Group A

South Africa 7 Israel 22   

All photos courtesy of: Jo Kleindl/DSV/World Aquatics

Israel made a point in thrashing South Africa by a 15-goal margin, never letting up after being a goal down. Israel led 4-1 at the quarter, 8-5 at halftime and 14-7 by the final break and then won the last quarter 8-0. South Africa struggled to get a shot on target in the last 10 minutes and found Israel’s speed too much to handle. Eight Israelis scored while South Africa relied on two players for the points.

Match heroes:
Carmel Rahum (17) finished with the player-of-the-match award thanks to her four goals — three from centre forward and one on extra. Team-mate Tahel Levi scored three lobs goals and one on counter. South Africa’s best was Ruby Versfeld with four goals — three at centre forward and her first on counter. She turned, backhanded and swept for her three two-metre shots. Amber Penney netted three, included the two penalty strikes.

Turning point:
The Israeli five-goal surge after South Africa opened the scoring. South Africa dragged it back to three, but from then on, it was all Israel.

Stats don’t lie:
Israel won the match on counter, made 12 steals to five, converted three from four on extra-man attack to South Africa’s none from one. Israel had the edge on penalty goals with three from three to South Africa’s two from two. The real statistic was the 36 shots taken by Israel to its opponent’s 24.

Bottom line:
South Africa has the runs on the board at international level, but only Kelsey White (32) has true international experience. Israel has a much younger team with Shunit Strugo the “grandmother” of the team at 36 and a three-goal scorer today. Both teams would have gained from the outing and now know what is required to play at the top level.

Uzbekistan 11 Ukraine 10

This was a debut for Ukraine at World Aquatics level and what an effort! It may have been pipped at the post by Uzbekistan, but holding leads of 3-1, 5-4, 8-7 and 9-6 with less than three minutes remaining in the third period, was incredible. This high-class match where both teams sought to extract every possible shot on target was simply exciting.

Uzbekistan opened the scoring and trailed 3-1 before levelling at three by the first break and going one up at the start of the second. Ukraine netted the next two for the 5-4 halftime break. Muftuna Pulatova scored her third goal to level for Uzbekistan before Ukraine emerged with three straight goals — the first two on extra-man attack. Goals were traded then Uzbekistan netted the next three with Pulatova converting extra, two seconds from the buzzer for 9-9.

A centre -forward goal to Aryna Aleksienko had the Ukrainians up early. Uzbekistan responded through Elena Gavashlelashvili on extra for 10-10. Three-goal hero Sokhibakhon Sayffidinova hit the wood on a penalty shot, but as the Ukrainians went on attack, Pulatova slid under her defender and emerged just in front of the goalkeeper, stole the ball and scored, much to the bewilderment of the crowd and her team-mates. It was the winning goal at 3:12.

On the next Ukrainian attack, the shot needed a VAR decision to say it did not cross the line, thus denying Ukraine an equaliser. It was a tremendous match, especially for the first day.

Match heroes:
Pulatova was named best in pool with five goals for Uzbekistan, scoring the first and last with the final goal an amazing individual effort. On the other side of the ledger, Ukrainian goalkeeper Olena Riabchenko was inspirational with 13 saves, keeping her team well in the match. Iryna Aboimova slotted three goals for the plucky Ukrainians.

Turning point:
Twice Ukraine had three-goal sectors and Uzbekistan’s three unanswered goals in the third to equalise was where the damage started. That and Pulatova’s remarkable goal.

Stats don’t lie:
Uzbekistan had 30 shots to 22; converted only four from nine on extra to Ukraine’s excellent five from six; turned over the ball eight times to two, but made seven steals to three. There was really nothing in it.

Bottom line:
Uzbekistan is more experienced at the international level. However, to see a nation like Ukraine burst on to the World Cup scene with such a powerful showing in such uncertain times, bodes well for the future of women’s water polo.

South Africa 19 Ukraine 5

South Africa swam rampant over Ukraine who could not reproduce its magic of the morning round where it only lost by a goal to Uzbekistan. The African team kept Ukraine scoreless in the first half as it raced to 6-0 at the quarter and 10-0 at halftime.

Ukraine’s pair in the third set came at 11-1 and 12-2 before South Africa shunted the score out to 17-2 by the last break, including five consecutive centre-forward goals. Ukraine, however, won the last quarter 3-2, showing its true fighting spirit.

