Progress points:
Group A: Spain 3, Hungary 3, Australia 0, New Zealand 0.
Group B: Italy 3, United States of America 3, Netherlands 0, Canada 0.

Day 2 Programme:
08:40 Canada v United States of America
10:20 Netherlands v Italy
12:00 Australia v New Zealand
13:40 Spain v Hungary

Group A

AUSTRALIA 7 HUNGARY 9
Hungary trailed for only a minute and a half in a tight match made even tighter by the ferocious Hungarian defence. Hungary smothered the Aussie Stingers on defence, making it hard to get successful shots away. Rebecca Parkes was awesome in the opening stanzas, earning an exclusion and scoring the first goal for Hungary as her team went 2-0 up in just over two minutes. Captain Rita Keszthelyi scored either side of the first break as Hungary went 3-1 up. Australia managed to get back to 4-3 behind by halftime thanks to a second Charlize Andrews goal and then Abby Andrews levelled on counter and Bronte Halligan sent in a penalty goal off the head of goalkeeper Alda Magyari for the go-ahead 5-4 conversion. Zsuzsanna Mate levelled and Charlize Andrews had her 10-second goal disallowed for being just after the buzzer, which could have given Australia the lead. Hungary settled the result with a three-goal burst with Parkes on extra and Mate from the top gaining second goals. The Stingers won the last two minutes 2-1, but Keszthelyi’s penalty strike for 9-6 at 2:48 decided the match.

Match Heroes
Keszthelyi scored a hat-trick and Magyari was awesome in goal for Hungary.

Turning Points
The opening two goals set the scene for Hungarian dominance and the three-goal, unanswered haul in the final quarter to go to 8-5 were the keys to the victory.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary scored twice on extra while both teams converted their penalty attempts.

Bottom Line
Hungary is No. 2 in the world and showed why it is playing so well. Australia missed a handful of passes early on, but rose to the occasion and proved that more matches will make a huge difference as the tournament progresses. Hungary has the runs on the board this year and could close out in style come Sunday.

SPAIN 21 NEW ZEALAND 4
European champion Spain made sure of a terrific start to its Super Final campaign against minnow New Zealand, playing its first Super Final. Spain is tried and tested and one of the best teams of the past decade and this showed through against the Kiwis. At 4-1 by the quarter, Spain was in control and New Zealand would have been encouraged by the 4-2 margin after Gabrielle Milicich gained her second goal on extra-man attack. But then the dynamic play of Spain rushed forward as the procession of goals rained into the Kiwi goal, taking the score to 13-2 before Emmerson Houghton could address the imbalance and close the third period for New Zealand. Bea Ortiz, Pili Pena and Maria Placio were double scorers in this phase. Goals were traded for 14-4 and then Spain did what it does best, score goals, sending seven straight with Ortiz grabbing two more.

Match Heroes
Ortiz was just one of many, but her four goals were vital to the cause. Judith Forca and Paula Camus netted three each as 10 Spaniards made the sheet.

Turning Points
The nine successive goals in nine minutes from the second to third quarters and the seven straight to close out the match.

Stats Don’t Lie
Just the five extra-man goals with four to Spain, plus a penalty conversion.

Bottom Line
Spain is a class above and probably ranked two in Tenerife, bottom-ranked New Zealand is definitely new to this stage and will take some comfort in scoring four goals as it heads further into the tournament.

Group B

NETHERLANDS 6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 9
USA  opened the day’s proceedings with a three-goal margin acquired by halftime. Neither side was in top form and looked dazed at some times and had to sit around as the VAR dominated proceedings with three interruptions — two in the closing quarter. One of these was a request from USA head coach Adam Krikorian about the awarding of a penalty throw in which he thought the goalkeeper had gained possession. However, it was denied and Brigitte Sleeking bounced in the 8-6 goal just inside the five-minute mark. An earlier penalty attempt by Netherlands was blocked in the bottom left by USA superstar goalkeeper Ash Johnson at the death of the third quarter. USA went one, two and three ahead in the first quarter, kept Netherlands scoreless in the second for the 5-2 turnaround and closed the third an 8-4 leader. Netherlands won the last quarter, but it was too late and a last-gasp play was fumbled, giving the USA a comfortable three-goal advantage. One goal worthy of mention was Vivian Sevenich’s snap centre-forward backhand for 3-2, three seconds from the first break.

Match Heroes
Jordan Raney and Jenna Flynn grabbed two goals each by midway through the third period while Lola Moolhuijzen, just 18 years of age, scored a pair either side of the final break for Netherlands. Johnson’s penalty save and general presence in goal was intimidating.

Turning Points
The shut-out second period of 5-2, which became 7-3 three minutes from the final break, said it all.

Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams converted extra-man plays twice while the Dutch scored two from three from the penalty line and USA one from one.

Bottom Line
USA is the best team in the world, and even without some top-liners, the combinations and plays were there, albeit some not coming off so well. Three goals up in the opening match is not to be sneezed at.

CANADA 9 ITALY 16
With bronze from the recent European Championships and fourth place at this year’s FINA World Championships, Italy had the upper hand and recovered from Canada’s opening goal to go 2-1 and 3-2 ahead by the first quarter. This became 5-2 and 7-5 by halftime as Canada kept in the play, scoring twice from outside the top through Hayley McKelvey and Shae La Roche, for her second. Goals were traded at the top of the third quarter before five different Italian players, including evergreen Roberta Bianconi with her second, closed the period at 13-6. Canada scored the first two of the fourth, however, Italy sent in three straight and Canada finished the scoring in what was a convincing and powerful match from the Italians. Amazingly, 17 players made the scoresheet, showing the all-round capabilities of both teams.

Match Hero
Claudia Marletta was the only player to hit three goals — on extra-man attack for 10-6 and then with a penalty conversion and action goal in the dying minutes.

Turning Point
Five unanswered goals in the third period lifted the match from 8-6 to 13-6, something Canada could not come back from.

Stats Don’t Lie
Italy scored two from three from penalties and won the extra-man battle with five goals to Canada’s two.

Bottom Line
Italy is a class act and with a small handful of newcomers blending into the team, it can look forward to an excellent future. Canada lost its way in the third period and failed to finish off promising attacks as the Italian defence made sure of critical disruptions.