Match reports

Group A

ITALY 9 MONTENEGRO 7

 Pictures courtesy of Iosif Vagnar/World Aquatics

Fourth-ranked Italy gained a heroic victory over ladder leader Montenegro, showing just how close this competition is at the top level. The win was made even more spectacular as Italian player Matteo Bragatini allegedly struck a Montenegrin player when leaving the pool, the referee indicating a fist was used.

This was at 3:27 in the second quarter and, even though master shooter Marko Mrsic scored the penalty goal, Montenegro could make no headway in the four minutes following when it had an extra-man advantage.

Italy started the scoring, was 3-2 at quarter time and 6-4 at the long break. Montenegro pulled two back for 6-6 in the third with Agostino Somma blasting in an eight-metre missile for 7-6, 15 seconds from the buzzer. A Luca Provenziani counter-attack goal pushed it to two goals before Lazar Vukicevic finished off a Montenegrin counter opportunity, grabbing the rebound to score for 8-7 at 3:32.

Both teams took timeouts to no avail and in the final half minute, Montenegrin goalkeeper Ilija Radovic came up into the attack. However, it had the opposite effect as the ball was stolen from him and Alessandro Balzarini sent the ball skipping into the empty net from more than 20 metres out to seal the victory.

Match Heroes
Balzarini top-scored with three goals and Italian goalkeeper Roberto Spinelli gained the match award for his eight saves. Vukecevic and David Stevovic each scored twice for Montenegro.

Turning Point
It should have been the violence-foul expulsion of Bragatini that would trigger a Montenegrin victory, but it did not. Instead, probably the two goals either side of the final break by Italy and its resolve that brought success were crucial.

Stats Don’t Lie
Italy took 30 shots to 26, converted two from 13 to Montenegro’s three from 12. On penalties, all were scored with Italy one and Montenegro two. Italy, however, plundered 10 steals to six.

Bottom Line
It may not have lifted Italy off the bottom of the group, but it gave some hearty confidence for the matches ahead as the Division I teams have a rest day on Tuesday while the bottom four groups battle for positions in the eighth finals.

SPAIN 12 CROATIA 7

This was the second match of the day when a violence foul led to a team having to play four minutes with one player less. And like the previous match where the team with that advantage did not take the match, the same happened here with Spain giving up two penalty goals and immediately after the four-minute suspension, rattled in three straight to secure the match.

Spain had the 3-1 quarter-time advantage and led 6-4 at halftime, increasing the margin to three — 8-5 — at the final break. Then Abel Ramon allegedly struck his opponent in the face above the waterline and was subsequently red-carded, gifting a penalty goal to Croatia.

Croatia added another from the penalty line, but that’s all it could do with the extra man. By 2:05, Spain was 11-7 ahead and with 18 seconds to go, Marc Valls nailed his third with a rifle shot from eight metres to close out the win.

Valls earlier showed tremendous class, receiving the ball deep left, turning his opponent, evading a second opponent, waving the ball for what seemed an eternity and then blasted home from point blank.

Match Heroes
Joan Villamayor was best in pool with four goals, including two on counter. Croatia’s Roberto Radic netted two.

Turning Point
The 5-2 buffer Spain created; the 2-1 third period and then repulsing Croatia in the violence situation. The last four goals helped, as well.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain shot 32 to 19, converted four from 13 on extra to Croatia’s two from 11. Spain scored both penalty attempts and Croatia two from three.

Bottom Line
Maybe Croatia was still shell-shocked from being five goals up against Montenegro on day two only to lose in a penalty shootout. Perhaps Igor Hinic’s team will learn from this as it sits third in the group and will need some hard work to get to the finals.

Group B

SERBIA 8 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 7

USA had a dream start that turned into a nightmare. From 2-1 at the quarter to 5-1 — thanks to four Ryder Dodd (pictured) goals — USA looked to have the mettle of Serbia and create a huge boilover.

With two minutes remaining in the half, Serbia scored on extra-man attack and the penalty line for 5-3 at the turn. Two swift extra-man goals at the top of the third had the match on even terms. Two minutes later, Serbia had the lead with Chase Dodd responding for USA at 1:50, the three-quarter score.

