World and European champion Netherlands was upset by Olympic champion United States of America in the feature match of day one. From 2-1 down, USA finished ahead in the quarters 3-2, 6-5, 9-6 and finished at 10-8 to strike the first blow in its quest to regain its world crown in Olympic year.
Match 2. Group A, United States of America 10 Netherlands 8
Probably two of the two best women’s teams on the planet, going head to head, in the same group, on the first day of competition. The match was originally scheduled for late morning — the second match of the day — but was rescheduled for immediately after the opening ceremony.
Netherlands went to 1-0 and 2-1 advantages with USA rebounding with a pair inside a minute to be 3-2 up with 2:19 remaining. The Dutch looked more confident while the USA was a little wayward with shots, but only marginally. Two USA shots were on extra-man attack with Netherlands’ first, also on extra. USA’s first shot was on lob from Ryann Neushul.
The North Americans stamped their authority further on the match with the first two goals of the second quarter — old heads Maddie Musselman with a six-metre, free-throw lob and Rachel Fattal from deep right. Two minutes later it was 5-4 as Kitty Lynn Joustra with a spectacular two-metre turning shot and Lieke Rogge making the most of a rebound. Jordan Raney took in a cross pass and scored on extra for 6-4. Simone van de Kraats notched her second extra-player goal inside the last minute of the half and USA led 6-5 at the long break.
It was an even better quarter for USA in the third, finishing 3-1 ahead and with a cosy 9-6 scoreline. Raney, Tara Prentice with the easiest of cross tap-ins and captain Maggie Steffens had the lead with Sabrina van der Sloot converting extra at 8-6. Steffens’ shot came after a timeout.
Prentice repeated her earlier goal to send USA to 10-6 halfway through the final quarter. From there the task for the Dutch was too much, despite Joustra at 3:19 and van de Kraats on penalty at 2:42 for 10-8. The Dutch went to a timeout at 0:23 and hit the wood. USA called a timeout at 0:06 and controlled the ball to win the match — one of the most important of the first week of competition, yet barely 11 hours after the opening whistle.
Match Heroes
Fattall took out the player-of-the-match award, scoring twice for the winning team. Van de Kraats (NED) was the leading scorer with four goals from five attempts and Dutch goalkeeper Laura Aarts had to make 12 saves.
Turning Point
From 2-1 down to 5-2 ahead in the second quarter. This was where USA took control and proceeded to throttle Netherlands.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA was clinical with five from seven on extra-man attack with the Dutch converting four from six. Netherlands scored the only penalty goal.
Bottom Line
There is a long way to go but USA is still smarting from losing its world crown last year. It’s keen to not only win in Doha, but retain its Olympic crown in Paris. This was the first, not-so-small first step. The Dutch will have the benefit of an extra match when it comes to the second round.
What They Said
Maddie Musselman (USA) — Goal Scorer
On the match:
“It was fun. It’s been a while since I have been with the team so it’s fun to be back and kinda getting after it again. As a team, obviously learning from the previous world championships and just being able to come back with the fire that this team has and the passion this team has, we ‘ve grown so much in the past six months and rather cool to see everything come into fruition and see it come alive and everyone getting across the stat board and everyone was on the defensive end, kinda being on top of things. So, it’s super fun and can’t wait to see what the rest of the tournament is going to be like for us.”
Simone van de Kraats (NED) — Three Goals
On the match:
“At first, I knew that this was going to be a difficult game because USA is a good team but so are we so we were sticking to our plan. We had the Europeans some weeks ago, so it’s tough, but I think we are focusing on the second week and this is a good first match to build on for the tournament.”
On getting an extra match:
“I think both options are fine. I think it’s important that we stick to our plan in this tournament. It was not enough for the end of the tournament, but it is fine for the first match.”
