Group A

Uzbekistan 8 South Africa 12

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

South Africa was never headed in a relatively tight match with strong defence from both teams, as the statistics reveal. The 2-0 start set the tone of the match and two Ruby Versfeld centre-forward goals helped maintain a 4-2 advantage at the first break. With Sokhibakhon Sayfiddinova on fire with a pair in the first quarter, she almost single-handedly tried to take the match, scoring with a deep lob and a strike from centre forward to level at four by the last minute of the period. It was Chloe Meecham’s penalty goal that separated the teams 25 seconds from halftime. South Africa had just gone more than eight minutes without a goal, such was Uzbekistan’s defence.

The third period was Uzbekistan’s downfall, not scoring as South Africa sent in three with long shots from Meecham and veteran Kelsey White and an Amber Penney penalty goal. Nikhola Akhmadkhanova drove for the first goal of the final quarter; South Africa went to 10-5 thanks to Meecham and Versfeld. Both teams took timeouts and only Uzbekistan reaped a goal, eventually, through Sayfiddinova, followed by another from Akhmadkhanova.

White eased it out to 11-7 before Amilya Gabzalilova sent in what was the fourth consecutive lob shot by 1:14. Penney had a penalty shot saved and Versfeld closed the match with another brilliant two-metre goal for what was a hard-fought 12-8 victory that gained it a shot at a qualification berth.

Match heroes:
South Africa’s Meecham was versatile with her four goals, including one penalty conversion. Versfeld came under a lot of fire at two metres, however, she had the last laugh with four excellent goals, twice when guarded by two players. White came alive with three goals — her first of the tournament.

Turning point:
A clean sheet on defence in the third period when South Africa moved from 5-4 to 8-4.

Stats don’t lie:
South Africa shot 26 times to Uzbekistan’s 26, converted just one from three on extra-man attack to one from four; made 10 steals to seven and converted two from three on the penalty line to Uzbekistan’s one from one. These stats show just how close the match was.

Bottom line:
South Africa is improving with every match and, with New Zealand the only hurdle to a finals berth, anything can happen. That sudden trajectory will be needed if it hopes to progress. Uzbekistan shows glimpses of good water polo, but needs more exposure, something it will possibly get at this year’s Asian Games in China.

Ukraine 2 Israel 26

Israel went on the rampage against Ukraine, showing respect to the opposition as it wants to maintain the momentum ahead of the qualification finals. It was a third straight large-margin win for Israel as it wants to show the top-ranked nations that it deserves a place at the high altar of women’s water polo.

The quarters were rattled off — 9-0, 5-0, 8-2 and 4-0. There was no negotiation, just hard water polo played at the highest speed possible. Israel drew penalties, scoring all five, scored eight counter-attack goals and generally controlled every aspect of the match.

Ukraine missed a penalty attempt at 4-0 and scored its first goal through Sabina Danylina at 18-1 and followed up through Oleksandra Belinska at 22-2, both from the right-hand-catch position.

Ukraine will now go to the seventh and eighth play-off with Great Britain, which should prove a real equaliser now that both teams have three matches of experience on the board.

Match heroes:
Shunit Strugo (above) belied her years and produced a command performance with seven goals from seven attempts, however, her second goal did need a VAR decision to get it across the line. Three of her goals came from the penalty line in which she earned two of them, while another two came on counter. She sits at the top of the scoring ladder with an incredible 16 goals in three matches — and at the age of 36! Tahel Levi, Noga Levinshtein and Alma Yaacobi all scored four goals in the rout.

Turning point:
The opening goal.

Stats don’t lie:
Israel shot 35 times to 25; converted four from seven on extra to Ukraine’s none from two; converted the only five penalties of the match and made 11 steals to three. Game over.

Bottom line:
Israel looks the goods and produces when needed. It will be a hard ask for any team in Berlin to beat it, let alone qualification opponent Kazakhstan. The speed of play, quality of ball control and match knowledge makes it a team worthy of finals inclusion. Ukraine looked stunned and now needs to regroup ahead of what could be a good encounter with Great Britain, especially if it reproduces the form it had on day one, losing by a single goal to Uzbekistan.