Match heroes:
Ruby Versfeld (RSA) topped the scoring with four goals, the same number as her haul in the first match. Amber Penney scored three and took player-of-the-match honours, stating afterwards that as it is a new team with little time together, the second match witnessed better combinations. Iryna Aboimova sent in two for Ukraine, one from the penalty line and another with a long lob.

Turning point:
The first two quarters where Ukraine was given no chance to score.

Stats don’t lie:
South Africa took 35 shots to 19, converted two from four on extra-man attack to Ukraine’s two from three, but it was the 15 steals to four that proved the main statistic. South Africa had its penalty attempt saved while Ukraine nailed its one chance.

Bottom line:
South Africa had a point to prove after the big loss to Israel and produced some sublime play. Ukraine looked spent after the first match after coming so close to a draw and possible shootout. It had no answers to South Africa’s speed and quick thinking.

Uzbekistan 7 Israel 22

Israel is not here to make up numbers. It’s here to win a berth to Long Beach and a second large win, proved it is really capable of that. The match may have been 1-1 inside the first minute, but Israel took control with the next five goals and led the period 6-2.

Uzbekistan scored three goals either side of the break for 6-4 and scored once more (8-5) as Israel settled and cruised to halftime at 11-5. This became 13-5 and 16-6 at the final break. It became 17-7 and Israel closed the stable door and bolted away with the last five goals with a triple from Shunit Strugo.

Match heroes:
Strugo was inspirational with six goals, including a pair in the opening quarter and a third, on counter, in the third period. Her triple included a penalty goal, a score on extra and a counter-attack effort. Eight players made the scoresheet for Israel. Maria Bogachenko scored five goals and was awarded the best in pool. Israeli goalkeeper Eyelet Peres made six saves in her two quarters.

Turning point:
Israel’s romp from 1-1 to 6-1, plus the two five-goal hauls that Uzbekistan could not contain.

Stats don’t lie:
Israel’s five penalty goals to Uzbekistan’s one, showed how good it was in front of goal. Israel converted three from five on extra-man attack to Uzbekistan’s four from 10.

Bottom line:
Israel has the goods to go all the way and even make an impression in Long Beach. Uzbekistan now needs to eliminate South Africa for a chance at Thursday’s crucial play-offs to decide who will advance to the main competition.

Group B

New Zealand 22 Great Britain 6

New Zealand was a class above and possibly one of the form teams in Berlin. New Zealand is in the box seat to gain qualification to the finals while Trans-Tasman neighbour Australia failed in its bid through the recent Division I series. The Kiwi women have been together for some years, and many have experienced at least two World Aquatics World Championships. Great Britain, however, has had not that chance on the world stage and struggled to get into the match.

The writing was on the wall for Great Britain in the first minute when the women from Down Under opened the scoring and were relentless until quarter time when it was already 7-0. Anya Clapperton broke the drought to start the second quarter and two penalty attempts were saved by the respective keepers. The Kiwis went 11-1 ahead at the long break.

Four straight had the match at 15-1 midway through the third quarter before two Kathy Rogers goals at two metres — one from a lob and the other off a short drive — gave some reprieve for Great Britain. New Zealand moved out to 18-4 by the last break and the European team can be lauded for the three goals in the final period.

Match heroes:
Emmerson Houghton, who plays for Spandau in the Germany league, was the top scorer with six goals and closely supported by Bernadette Doyle with five and Emily Nicholson with three. For Great Britain, Clapperton, who tipped in two goals for her three, was the best, although, goalkeeper Alex Robinson is to be congratulated with 10 saves in such a harrowing onslaught.

Turning point:
The opening goal.

Stats don’t lie:
This shows just how the stats work. The Kiwis shot 45 times to Great Britain’s meagre 19 and stole the ball an amazing 18 times to four while converting six from eight on extra-man attack and defended four from seven. These were the stats that really counted. New Zealand missed two from four at the penalty line to Britain’s two from three success rate. A happy stat for New Zealand was gaining a penalty because of an Illegal timeout call attributed to Great Britain.

Bottom line:
New Zealand has the team to qualify and with such a short programme, the finals series is tantalisingly close. Great Britain needs to come back with better passing, better control of the ball and sharper reflexes.