Match 7. Group D, Great Britain 10 italy 22
Italy is one of those teams looking for one of the last two berths for Paris 2024. It did not look at its best against Great Britain, who worked hard all match. Italy led 5-3 at the first quarter, bounced out to 10-4 late in the second and went to the long break 11-5 ahead. It was a better third period, winning 6-2 as Great Britain forlornly tried to stay in touch.
It would be a tragedy if Italy could not qualify for Paris, however, anything can happen at this level.
Sofia Giustini made the most of her chances with three goals in three minutes in the second quarter and Agnes Cocchiere grabbed another three with two in the third. However, it was evergreen Roberta Bianconi — it isn’t polite to publish her age — who had four goals up by the final break.
Toula Falvey, who missed a second-quarter penalty attempt, scored her second goal to open the fourth, only for Italy to send in four straight for 21-8 at1:01. Cecily Turner drilled from outside and Silvia Avegno seemingly scored the last goal for 22-9 and her fourth. BUT, Katy Cutler screamed in Great Britain’s 10th goal on the buzzer for 22-10.
Match Heroes
Italians Bianconi and Avegno with their four goals and Turner with her triple for Great Britain.
Turning Point
Italy turning that two-goal quarter-time margin to 11-5 at halftime. Italy shot 69
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy made sure of two of its three extra-man opportunities while Great Britain converted just three from nine. Italy shot 69 per cent from the field to Great Britain’s 36.
Bottom Line
Italy should win strongly and it did. It was great to see the top effort from Great Britain, one of the emerging nations at this level.
What They Said
Carlo Silipo (ITA) — Head Coach
“It’s good for us and all teams to enter in the world championship competitions. I think we did something well in the offensive part. In defence, I didn’t love the approach of my team. Also, for some whistles of the referee. Maybe sometimes the whistle is so fast from the referee on the exclusion and we have to change our tactics (reactions).”
Nick Buller (GBR) — Head Coach
“We were pleased with sections of the play and we can build on that. There were some really good phases we were pleased with and we sort of lost it for a period and we recovered. This is our first experience of world championships. We had good experience playing Holland and Hungary (European Championships last month) but we need more of these top-level teams. To finish the way we did, we will take that to start with and we want to do better in the future.”
Anya Clapperton (GBR) — Athlete
“I don’t think the scoreline reflected how close it was. We were always, like, attacking. Usually with teams like that you don’t attack and they just counter you for the whole game. I don’t think we were ever so much behind.”
On how the team felt heading into the match:
“Yes, first match since 2013, I think. Italy’s like a powerhouse and it was always going to be a bit rough. We did well and we played well as a team and that’s the most important thing.”
Match 6. Group C, Hungary 19 New Zealand 8
Hungary, spearheaded by nine-time world championship competitor Keszthelyi Rita, displayed its best against a gutsy New Zealand outfit, playing its heart out. It was a class match for the first day and showed the difference between teams ranked sixth and 11th in Fukuoka last year. When they clashed there, Hungary emerged 23-5 ahead. Today that margin was chopped with a machete.
Hungary led 2-0 and the Kiwis equalised within a minute. Hungary, with Gurisatti Greta on fire, went to the first break 5-2 up with Gurisatti having two in the bag. By halftime, Gurisatti and Keszthelyi had three apiece compared to a pair by the Kiwis — 9-4. Morgan McDowell scored her second from two metres and her tenacity fired up the team.
It was not until 2:31 in the third that Hungary found the net again, this time through Garda Krisztina from the top. McDowell and Keszthelyi exchanged goals for 11-5 as both teams made few mistakes.
At the top of the fourth period, Leimeter Dora scored either side of Gabrielle Milicich’s last-gasp shot from bottom right. This was followed by Emily Nicholson’s centre-forward backhander for 13-7. Three Hungarian goals in two minutes continued the breath-taking quarter and there was still more than three minutes remaining. McDowell muscled in a fourth two-metre goal and former Kiwi Rebecca Parkes rolled over at two metres for Hungary’s 17th goal. Gurisatti sent in her sixth and Parkes lobbed on to the line, just crossing for 19-8 at 1:08. Emmerson Houghton hit the upright on her penalty attempt inside the final minute and the match was soon over, with both teams able to take many positives.
