Match Reports

Eighth-Finals Qualifiers

NETHERLANDS 18 JAPAN 12

 Pictures courtesy of Iosif Vagnar and Zsigmond Bathori/World Aquatics

Netherlands overcame a slow start at 3-1 down to claim a further five goals in what was an incredible, breathless first quarter. Eleven goals came and the 6-5 advantage at the first break meant teams looked tired in the second when only three goals eventuated with the Dutch turning at 8-5.

It was tight in the third period with the score moving to 11-8, including a VAR decision on a Kai Inoue goal. However, two Dutch goals pushed the margin to five at 12-8 heading into the final quarter. Japan scored the first two, furthering its chance, but then gave up two penalty fouls and five goals to trail 18-10 at 2:21.

The winner was decided, but Japan was not finished, scoring the last two goals with a score from the top on extra and an excellent centre-forward strike. Netherlands had the victory.

Match Heroes
Lars ten Broek was the best for Netherlands with four goals and Mart van der Weijden grabbed three more. Dutch goalkeeper Pim Steenbrink made the most of his three quarters in goal with eight saves. Daichi Ogihara, was again the top scorer for Japan with four goals, lifting him to a tournament-high 18 from three matches.

Turning Point
Shifting from 3-1 down to 6-5 ahead in the first half. What a quarter!

Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands took 41 shots to 31; converted two from three on extra-man attack and defended a whopping 10 from 15. To top it off, it converted all three penalty attempts to Japan’s one from one. The Dutch also pressured hard, winning 14 turnovers to six.

Bottom Line
Netherlands has earned an eighth-finals clash with Italy and Japan will front Croatia.

ROMANIA 11 AUSTRALIA 5

Romania delivered for the home crowd with a seemingly comfortable win, gained against a determined Australian team. The win came courtesy of a huge effort by senior international David Neamtu (pictured) who captains the side. Born in Hungary, the dual national left-hander was in exceptional form with four goals.

Australia suffered a huge loss early in the third period when star player Marcus Berehulak, who has just been named on the Aussie Sharks national team to contest the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan next month, was red-carded with substitution. It appeared he did backstroke into his defender while playing at centre forward and was sent from the pool. VAR confirmed the decision. He had scored both Aussie goals in the first quarter.

The first period was 2-2 and David Belenyesi drilled from the top for the only goal of the second period. Neamtu grabbed a pair in the third after Berehulak departed and it was 7-2 and then 7-3 by the last break. A 4-2 final quarter decided the match with Belenyesi’s third coming from his penalty shot was blisteringly fast while at the same time rising high out of the water. Australia managed to get to 10-5 down, only to lose 11-5.

Match Heroes
Neamtu rightfully was best in pool with Belenyesi the next most potent player. For Australia, Berehulak and Luka Krstic both scored twice.

Turning Point
Berehulak’s red card and Romania’s immediate three-goal response.

Stats Don’t Lie
This was a close encounter despite the score with Australia shooting 29 times to Romania’s 25. Romania scored just one from three, but defended six of seven on extra-man attack. Romania converted both penalty attempts.

Bottom Line
Romania will now play winless Greece from Division I in the eighth-finals and Australia will battle with United States of America, meaning at least one non-European team will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Classification 13-19

Group G Crossover

NEW ZEALAND 9 ARGENTINA 11

A 5-1 opening quarter set the scene for Argentina’s first victory. New Zealand won the next three periods 8-6 and had the possibility of a penalty goal thwarted in the final seconds. However, this was Argentina’s chance to shine and that it did.

The Kiwis opened the scoring with Argentina sending in the next five goals to New Zealand’s frustration, taking a timeout at 4-1 to try and steady the ship. It was 2-1 for New Zealand in the second, getting back to 5-3 before turning at 6-3.

Argentina had the better of the third period, leading 7-3, 8-5 and 10-6 at the final break. Argentina went to 11-7 and two Kiwi goals gave some slim hope. However, it was too late and when Lochie Frazer had his penalty shot stopped at 0:18, it sealed the match for the South Americans.

Match Heroes
Mateo Giri, the seven-goal hero on day one, collected another match award for his three goals, the same number as Ignacio Lucero. Kelly Mcdowell and Liam Dodunski netted twice for New Zealand.

Turning Point
The opening quarter that was the fulcrum for victory.

Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina shot one less than New Zealand (27-26), converted three from nine on extra-man attack to the Kiwis’ one from six and netted both penalty attempts to New Zealand’s sole miss.

Bottom Line
Argentina has a day off on Wednesday and New Zealand clashes with Germany.on.

Group H Crossovers

SOUTH AFRICA 7 BRAZIL 20

Brazil shot home an easy winner and with it the first victory here. Brazil opened with four straight, closed the period at 5-1, eased out to 11-2 at the turn and 15-3 by the final break then winning the fourth 5-4.

Brazil had too many easy scores as the South African defence did not react fast enough, especially close to the goalkeeper. South Africa came good in the final period, showing what it can do. However, this was all about Brazil, performing at its best.

Match Heroes
Lucas Wulfhorst, who scored four consecutive goals to boost his team from 9-2 to 13-2, was named best in water. Team-mates Paulo Oliviera and Artur Diaz also scored four goals each. Mark Mansvelt scored two goals in the final quarter for South Africa. The four goalkeepers all blocked five shots.

Turning Point
Starting 4-0 up sets the tone of the match and puts the other team on the back foot.

Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil converted five from 10 on extra-man attack and had 35 shots to 25. The only blemish was not converting a penalty attempt. South Africa missed one of its two.

Bottom Line
The win buoys Brazil for upcoming matches with the possibility of making it to the 13th-place play-off. South Africa is gaining with experience and needs more play at this level.

PERU 6 IRAN 12

Iran collected its second win of the tournament, boosting its chance of making the 13th-place play-off in a match where winless Peru started hitting its stride, punching in a spectacular five goals on extra-man attack. However, with Ali Abolghasemi scoring five goals, including three on counter-attack, Iran was assured of victory.

Iran opened the scoring and Peru surprised with consecutive goals to lead for the first time this week. Iran shot back and took the period 3-2. Peru levelled through Diego Contreras with a six-metre, free-throw shot. Consecutive Abolghasemi goals made it 5-3. Peru pulled one back on extra and Iran finished the half 7-4 ahead.

A tight third period flattered Peru — trailing 2-1. Abolghasemi fired in two more to lift Iran to 11-5 early in the fourth quarter, becoming 12-5 with the last strike coming from Peru’s Lorenzo Rodriguez with a rocket from outside.

Match Heroes
Abolghasemi was the standout player with his five goals and deservedly was named player of the match. Iranian goalkeeper Amirata Khazaei was on fire, as well, with 11 saves.

Turning Point
A 5-1 onslaught straddling the halfway point that had Iran 8-4 ahead.

Stats Don’t Lie
The best result here was Iran’s five from 11 on extra-man attack to Iran’s one from three. Shooting was almost even at 29-28 in Iran’s favour and Iran converted the only penalty foul.

Bottom Line
Iran is the stronger team and is shaping up well for the deciding matches to come while Peru should be pleased with its progress.

Progress Points (Classification 13-19)

Group G: Argentina 3, New Zealand 0, Germany.

Group H: Brazil 3, Iran 3, Peru 0, South Africa 0.

Wednesday Schedule

Classification 13-19

09:00, New Zealand v Germany

10:30, Peru v South Africa

12:00, Iran v Brazil

Eighth-Finals

15:00, Japan v Croatia

16:30, Australia v USA

18:00, Netherlands v Italy

19:30, Romania v Greece