Kazakhstan 11 Germany 7

Kazakhstan came up with its first win in the cut-throat competition after trailing for most of the first quarter. It was level at 1-1 and 2-2 with Germany going 4-2 ahead and holding the quarter-time lead at 5-4. It became unstuck for Germany in the second quarter, failing to score and being two behind at the halftime break (7-5).

Gesa Deike scored twice to bring Germany to within one goal on two occasions. However, a missed penalty attempt did not help, and Kazakhstan squeezed out to 10-7 by the final break. An early penalty goal to Viktoriya Khritankova — her third goal — lifted the margin to four and Germany’s 14 minutes of non-scoring set the seal on the match.

Match heroes:
There were heroes all around the pool, including Felicitas Guse with her nine saves for Germany and Maria Martynenko with her nine for Kazakhstan. Deike was the best scorer with four for Germany while Kazakhstan’s best were Anastassia Tsoy and Khritankova with three each.

Turning point:
Kazakhstan’s four unanswered goals from 5-3 down to 7-5 ahead by halftime. Keeping Germany scoreless in the second and fourth quarters were crucial to the win.

Stats don’t lie:
Kazakhstan had the stats that mattered and that was 33 shots to 24 and eight steals to five. On extra-man attack, Kazakhstan went two from six and Germany one from five. Kazakhstan converted its one penalty chance and Germany two from three.

Bottom line:
Kazakhstan laid claim to being one of the better teams in Berlin and Germany was not as sharp and did not take opportunities presented.

Kazakhstan 15 Great Britain 7

Kazakhstan gained its second victory, putting it in the box seat for a crack at the two finals berths for Long Beach. With a 2-2 opening quarter, Kazakhstan rose to the occasion with five straight goals for 7-2, easing slightly to give up an extra-man goal for the 7-3 halftime marker. Another four consecutive goals pushed the margin to 11-3.

Anya Clapperton, who scored that 7-3 goal for Great Britain, collected two more before the final break, both from well outside. She nabbed a fourth for 13-6 before two Darya Pochinok goals, bringing her tally to five, made sure of a comfortable victory even though Great Britain had the last hurrah with a last-minute score on extra.

Match heroes:
Pochinok with five goals, three on extra, topped the scorers, as seven other team-mates made the sheet. Clapperton was dominant for Great Britain. Alexandra Zharkimbayeva (KAZ) and Grace Kay (GBR) both pulled down eight saves in goals.

Turning point:
The 9-1 avalanche from late in the first quarter to late in the third that lifted Kazakhstan to 11-3.

Stats don’t lie:
Kazakhstan rattled off 31 shots to 23, dominated extra-man attack with seven from 12 even though Great Britain was excellent at five from seven. Both teams made eight steals, and both converted their single penalty attempts.

Bottom line:
Kazakhstan has set itself up for a blockbuster match against also-unbeaten New Zealand on Wednesday with the winner gaining the top spot in the crossovers (playing the second team in the other group) that will determine the World Cup finals qualification. Great Britain has two losses and will try and rally for the next clash with Germany for third spot but neither with a chance of going to California.

New Zealand 12 Germany 6

New Zealand recovered from 2-1 down to take a 3-2 quarter-time lead, boosted it to 7-2 at halftime and 8-5 before closing with a 4-1 final quarter. The only real fail for the Kiwis was the three unanswered goals in the third period by Germany.

New Zealand has scorers all around the pool, knows how to put pressure on players to steal the ball and shows excellent ball handling in front of goal.

Match heroes:
Bernadette Doyle scored four goals to lead the Kiwi charge, one more than team-mate Gabrielle Milicich. Lynn Krukenberg scored three for Germany and Felicitas Guse did her best to contain the opposition’s mounting total with nine saves in goal for Germany.

Turning point:
From 2-1 behind, New Zealand’s bounce-back six goals had the half sewn up at 7-2. Coming from 7-5 to 12-5 was the second turning point.

Stats don’t lie:
New Zealand shot an incredible 32 times to Germany’s meagre 18; converted two from four on extra to Germany’s three from five and made a match-winning 13 steals to six. Both teams converted their single penalty chance.

Bottom line:
New Zealand wants nothing less that finals qualification and showed that today with the double victory. With two losses, Germany can only play for third spot on Wednesday with no hope of making the top-two shootout.

Progress Points

Group A: Israel 6, South Africa 3, Uzbekistan 3, Ukraine.
Group B: New Zealand 6, Kazakhstan 6, Germany 0, Great Britain 0.