The sixth day threw up two completely different medal semifinals with one match a romp and the other decided in sudden-death penalty shootout. Spain toppled champion Hungary 14-6 after being 10-4 up at halftime while Italy emerged the winner of the second semifinal against Montenegro, winning the last quarter 3-1 to force the shootout and go on to 14-13 and into the final.

In day-six action, the reign of Hungary was snuffed out by Spain, who finished sixth two years ago. Its opponent will be Italy, who won their encounter in 2022.

What contrasting matches! Spain ripped the heart out of Hungary in the opening quarter 5-1 and continued the humiliation in the second with another five goals. Then came the second match where Italy was out of sorts in the match, always trailing, until that final quarter when it equalised eight seconds from time.

In the five-eight semifinals, United States of America beat Serbia 12-9 and Greece defeated Croatia 17-15.

DIVISION 1 SEMIFINALS (1-4)

HUNGARY 6 SPAIN 14 (1-5, 3-5, 1-2, 3-2)

To win by eight goals in a world semifinal and to do it against the reigning champion, is no mean feat. Spain was at its brilliant best, when it mattered. It is now many steps up the ladder and just one win from the gold medal. Hungary did not have the answers and gave up two counter-attack goals in that opening quarter. Two quick goals at the top of the second period had Spain well and truly in the box seat at 5-1. Both came from action, the first from the top and the second on counter. Hungary went to a timeout. No result came other than Spain gaining its sixth goal three minutes later through Tiago Carrio. Neither team could improve the score by halftime. Marc Comabella converted extra-man attack for 7-1 on the first attack of the third quarter and Oriol Hurtado made it 8-1 on counter again by 5:48. Benedek Rabb, so reliable all week, converted Hungary’s next two extra-man chances for 8-3 while Spain scored two more for 10-3 by the final break. This became 12-3 and 12-5, 13-6 when Rabb scored followed by the final strike from Javier Sanchez-Toril for a fabulous 14-6 with 2:18 to spare. Hungary missed three shots with a penalty attempt hitting the post in the dying seconds. Such a fine match by Spain who converted five from 10 on extra and shut down eight of Hungary’s 11. Spain scored all three penalty attempts and denied Hungary two. Spain shot 39 to Hungary’s 35. Rabb lifted his tally to 24 with three goals and Matyas Kovacs also scored three. Comabella netted three for Spain and Mauro Millan  and Sanchez-Toril two apiece.

ITALY 14 MONTENEGRO 13 in sudden-death penalty shootout. FT: 8-8. Pens: 6-5 (2-3, 3-3, 0-1, 3-1)
If Italy sneezed, it could have been out of the final. Italy had to show resourcefulness and determination to come from two down at the final break to win the period by enough to force a shootout. Amazing that Italy could do this. Montenegro went 2-0 ahead with Italy equalising. Stefan Vranes shot from outside to give Montenegro the 3-2 advantage by the first break. Vranes brought up the 5-2 margin and Stefan Kruta the 6-3 score on extra. Francesco Maffei on extra and Giorgio Marangolo with a penalty strike, brought the margin to one a minute from halftime. So tight was the third period that the only goal was scored nearly seven minutes in, Pavle Dabic scored from two metres. Pasquale Porzio, having a great tournament converted extra for 7-6 down early in the fourth and Francesco Corelli equalised with a penalty goal at 6:43. At 1:30, Dabic sent one in from the left-post position and with nine seconds remaining Porzio proved the hero, accepting a cross-cage pass to the deep-left wing to score. And force the shootout. Italy was let out of jail. The rotation of shots was perfect and in sudden death, Andrej Durutovic had his shot saved and Federico Fumo converted for the victory. Italy converted two from seven on extra and defended 12 from 15. It also scored three from four at the penalty line. Montenegro, as it happened, shot 39 times 30. Marangolo scored three and Porzio two while goalkeeper Federico Giovanini made a magnificent 16 saves, crucial to making the final. Dabic scored three and Vranes two.

DIVISION 1 SEMIFINALS (5-8)

SERBIA 9 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 12 (2-5, 2-3, 1-1, 4-3)

United States of America — ninth of 2022 — gained a valuable scalp in bronze medallist Serbia and now has a chance for fifth against Greece. USA set the pace with 3-0 becoming 5-1 and then 5-2 by the first break. Serbia narrowed the match to 5-4 down, only for USA to pull away to 8-4 eight seconds from halftime. It took five minutes into the third for Serbia to secure the first goal through Vuk Vasiljevic on the penalty line. Kai Kaneko made sure of the four-goal margin by the final break when he scored from out the top for his third. Kaneko’s fourth made it 10-5 and then 11-6 and 11-8 before Tristan Tucker scored from two metres for 12-8 at 1:25, an unsurpassable score. Andrej Micic claimed a consolation goal 23 seconds from full time. Kaneko’s four gives him 19 for the tournament and Tucker netted three for USA. Vasiljevic and Uros Muncan scored twice each for Serbia. On extra, USA went five from seven and Serbia four from seven. Serbia put away two penalty goals to USA’s one. USA had two more shots than Serbia.