Match Heroes
Gurisatti by a country kilometre with her six goals. Keszthelyi finished with five and McDowell shined for New Zealand with four.
Turning Point
Hungary turning 2-2 into 7-2 in the second quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary went three from three on extra and New Zealand one from six.
Bottom Line
Hungary is pushing for an Olympic berth here in Doha and has the team to qualify. Today’s effort showed the desire. It just needs the coronation. It will be interesting to watch New Zealand’s progress here, as well.
What They Said
Attila Mihok (HUN) — Head Coach
“It’s a lot better feeling to kick off a major with a win than with a loss, I can tell that now from experience. We still need to talk to the girls on today’s game as conceding an action goal from the centre position is already one too many, not to talk about getting five… We could mark better shooters, we received less hits from the perimeter, then their centre forwards showered us with a series of goals. Luckily, this didn’t endanger our victory. We have to be more straightforward in defence; it cannot depend on the rivals’ level what our 2m defenders are doing. At the end, I’m happy with the number of goals we scored, despite having a couple of impatient, hurried finishes.”
Greta Gurisatti (HUN) — Six Goals
“Though the number of the conceded goals may not underline this, but I do think we showed a different face than we had done at the Europeans. Our defence was tighter, though we still have a lot of room to improve there. The best thing was that the atmosphere on the bench and in the pool was already different, much more positive and this is what we really need to achieve our goals here. Also, it was good to start with a game like this since this was the first time we came to this pool, we couldn’t train here at all, so we had a kind of ‘we’ve arrived’ feeling once we settled before the match and in the first period.”
Angie Winstanley-Smith (NZL) — Head Coach
“I think we had our big journey in Japan. We came back from there for Oceanias and we learnt a lot. We are definitely advancing into this performance and our phase of the programme, which is epic. It’s hard work, but we are getting there. For me, it’s to be within 10 goals compared to Japan where it was a really difficult game (23-5). I’m really happy with the changes we have made. There are still some things we can do better and so we will go back and work hard and get ready to play Aussie again.”
Match 5. Group C, Australia 32 Singapore 1
Singapore’s debut at this level was probably best described as “horrific”. This is what it is like against a team that finished fourth last year and looking to go on to the medal dais this year.
As expected, it was a steamroller used against a minnow team. The rough ride meant Singapore took just six shots in the first half as Australia went from 7-1 at the first break to an amazing 20-1 by halftime.
Scoring slowed in the third as the Aussie Stingers cruised to 26-1 in a period where Singapore had chances and tried one off a timeout ploy on extra man.
Australia moved to 29-1 with international newcomer Danijela Jackovich turning at centre forward like a veteran. On the next Aussie attack, she was the recipient of a cross pass on counter for the 30th strike. The USA-Australian dual national scored a third on counter.
Australia could not afford to be lenient and needed to clear out any cobwebs that may have appeared after training camps in Australia. There are tougher matches to come.
Singapore now has another daunting task, facing Hungary on Tuesday before tackling New Zealand.
Match Heroes
Even though Keesja Gofers and crew kept slamming in the goals, it was an all-round team effort. Singapore’s first world championships scorer was Celeste Wan, on extra.
Turning Point
The opening whistle.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia’s scoring percentage was 74 per cent to Singapore’s seven. Gofers topped the scoring with five from five and four goals each to Bridget Leeson-Smith, Abby Andrews and Sienna Green.
Bottom Line
Australia has the team to make the medal finals, but needs tougher matches, which it will get from her on in. Singapore was thrilled by the performance
What They Said
Danijela Jackovich (AUS) — Three Goals
“It feels great. My debut on the world stage with the Stingers. An amazing experience. It was a good game to build into the tournament. I had a little bit of jitters and nerves before but it was really exciting to get into there; beautiful complex; everyone in the water, so that was exciting.