Aleksandar Kovacevic scored from the deep right on action a minute into the final stanza and two and a half minutes later, Chase Dodd made it 7-7. Despite a USA timeout, no score came and two minutes later with the final buzzer approaching, Luka Gladovic converted the extra-man play from the left-hand-catch position to win the encounter, leaving USA to ponder how it came about.

Match Heroes
Ryder Dodd was the best in pool with his four goals that had USA 5-1 up. In a rarity, brother Chase Dodd scored the other two — the only two scorers for the team. One wonders how many times this has occurred at international level. Goalkeeper West Temkin dragged down 10 saves for USA. Gladovic scored the first and last goals for Serbia and Nikola Kojic also had two.

Turning Point
USA’s 5-1 start followed by Serbia’s four goals to level at five, bringing with it a winning momentum.

Stats Don’t Lie
Serbia shot 30 to 27, converted four from nine on extra-man attack to USA’s two from 13 and both teams sent in a penalty goal.

Bottom Line
Serbia earned a quarterfinal berth and USA, so close to the top grouping, will await its opponent in two days to see if it progresses to the quarters.

GREECE 9 HUNGARY 16

Hungary scored an emphatic victory over Greece, never being headed, while winning the first two quarters 4-2, 6-2, losing the third 3-2 and taking out the last 4-2.

Hungary was particularly dangerous on extra-man attack and showed excellent skills throughout. Erik Molnar, who scored in the European Championship senior final last year, shot forward to accept a pass and score at 4-2. Captain Zsombor Ekler scored another three to his growing tally and David Tatrai had his eye in from the left-hand-catch position.

Greece only scored three action goals and none better than Konstantinos Kandanolean’s two centre-forward goals either side of the final break.

Match Heroes
Ekler, who plays for Honved in the Hungarian league, beating Euro Cup winner Vasas for the bronze medal, starred with his three goals. Goalkeeper Viktor Gyapjas made nine saves. Kandanolean and Andreas Almyras scored two apiece for Greece.

Turning Point
The three goals that lifted Hungary to 6-2 and the four goals that sealed the match from 8-4 to 12-4. Greece was broken.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary shot 29 to 24, converted five from nine on extra-man attack and defended 10 of 14. Three penalty goals to one also helped the cause.

Bottom Line
Hungary is probably the classiest team here and is through to the quarterfinals. Greece has not been able to replicate its form of previous championships, but still has an avenue to the finals, and the players to achieve this.

Group C

GERMANY 12 JAPAN  13

Japan nearly blew a six-goal lead against Germany, wilting in the final quarter as Germany struck back with a barrage of goals. However, the surge was too late as Japan had done all the work earlier the match with a frequent assault on the German defences, which were lax in stages.

Japan went 2-1 and 3-2 by the first break, had a superb five-goal margin by halftime — 8-3 — and went into the final period 12-7 up. A last-gasp lob goal from Robin Rehm was disallowed, which proved critical in the final analysis.

Japan was 13-8 ahead by 5:37 in the fourth and then Germany rammed home four goals and it looked like going to a penalty shootout, until strong defence just managed to snuff the final attack. It was  racy water polo as a desperate Germany wanted to maintain top ranking and win the group. Instead, it is second.

Match Heroes
Daichi Ogihara, who plays for the Japanese senior men’s team, was the star of the match with five goals to go with the nine he scored on the second day. Japanese goalkeeper Kataro Yasuda was excellent with nine valuable saves. Germany’s Aleks Sekulic, who scored two goals  inside the final three minutes, ended with four.

Turning Point
Making 8-3 by halftime was what gave the match to Japan. That and some desperate defence and Germany was trying to turn the tide in its favour.

Stats Don’t Lie
Japan won the extra-man count with six from 12 to Germany’s two from 12. Germany shot 33 times to 30 and both teams converted their one penalty attempt. On the turnovers, Germany forced many in the final quarter to finish ahead 16-13.

Bottom Line
Japan now needs to replicate that play against Netherlands on Tuesday, if it wishes to punch further into the competition. Germany will have a rest day and come out fresh on Wednesday morning.

Group D

BRAZIL 8 NETHERLANDS 13

 

This was the odd match of the groupings where these teams played each other twice because of the late withdrawal of Kazakhstan, leaving just two in the group. In the first match on opening day, Netherlands rushed to a 7-0 lead and cruised home 15-6. Today’s effort was much different.