Image Source: Croatia v Greece/Christine Borg/World Aquatics

CROATIA 15 GREECE 17 (2-2, 4-5, 6-6, 3-4)

Greece may not be defending its silver medal or even make the podium this time around, but it made sure of getting to the fifth-place play-off, where it will clash with USA. Greece had to contend with the in-form Nardo Dragas and its victory was nearly derailed by allowing the star shooter to hammer in seven goals — 27 for the tournament. Greece pushed out to 5-3 in the second quarter with Serbia converting extra for 5-4 with some sharp cross-cage passing. It became 6-4, 7-5 and then Dragas converted a penalty foul for 7-6 in arrears close to halftime. Petar Erenda equalised at seven and Toni Marinic equalised at eight as Greece was making the play. Greece stretched it to 10-8 only for Marinic to equalise a minute later. Greece went out to 12-11 through Ilias Angelopoulos turning in a pass to the left-post position. Dragas equalised on penalty at 0:17. There were no celebrations as Greece’s Angelopoulos rolled out of centre forward, accepted the near pass and scored on the buzzer for 13-12. Erenda converted a penalty for 13-13 on the first attack of the fourth period. Greece went ahead and Dragas converted extra for 14-14. Dimitrios Sarros made it 15 and 16, the second on penalty at 3:43. He was fouled out soon after but it took another two minutes before Croatia could pull one back, through Luka Sever on extra. Greece steadied the ship with a timeout, worked the ball for an exclusion and converted via Persefs Portokalis at 1:11 for 17-15. Croatia gained two extra-man plays in the last 47 but both shots were saved, giving Greece the victory. To Greece’s credit, it was never headed, even though the match was tied at one, two, three, seven, eight, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Angelopoulos and Sarros topped Greece’s scoring with four each and Dragas was exceptional once again for Croatia. Greece was superior on extra, converting seven from 14 and defending a magnificent seven from 14. Croatia converted three and Greece two on penalties. Croatia lost but still fired in 37 shots to 29.

DIVISION 2 SEMIFINALS (9-12)

NETHERLANDS 8 GERMANY 7 (3-1, 2-1, 2-2, 1-3)

Netherlands survived a final-quarter resurgence from Germany who drew to within one goal 1:17 from time. Netherlands gained an exclusion, took a timeout and Kimi Christ hit the post at 0:44. There were steals at both ends and the final shot was taken from six metres and went soaring high left to close the match in the Netherlands’ favour. Luuk Silvis and Gijs Blankhorst scored twice for Netherlands as did Tobias Scherrieble, Dimitrij Vasilev and Navin Satter for Germany. Germany was best on extra at two from four and stopping five from eight. Germany also had the only penalty shots, claiming two. It was basically Netherlands accuracy that won the day.

EGYPT 10 AUSTRALIA 13 (5-2, 2-2, 1-5, 2-4)

From 7-4 in arrears, Australia blasted back in the third quarter to take the lead 9-8 and cement the victory with a 4-2 finale. It was probably the biggest turnaround in the tournament and gives Australia a shot at ninth — a big leap from 13th previously. Egypt was 5-1 at one stage and parity was not arrived at until 1:20 in the third period with Oliver Moncur scoring. Lachlan Davies gave Australia the edge soon after. Egypt equalised through Hassan Ahmed Essameldin early in the fourth, but the next four goals belonged to Australia with Callum Pugh netting twice. Egypt claimed the last goal 26 seconds from time. Davies led the Aussie scoring with four goals and pairs from Pugh, Jett Semmens and Taj Young. Egypt’s best was again Yassin Mohamed Wael Elnemr 4 — 19 in Gzira — and Ahmed Essameldin with three. Both teams struggled on extra with one from four and Egypt missed one of its two penalty attempts. Australia had the advantage of 35 shots to 25.