On playing a team, so new to this level: “Obviously they have a lot of excitement. They were all smiles in the water, so it was nice to meet them. It’s great to see water polo growing in the world. It’s really exciting for us to see that a country in the Asia-Pacific area is growing in the sport.”
Celeste Wan (SGP) — First Singapore Goal-Scorer at World Champs
On being the first scorer at the worlds: “It feels amazing. I’m happy but, of course, it was a team effort, from the whole team. It was a six-on-five goal. I was happy that I got to score it and the first goal and the first for Singapore at a world championship.”
On the feeling within the team before the match: “We were all really excited, of course, to be here for the first time. There were some nerves around the younger players, but everyone was able to come down and visualise and be mentally ready for the game and we played our best.”
Match 4. Group B, Greece 11 France 6
This was the second match of three where the coaches were from the same nation. Theodoros Lorantos is an Olympian leading France’s charge to the Olympics and Alexis Kammenou has held the reins of the Greek national team for some years now. Greece played with a winning mentality from the start, slotting the first three goals before allowing France into the picture. To its credit, France punched in two goals to close the period one goal behind at 3-2. Eleftheria Plevritou from the deep right and Eleni Elliniadi from the top pushed the score out to 5-2 nearly five minutes into the second quarter. French captain Louise Guillet fired in from the deep left on extra-man attack, 15 seconds from the half for 5-3 behind.
The third period was more energetic when it came to finding the goals. Vasiliki Plevritou pushed the margin to three; France claimed one back and Greece nabbed two more for 8-4. Ema Vernoux scooped the ball into goal from the top left for 8-5 as Kammenou gained a yellow card. Vasiliki Plevritou converted a penalty for 9-5 inside the final minute to set the stage for what could have been a dominating final quarter.
It took a few attacks, but Eleftheria Plevritou latched on to a long cross pass from point blank to start the final-quarter scoring. She popped up on the other side of the pool for her third goal on the next attack. France resisted, had chances smacked away and both teams took timeouts for no immediate results. Guillet scored the only other goal of the match, from top right at 0:40 when the match was beyond hope.
Match Heroes
Eleftheria Plevritou led all scorers with three from seven and France’s only multi-scorer was Guillet.
Turning Point
The second half where 5-3 became 8-4, not without a fight, as France slowed many Greece attacks. Keeping France to two goals in the second half was brilliant.
Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams need to work on their extra-man plays with Greece converting a paltry one from nine and France not much better at two for 10. Two Greek penalty goals helped.
Bottom Line
Greece is destined to do well in Doha while France is still working hard under Lorantos’ vision for Paris 2024.
What They Said
Margarita Plevritou (GRE) — Captain
“It’s really nice to qualify for the Olympics (from Europeans) and after we will have some games that are important, so you will not be stressed about the result if you qualified. So, we have come, we want to enjoy the championship. It’s a big celebration for us to play in the world championships and we are so happy to be here.”
Theodoros Lorantos (FRA) — Head Coach
On the match:
“We were out of concentration and you must stay focused throughout the game. In this case they were stronger than us and we didn’t have a chance because if you analyse the match we scored and then we didn’t score. So, for character, for sure, we needed more confidence for the game. We should continue now against China and we must win if we wish a better future in the competition. We continue to work and the objective for us is the Olympic Games and we will see at the end.”
Match 3. Group B, China 5 Spain 18
This match was unique in that it had two multi-gold-medal-winning coaches in charge. Also was the fact that in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympic Games, the current Chinese head coach, Juan Jane, was the coach of the Spanish team that won gold. It contained the current Spanish women’s coach, Miki Oca. Today it was the pupil beating the master.
China made the going from the opening goal — 3-1 and 3-2 at the first break.