Group B

Kazakhstan 8 New Zealand 15

 

New Zealand emerged from the group with a perfect record, but had to come from 2-1 and 3-2 down to secure the victory. Kazakhstan was not going to lay over and die as it took the lead three times. It was 2-2 at the quarter break and Ukrainian  Darya Pochinok scored twice from very deep right, catching the goalkeeper unawares. When Morgan McDowall went on counter to equalise at three — her second goal — it opened the floodgates and a further three goals came, including McDowall’s third, for a 6-3 lead. Valeriya Assonova tipped in a long-range pass for 6-4, 2:43 from halftime.

Four unanswered goals gave the Kiwis a handsome 10-4 advantage, despite having a penalty attempt saved. Anastassiya Mirshina (27) muscled in a centre-forward goal to close the quarter at 10-5.

McDowall (above) backhanded a centre-forward goal to open the final period and two Kazakhstan goals gave some hope with four minutes remaining. However, a three-goal spurt by New Zealand, including two Bernadette Doyle strikes on extra-man attack, lifted the margin to seven.

Mirshina scored on extra and soon after was ejected on a major foul. She remonstrated with the referee and was red-carded, gifting a penalty to New Zealand for the 15-8 victory, 37 seconds from time.

Match heroes:
McDowall, with her five goals, was easily the best in pool with Emily Nicholson netting a further three and goalkeeper Jessica Milicich made a fine nine saves.

Turning point:
The four goals in the second quarter that changed the face of the match, going from one down to three ahead. The four consecutive goals in the third quarter helped seal victory.

Stats don’t lie:
Both teams had a high conversion rate on extra-man attack, but New Zealand was best at five from seven. Kazakhstan scored five from 10. New Zealand converted two from three on penalty and made 15 steals to nine.

Bottom line:
New Zealand deservedly won the match and the right to play for one of the two qualification tickets and has the all-round play to beat South Africa on Thursday. Kazakhstan took out second place and now has the unimaginable task of defeating high-flying Israel in the first qualification final.

Germany 15 Great Britain 12

This was the battle for third place in the group and Great Britain was desperate to beat Germany until the final whistle. Great Britain led 1-0 and 3-2 until Germany levelled at three by quarter time. Then it was all about catch-up for the Britons as Germany took a grip on the match.

Great Britain levelled at four, seven and eight in the next two quarters as Germany led 7-6 at the turn and 10-8 at the final break. From that 8-8 when Kathy Rogers scored from the penalty line, Germany jumped out to 11-8 two minutes into the final period. Goals were traded until 14-11 when Gesa Deike sent in her fourth goal at 2:15, almost eliminating Great Britain.

Both teams called a timeout with no score, but Germany shut down the result with a Jamie Haas score at 0:31. Defiantly, Rebecca Mulchay scored from deep left for 15-12, but by then it was too late.

Match heroes:
Deike may have gained the kudos as player of the match, but it was Anya Clapperton who was in striking form, scoring six goals for Great Britain, scoring two from centre forward, one on counter, another from eight metres, a penalty goal and one on extra-man attack.

Turning point:
The three goals straddling the final break that boosted the score from 9-8 to 11-8.

Stats don’t lie:
Germany won the shooting contest with 33 to 27; scored an impeccable five from five on extra to Great Britain’s two from three. Germany made nine steals to four, but allowed Great Britain to convert two from three on penalty.

Bottom line:
Both teams showed excellent prowess in the pool and Germany should be lauded for the win and its  chance to wrap up fifth place against Uzbekistan on Thursday. Great Britain has the skills to surpass Ukraine for seventh.

Final Points

Group A: Israel 9, South Africa 6, Uzbekistan 3, Ukraine 0.
Group B: New Zealand 9, Kazakhstan 6, Germany 3, Great Britain 0.

Day 3 programme

14:00, Great Britain v Ukraine (Classification 7-8)
15:45, Israel v Kazakhstan (Qualification final)
17:30, Germany v Uzbekistan (Classification 5-6)
19:15, New Zealand v South Africa (Qualification final)