DIVISION 2 SEMIFINALS (13-16)

BULGARIA 9 BRAZIL 10 (1-1, 2-3, 5-3, 1-3)

This has to be the closest match of the tournament with Aron Maesta scoring an improbable last-gasp goal to secure victory, two seconds from the final buzzer. It was tight throughout with the match tied at ALL the numbers to nine, an amazing feat in itself. That 9-9 equaliser came from Bulgarian Velizar Georgiev on extra, 1:03 from time. Bulgaria led the first three times, Brazil went 4-3 ahead, 5-4, 6-5, 7-6 and then Bulgaria went 8-7 up just before the final break. Marcelo Winter drew Brazil level at 4:14 and Joao Pettena made it 9-8 for Brazil 2:43 from the final buzzer. That was when Georgiev took over and Maestra did his stuff. Bulgaria was best on extra, scoring three from four and defending five from seven. It also scored three penalty goals to Brazil’s two from three. However, where it was won was with the brilliance of Hristo Delchev in goal with nine saves and the 29-13 shot differential.

ROMANIA 9 GEORGIA 2 (1-1, 3-0, 1-1, 4-0)

Both teams came into the match with two victories and now Romania has a third. Romania did not attend in 2022, so a shot at 13th position is most commendable. Georgia finished 17th, so is assured of a boost up this year. The damage was done in the second and fourth quarters and Romania’s total control, gifting only one ejection foul, smothering the Georgian attack with 22 shots to a paltry 12 and converting two from six on penalty. Well done to the goalkeeper. On extra, Romania converted four from seven and defended the sole Georgian chance. Roland Orsos, Alexander Paladiciuc-Rusu and Denis Feke scored twice each. Captain Merabi Matchavariani and Georgi Surmova were Georgia’s scorers.

DIVISION 3 SEMIFINALS (17-20)

SINGAPORE 8 ISRAEL 12 (2-4, 2-0, 2-3, 2-5)

It took the final quarter to sort these two teams out and Israel came through with the goods. Singapore has been flying high in recent matches — including the penalty shootout victory over China — but will have to wait another day for a fourth victory. Israel lifted from 7-6 at the final break to 9-6 and 11-7 to seal the encounter. Yuval Gal-on and Itay Levi scored three each for the Israelis. Justin Saik and Jaycus See netted twice for Singapore. Israel went four from five on extra and Singapore three from three. Israel converted both penalty attempts and Singapore one. Israel shot 23 times to 19.

TURKIYE 4 MALTA 8 (1-2, 1-3, 0-2, 2-1)

Malta gained its fourth victory with steady play in the first three quarters. Where it was best was in extra-man attack scoring three from five and stopping seven from 11, denying Turkey valuable goals. Malta stopped Turkiye’s scoring machine, Batur Yildiz, who had 20 goals before this match. Four of his team-mates scored today — Eyman Turan, Yagiz Balkanlil, Demir Gulsoy and Demir Pekanli. Max Lanzon, Shailon Cutajar and Sam Engerer — 22 goals — were Malta’s best with two each. Malta converted the only penalty foul and Malta shot 26 times to 20.

DIVISION 3 SEMIFINALS (21-24)

CHINA 11 POLAND 12 (4-2, 3-3, 2-1, 2-6)

Poland poured in the goals in the final quarter to turn around the 9-6 deficit at the final break. And what a spectacular last-second finish it was, demoralising the Chinese who now have three one-goal defeats and two victories in six matches. That 9-6 advantage was whittled away as it became 9-8, 10-8, 10-9, 10-10 at 1:44 with Mateusz Jasek scoring from the field. Kajetan Grabinski fired a slider from the left-hand-catch position for the lead and Chinese sensation Yiheng Yang scored his sixth goal — and 29th for the week — from the top on extra just 12 seconds from the final buzzer. Poland went to a timeout and goalkeeper Igor Bankowski, came up with the ball, hesitated and then did the unthinkable, spearing in a long shot to grab victory, one second from time. Milosz Janicki was Poland’s best with three and Yang was the backbone of China. China went six from nine on extra and Poland two from three. China also converted a penalty.

UKRAINE 14 SOUTH AFRICA 9 (1-3, 4-3, 4-2, 5-1)

Ukraine came from 6-5 down at halftime to take a one-goal lead into the last and then steamroll South Africa in the final quarter. It was Ukraine’s third win. At this stage of the tournament, it is all about fitness and the ability to play until the last whistle. Oleksandr Maksiuk fired in four goals and Maksym Tiukin three for Ukraine. South Africa’s Benjamin Bigara scored four in his best effort here. Ukraine converted three from six and South Africa one from three. Both teams slotted their one penalty chance and Ukraine had the better of the shooting statistic, firing 27 to 22.

