Inaugural champion Hungary displayed coolness and quality skills with an 18-4 victory over South Africa who defeated Kazakhstan on day one. Greece thundered through Canada 22-3, a first-day victor over Zimbabwe, thus Greece is virtually assured of winning the group. Croatia, Spain and Italy had big wins and Serbia nudged out New Zealand.
Day 2 Matches
Match 9, Group C, CROATIA 17 FRANCE 10 (1-2, 3-3, 6-3, 7-2)
France’s hopes were destroyed in a second-half blitz by Croatia. France sat out day one and started strongly, opening the scoring on a counter-attack lob down the left side, followed three minutes later with a shot from the left after a charge up the pool, crossing to the charging Feryel Bentaleb. Lara Srhoj, who scored a pair on day one, rose high out of the water from well inside her half to launch a 15m bouncer into goal on the quarter-time buzzer for 2-1 behind. Leopoldine Burle clinched her second goal with a sublime lob from deep right for 3-1 a minute into the second quarter. A minute later Croatia converted a penalty foul thanks to Srhoj. Nina Jazvin scored off the right-post position on extra for 3-3 only for Sherihene Benmouna to score from centre forward to take France ahead 4-3. After Luci Mojas converted extra-man attack from the deep left for 4-4, Benmouna drilled from the top on extra to have France in front at halftime. Srhoj netted her third from outside for the third tied score on the first attack from the top right. Sohane Bentaleb repeated the effort for France on the next trip down the pool. Ana Brzovic scored from a short drive for 6-6 and Neli Jankovic countered for Croatia’s first advantage at 7-6. It was short-lived as Sohane Bentaleb lobbed from the top left for 7-7.
Croatia had a penalty attempt saved, but after a turnover had the lead again with Jankovic making amends on counter — the fourth goal in a little more than a minute. Srhoj rifled one in from the top left and Croatia was two ahead. France pulled one back on extra from the deep left through Burle. A beautiful cross-pass to Jazvin at centre gave Croatia the 10-8 lead at the final break. Srhoj fired in from the top right with her right arm for 11-8 on the first fourth-quarter. Jazvin sent in a penalty goal and a laid-back, centre-forward shot for 13-8. France countered through Benmouna and Srhoj scored easily from two metres for 14-9 and her fifth goal. Jankovic countered for 15-9 and Srhoj accepted another gift at two metres for 16-9. France went to a timeout and Benmouna brought up double figures from centre forward. Karla Popovic converted a penalty for Croatia which proved to be the final score.
Match Heroes
The omnipresent Srhoj was named player of the match for her six goals, closely followed by Jazvin with five and Jankovic with three for Croatia. Benmouna nailed four and Burle three for France.
Turning Point
Croatia’s ability to break away from 7-7 to 10-8 by the final break and then to 13-8 less than a minute into the final quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia was perfect on extra-man attack with five goals and France gained two from two. On penalties, Croatia netted three from four while not giving up a foul.
Bottom Line
Croatia built on yesterday’s 9-8 win over Germany and has the group victory. France would have been happy with its play in the first three periods.
Match 10, Group D, SOUTH AFRICA 4 HUNGARY 18 (2-4, 1-4, 0-3, 1-7)
Hungary opened the defence of its crown with rapid goals in the first minute through extra-man attack and the penalty line and then had to watch as South Africa lobbed from deep right thanks to Danielle Sassenberg and Holly Strydom scored from centre forward for 2-2 at 0:52. Captain Kincso Kenez pushed it to 3-2 from the top left to go with her earlier penalty strike and Janka Matajsz scored off counter to have the margin at 4-2, 18 seconds from the first break. It took nearly two minutes for Hungary to go three ahead on extra. Next attack, South Africa gained an extra play and scored off Kara Batting on the left post. Kinga Alaksza scored her second from the top to give Hungary a 6-3 advantage. Laura Kerekes bounced one in from the bottom right for 7-3 and soon after Hanga Szalkai blasted in on counter for 8-3 just before the turn.