China levelled through Lu Yiwen at the top of the second for consecutive strikes. Three unanswered goals to Spain had it in a superior situation, befitting its world ranking. By the end of the quarter, Spain had a huge 8-4 margin with China’s sole effort during this stanza through captain Zhang Jing on extra after a timeout. Spain had the strength and quality of shooting with its defence denying China many opportunities.
Ariadna Ruiz took it to 9-4 with Nong Sanfeng using Martina Terre’s head to reply. The best goal of the match came from a cross pass to centre forward and captain Maica Garcia from her left and then right-arm backhanding the ball into the net in one fluid motion. Ariadna Ruiz and Paula Crespi lifted Spain to 12-5 by the final break.
Anni Espar and Paula Camus scored three minutes apart as China provided stubborn resistance in the fourth. However, Spain flourished with Bea Ortiz grabbing two in succession — the second just holding up before China’s goalkeeper, Dong Wenxin, nudged it across the line. Espar for a second and Isabel Piralkova closed the scoring at 18-5 — a stunning start for Spain in Doha.
Match Heroes
Crespi had a triple by halftime, four by the last break and with six minutes remaining, collected her third major foul. Lu was China’s best with two.
Turning Point
Spain’s 5-1 advantage from 3-3 in the second quarter for 8-4 at the long break.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain had five from eight on extra-man attack and China three from 11. There were no penalty attempts.
Bottom Line
Spain has the results on the board while China has been closeted somewhat, no thanks to the Covid pandemic. Spain’s skills came through in the second half as it hit a rhythm that China could not match.
What They Said
Miki Oca (ESP)— Head Coach
On the match:
“First game of the championship. In the beginning there were some doubts but we were satisfied because we did a good defence and in the third and fourth we found the goal of China. It’s good. We’ve been getting better and better.”
On how many times he has coached against Juan Jane:
“I don’t know. First time it was in 2011 in Shanghai and since then a few times.”
On any rivalry between the pair:
“No, we have much respect because he was my coach as a player and then we like each other a lot.”
Juan Jane (CHN) — Head Coach
“Two quarters was correct but by the third quarter we were not playing very well. Against Spain it is very difficult. We will look at the video later The problem in this team is only two months together, new staff, only three official games before here. In my opinion, in the summer, after good training, China will be better. That is my opinion.”
Match 1. Group A, Kazakhstan 16 Brazil 15 in sudden-death penalty shootout (FT: 10-10. Pens: 6-5)
Brazil dominated the first half before Kazakhstan drew level and took the lead in the third quarter. Both teams came out nervously and gave both goalkeepers plenty of work to do with Brazil’s Isabela Souza making the more sensational saves — five from eight. Meanwhile, Mariya Martynenko was impressive grabbing seven of her own by halftime.
While Brazil had control with 2-1 at the quarter and 4-2 halfway through the second, it was Kazakhstan who drew within one at 4:18 for 4-3 down. Then at the start of the second half, three rapid-fire action goals had Kazakhstan at 6-4. Brazil called a timeout, converted the first attempt and levelled at six and seven before Anna Novikova scored her second 11 seconds from the final break for the 8-7 Kazakh advantage. The experienced Darya Pochinok had three goals up by 7-6 with two penalty goals and a bast from the top.
Yandra Ramos scored from well outside for 8-8 and a subsequent three on one was saved by Martynenko. Kazakhstan called a timeout and the extra-man play gave Yelizaveta Rudneva the near-post score for 9-8 ahead. This could have been critical had not Jeniffer Cavalvante tapped in her third for 9-9 on the next attack. She buried an extra-man attack at 1:32 for 10-9. Kazakh head coach Marina Pertseva was livid on several occasions before her team gained an exclusion and then took a timeout at 1:13. She received a yellow card for her misdemeanour and Novikova converted from the left post for 10-10 at 0:57. A Cavalvante lob found the post, Martynenko went up on a seven-on-six attack, but the shot was ineffective and the match went to a shootout.