DIVISION 4 SEMIFINALS (25-28)

NEW ZEALAND 8 PERU 4 (1-1, 4-2, 0-1, 3-0)

New Zealand gained consecutive victories and after a slow start banged in four goals in the second quarter that set the tone for the match. While kept scoreless in the third, the Kiwis bounced back with a powerful final quarter. Sabastian Dunn scored four goals — 18 in Gzira — and Louis McFarlane two for New Zealand. Iker Vasquez netted twice for Peru. There was little in the way of major fouls with New Zealand shooting 25 to 17 times. On extra, the Kiwis went one from two and Peru two from three. New Zealand converted one penalty and saved two Peruvian attempts.

KAZAKHSTAN 8 CANADA 14 (1-5, 3-5, 1-2, 3-2)

Canada scored its second consecutive victory, beginning strongly and cruising through the final phases. Kazakhstan has just the one success and will be hoping to finish 27th on Monday after taking 21st position two years ago. Ivan Khramtsov was again on fire for Canada with four goals, lifting his Gzira total to 19. Darion Wang also scored four, as did Kazakhstan’s Ramazan Abilkassym. Kazakhstan shot 32 to 25, scored one from three on extra-man attack, defended all three Canadian chances, but suffered on the penalty count, missing its sole chance and gifting three from four to Canada.

DIVISION 4 SEMIFINALS (29-32)

ZIMBABWE 9 CZECHIA 12 (3-2, 2-3, 3-3, 1-3)

Czechia has a chance to get a classification with a 2 in front after a 3-1 final quarter that separated it from Zimbabwe. The two clashed on day three in the group stage and Czechia was a 14-2 winner, so the improvement by Zimbabwe was immense. There was nothing in this match as the scores were locked at one, two and three for the first quarter’s end, and four a minute into the second period. Tommy Bensch from outside and  Radim Vildomec from deep right-hand-catch took Czechia to 6-4 ahead. Patrick Duff pulled one back from the penalty stripe four seconds from halftime. The match locked at six, seven and eight in the third before Filip Rezac scored on extra 18 seconds from time. Nathan Bauer scored from left-hand-catch with his left arm, for 10-8, followed soon after by a long shot from team-mate Lukas Batek. Christian Smith dragged one back on penalty for 11-9 at 3:00, but time slipped by and Zimbabwe went to a timeout at 1:16 with an extra-man opportunity, but the shot went high. Czechia gained an ejection and went to a timeout at 0:29. The ensuing shot came after four passes from deep left by Arseny Pashovsky, only 14 seconds remaining and 12-9 on the board. Zimbabwe regained the ball on the second pass and the goalkeeper elected to shoot on the buzzer, soaring above and having to settle for the 12-9 loss. For Czechia, Bauer and Vildomec scored three each and Duff, Liam Chicksen and Smith netted two apiece. Adam Hosna made eight saves in the Czechia goal. Czechia converted four from seven on extra and defended three from six. Czechia went two from three on penalties and Zimbabwe two from two.

SLOVENIA 14 MEXICO 12 (3-3, 3-4, 4-3, 4-2)

Slovenia was chasing a first victory after two soul-destroying penalty-shootout losses on the opening two days. This seemed to be redemption, but it was hard come by, needing the final quarter to taste what it is like to win at world championship level. Marcel Lipnik grabbed four more to his tally of 22 in Gzira. Luka Vujanovic also scored four and Bine Stromajer three. Carlos Nunez and Paris Ponce scored three each for Mexico. On extra-man attack, both teams went three from four. Slovenia scored one penalty goal and saved Mexico’s effort.

Day 7 Schedule

Tal-Qroqq Sport Complex:
CLASSIFICATION FINALS (1-16)

Classification 15-16
09:00, Bulgaria v Georgia
Classification 13-14
10:15, Brazil v Romania
Classification 11-12
11:30, Germany v Egypt
Classification 9-10
12:45, Netherlands v Australia
Classification 7-8
15:00, Serbia v Croatia
Classification 5-6
16:30, United States of America  Greece
Classification 3-4
18:00, Hungary v Montenegro
Classification 1-2
19:30, Spain v Italy

Cottonera Indoor Pool
CLASSIFICATION FINALS (17-32)

Classification 31-32
08:00, Zimbabwe v Mexico
Classification 29-30
09:15, Czechia v Slovenia
Classification 27-28
10:30, Peru v Kazakhstan
Classification 25-26
11:45, New Zealand v Canada
Classification 23-24
13:00, China v South Africa
Classification 21-22
14:15, Poland v Ukraine
Classification 19-20
15:30, Singapore v Turkiye
Classification 17-18
16:45, Israel v Malta