Head Coach
“I’m not really satisfied. We were extremely nervous; it was our first game. Every game is a lesson, so we will improve a lot. We had six girls and we couldn’t put the ball in the net. We just have to slow down and concentrate a little bit; we will be fine.”
Raha Peiravani (CAN) — Player
“I think it was a really tough and good game. We really played together as a team, and although there is a couple of things we can work on, it was a really good game overall. As a team, we have really been together for just a week, and we prepared in Italy. Before the game, we do as much as we can to bring our team play and cooperation to a higher level, which can include listening to music in the bus together, stretching, and so on.

SOUTH AFRICA 6 NETHERLANDS 26
Netherlands, thanks to recent competition in the Pythia Cup, was far more polished than South Africa. It had the firepower and used it to good effect from the top and managed to find the holes in the weaker opposition defence. The South Africans fought hard, but will need to tighten up its back line and even pressure out front to stop the long shots and lobs. Netherlands scored four from centre forward and South Africa two. Six goals came on counter for Netherlands and a multitude of steals from outside pressure made a huge difference in getting the 20-goal margin. Netherlands converted five from six on extra-man attack and South Africa three from six.

Match heroes
Lola Moolhuijzen, who also plays on the national senior team, was best in pool with six goals while Feline Voordouw grabbed five more. South African goalkeeper Liyakhanya Ndamane was on fire with many saves in the onslaught, including two amazing penalty blocks.  

What they said
Lola Moolhuijzen (NED) — Player of the Match
On expecting to win and becoming MVP? “Of course, all of us had that team spirit and we all wanted to win. My goal was to win, and not to be the MVP, but anyways, I’m proud that I became one. Having hours and hours of practice in the pool behind us, we have spent a lot of time training for this competition, and our goal is to show that we are one of the best teams. I think Australia may be the toughest opponent to face since we already had the training with them and they proved to be rather skilled.”
Keirah van de Loosdrecht (RSA) — Player
“I think it was a good game towards the end. I believe we had all the basics quite right, but I think we all were a bit nervous because it was our first game of the tournament. I would only change communication between the team, but other than that, I think we did quite well.”

 GROUP D

CROATIA 3 SPAIN 17
Spain was always going to win and made sure of the 14-goal margin. It could have been bigger but for Croatia’s doggedness on defence. It was the first match at this level for Croatia and more matches will make a huge difference. Spain had the 5-0 quarter-time advantage and 9-2 at halftime as Croatia came good with its first international goals from the left-hand-catch position and from an eight-metre bomb. It was 11-2 at the last break and the final goal of the match came on the final buzzer from outside. Croatia’s third goal was from a nine-metre bounce. In a low-fouling match, Spain converted both extra-man chances and Croatia did not score off its one attempt.

Match heroes
Daniela Moreno was adjudged best in pool with four goals and Nerea Martin and Queralt Bertran netted three apiece for Spain. Nina Eterovic was a double scorer for Croatia, something she will cherish in her first FINA match.

What they said
Daniela Moreno (ESP) — Player of the Match
“I’m so proud of my team and its performance; I think we managed to put up a great game. We have to keep going and we are looking forward to the upcoming games. Our objective is to win all the remaining games and enhance our defence.“
Elena Crnicki (CRO) — Player
“Even though we have lost and we don’t feel the best, knowing what our mistakes were will send us down the road of rectifying them. We are going to forget about this loss and prepare for the challenging upcoming match with New Zealand.”

SERBIA 5 NEW ZEALAND 17
New Zealand collected a valuable victory over Serbia, playing at this level for the first time. The Kiwis led 3-2 and then 5-2 at the quarter, stretching to 8-2 by halftime and 11-3 at the final break. Serbia kept coming back with goals, but New Zealand appeared much stronger, especially at centre forward. The one blemish was probably a blocked penalty attempt in the first quarter and possibly some lax attacks that should have been goals in the second half. It was a good hit-out for both teams and Serbia should be proud of five goals against a New Zealand team that was swimming hard all the way. New Zealand netted two from four on extra and Serbia three from eight.

Match heroes
Kiwi Millie Quin was the best in pool with seven goals from 14 attempts while Darcy Spark chimed in with three. Jovanna Radonjic netted a double for Serbia.

What they said
Millie Quin (NZL) — Player of the Match
“I’m really excited; we did not expect to come up with the win in such a short period of time. It is really captivating to see what our team can do.” On the recipe for the victory? “It is, honestly, just  team play, playing for each other, and not separately. Putting hard work and dedication in was the key.”
Iva Marinkovic (SRB) — Player
“Even though we could have played in a more vigorous manner and possibly win this game (being the host)… is the big motivation for our team.”