It went to 13-13 before a Karen Silva miss and then Pochinok, so astute in the match, had her shot blocked when the match was in Kazakhstan’s hands in the last shot of the rotation. It went to sudden death with the first two goals scoring and Rebecca Moreira’s chance was blocked. Viktoriya Kaplun, nailed her second shootout goal for the Kazakh victory.
Match Heroes
Cavalvante, with four goals in regulation time, led the Brazilian charge. Pochinok, with three, topped her team’s scoring. Martynenko finished with 12 saves and Souza eight.
Turning Point
Kazakhstan’s four-goal surge from late in the second quarter until three minutes into the third. Cavalvante took Brazil from one down to one ahead in the final quarter, something that assisted the shootout happening.
Stats Don’t Lie
Kazakhstan had three from four on extra and Brazil three from eight. Kazakhstan benefited from two from three from the penalty line.
Bottom Line
Kazakhstan showed a lot of resolve to come from 3-1 down to 6-4 ahead and ultimately kept its head in the shootout, taking two points for a shootout victory.
What She Said
Yelizaveta Rudneva (KAZ) — Two Goals
On how the team played:
“It was teamwork.”
On the shootout:
“We were very confident because we knew it was our game.”
Match 8. Group D, South Africa 2 Canada 24
Canada dispensed with the first Commonwealth foe in the group, mainly with its two-metre prowess, gaining total control over the African nation. It now faces Italy and will then have a date with Great Britain to close out the group stage.
Canada was not shy in coming forward, especially from the two-metre line where its first five goals came. Canada won the first period 6-0 and the team was fired up by centre-forward Elyse Lemay-Lavoie, punching in three, followed by captain Emma Wright and Serena Browne grabbing a loose rebound for 5-0. She gained her second from the penalty line less than a minute later and Canada went to the break 6-0 with three minutes to spare.
Hayley McKelvey fired from the top to start the second quarter and two more centre-forward goals closed the half. Lemay-Lavoie netted her fourth goal from close into the goal.
Wright scored identical goals to start the third period, followed by an Axelle Crevier shot from wide right for 12-0 at 5:42. Esihle Zondo, who scored goals in Fukuoka last year, landed South Africa’s first on extra at 3:50. Wright responded with a lob and it was back to a 12-goal difference. Lemay-Lavoie lobbed from two metres for her fifth goal. Chloe Meecham converted extra for South Africa before Crevier replied with two for 16-2. Verica Bakoc finalised the period’s scoring for 17-2.
The momentum stayed with Canada in the final period with Wright and Crevier adding to their tallies. Marilla Mimides made a name for herself with three goals in the period as Canada raced to 24-2.
Match Heroes
Lemay-Lavoie, Wright and Crevier all finished with five goals.
Turning Point
Keeping South Africa scoreless until halfway through the third period was what set the scene for Canada.
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada scored four from six on extra to South Africa’s two from five. Canada shot at 69 per cent and South Africa at 11.
Bottom Line
Canada has far more experience and could challenge Italy for group supremacy in the race for Paris 2024.
Progress Points
Group A: USA 3, Kazakhstan 2, Brazil 1, Netherlands 0.
Group B: Spain 3, Greece 3, France 0, China 0.
Group C: Australia 3, Hungary 3, New Zealand 0, Singapore 0.
Group D: Canada 3, Italy 3, Great Britain 0, South Africa 0.
Day 3 Schedule
Match 09. 09:00. Group B, France v China
Match 11. 10:30. Group C, New Zealand v Australia
Match 13. 12:00. Group D, Canada v Great Britain
Match 12. 13:30. Group C, Singapore v Hungary
Match 14. 16:00. Group D, Italy v South Africa
Match 15. 17:30. Group A, Netherlands v Kazakhstan
Match 10. 19:00. Group B, Spain v Greece
Match 16. 20:30. Group A, Brazil v United States of America