Brazil led first and went 2-1 up. Netherlands shot back to lead 4-2 at the first break. In the second quarter, Brazil came back to one twice before Netherlands turned at 6-4. Brazil opened the second-half scoring for 6-5. At this stage it was 8-1 to Netherlands on Saturday.

A three-goal burst had the Dutch 9-5 ahead with Brazil snaring one back for 9-6 at the final break. The final quarter was even until the last 14 seconds when the Dutch grabbed the last goal on counter for 13-8.

Match Heroes
Stan Mejin topped the Dutch scoring with three goals, the same number as Brazil’s Paulo Oliviera.

Turning Point
Netherlands coming back from 2-1 down to finish the first period 4-2. That and the three consecutive goals in the third to push the margin to four.

Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands shot 28 to 24, secured a fine seven from 13 on extra-man attack and defended 12 of 14. Brazil nailed its one penalty chance and Netherlands had one of its two stopped.

Bottom Line
Netherlands now takes on Japan and Brazil will play South Africa on Tuesday.

Group E

NEW ZEALAND 21 PERU 4

New Zealand came through as expected with a comfortable victory over newcomer Peru. The win was based on 6-1, 7-0, 4-0 and 4-3 quarters with the Peruvians getting into the swing in that final period.

The Black Ferns scored seven counter-attack goals to one and fouled heavily to impose their strength on the opposition, but then defended the man-down situations.

Match Heroes
Cole Phillips and Mitchell Keightley topped the scoring with five goals apiece and the latter collected the player-of-the-match award. For Peru, Diego Contreras netted the first two goals to go with the three he collected against Romania on Sunday.

Turning Point
Never any doubt that there was no turning point.

Stats Don’t Lie
The Kiwis outshot Peru 37 times to 16, made 18 steals to five, scored one from four on extra and defended 10 from 11. Both teams converted their sole penalty attempts.

Bottom Line
New Zealand has the confidence to work its way through the maze of matches towards the quarterfinals, with Tuesday’s encounter with Argentina, while Peru is gathering more experience and will need to peak against Iran.

Group F

IRAN 3 AUSTRALIA 17

Iran led 2-1 for the first six minutes then allowed the Aussies to slip out to 5-2 by the first break and 6-2 before it scored again for 6-3 behind. Australia went to the turn with an 8-3 advantage and built on that in the second half.

The third period finished in controversy with Iranian goal-scorer Farbod Behzadsabouri red-carded for striking the Aussie centre forward. A penalty was awarded and Iran had to play one man short for the next four minutes. Daniel Munk’s conversion brought Australia to 12-3 by the last break.

Five more goals went to Australia in the final quarter and an Iranian penalty shot in the last 30 seconds was smacked down by the goalkeeper. By winning Group F, it is well placed to navigate the route to the quarterfinals, with the next  match a tough clash with Romania.

Match Heroes
Australia’s Munk with four goals and the player of the match. Luka Krstic netted three, two on extra and the first on penalty.

Turning Point
Coming from 2-1 down to winning the first period 5-2, setting up the Aussie onslaught.

Stats Don’t Lie
Australia shot 37 times to 23, converted four penalty goals while Iran missed one of its two and converted five from eight on extra-man attack to Iran’s one from four. Australia forced 14 turnovers to eight.

Bottom Line
Australia was the better prepared team and exploited every opportunity. In the opening stages, the shots were hitting the post or going wide, but practice makes perfect and this was swiftly rectified. Iran still has work to do.

Final Points

Group A: Spain 6, Montenegro 5, Croatia 4, Italy 3.

Group B: Hungary 8, Serbia 7, United States of America 3, Greece 0.

Group C: Japan 6, Germany 3, South Africa 0.

Group D: Netherlands 6, Brazil 0.

Group E: Romania 6, New Zealand 3, Peru 0.

Group F: Australia 6, Iran 3, Argentina 0.

Tuesday Schedule

13:30, 2E New Zealand v 3F Argentina

15:00, 3C South Africa v 2D Brazil

16:30, 3E Peru v 2F Iran

18:00, 1D Netherlands v 1C Japan

19:30, 1E Romania v 1F Australia