Hungary converted extra and a penalty midway through the third period for 10-3 and it was not until eight seconds from the buzzer that it increased the score to 11-3 with a Zsofi Urbin bullet from the top. A minute into the fourth, Emma Kiss converted counter and Ane Du Plessis converted extra-man from the deep left more than 11 minutes after the team’s previous score. Kinez sent in a long shot into the bottom left on extra for her fourth goal and Barbara Fule finished off a counter from the deep right for 15-4. Matajsz scored on extra at 2:04 after gaining the exclusion. She then left-armed a shot from centre forward and finalised the match with her fourth goal, and third within four minutes, four seconds from time, on extra.
Match Heroes
Matajsz, with four action goals, was best in pool while captain Kenez also scored four — two from the penalty stripe.
Turning Point
Scoring those two late goals in the first quarter that gave Hungary two points of separation.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary fired a commendable six from seven on extra and defended five from six — a winning statistic right there. Hungary scored the only two penalty goals. Steals went the way of Hungary, making 10 from four. Hungary shot 27 times to 14.
Bottom Line
Hungary warmed up well, having to sit out day one and now needs to down Kazakhstan on Sunday for the group win. South Africa was tireless, but left gaps and did not take shots on offer, especially early in extra.
Match 12, Group B, CANADA 3 GREECE 22 (0-6, 0-5, 2-4, 1-7)
Greece made sure of group supremacy in its first encounter as Sunday’s match is against scoreless Zimbabwe and should be a romp. Greece wasted no time in the scoring department with the first goal from centre after 18 seconds; the second on lob, followed by another on counter — all inside the first two minutes. Anastasia Bikou, who earlier scored on counter, lobbed from centre forward for 4-0. Nefeli Krassa lobbed from right-hand catch and Afroditi Bitsakou, who scored the opener, repeated that centre-forward turn for 6-0. Canada had its best attempt spin short of the line on extra just before quarter time. Greece scored twice on penalty with an extra-man goal in between for 9-0. The 10th came on lob and the 11th on counter from Bitsakou. The score moved to 12 before McKenna Pineda-McLean put Canada on the board from extra. Maria Ntouli responded from the top on action. Androniki Karagianni drove in for her second goal of the quarter for 14-1 and after another lobbed counter goal, Bridget Mihaljevich fired quickly from outside for South Africa and 15-2, 18 seconds from the final break.
Greece kept up the pressure and the speed in the final quarter and shot to 18-2 with Karagianni collecting her fourth. Zoe Romanov sent one in off the right post from eight metres for Canada’s third goal. Krassa gained her fourth with a shot that only just crossed the line for 19-3 and Aikaterina Koundouraki claimed No. 20 with a lob from deep right. Karagianni went to five on counter, scooping it over her head with four defenders suffocating her and then gained her sixth on counter to close the encounter at 22-3.
Match Heroes
Karagianni with her six goals while captain Krassa scored four and Bitsakou three.
Turning Point
The opening whistle, for sure, as Greece was here to score a deluge of goals and was relentless throughout.
Stats Don’t Lie
With so many shots there was no time for fouling. Greece converted one of only two extra-man plays and ripped in two penalty goals from three attempts. Greece shot 28 times for 22 goals and Canada 19. Greece stole the ball 11 times to five.
Bottom Line
Greece is here for only one thing — a medal. Canada needs to have more confidence and shoot when gaps appear. It worked three times.
Match 13, Group G, SPAIN 19 MALTA 4 (4-0, 6-0. 5-3, 4-1)
Spain is a team on the move and this showed strongly in the opening half where Malta was kept scoreless. Spain was controlled, had excellent passing and its shooting came at the right time and with the right force. Spain found the cracks and prised them open at every occasion. Spain scored through penalty, counter and twice from centre forward in the first quarter. In the second, five goals came on action with just one on extra-man attack. It had two extra-man goals for 12-0 and then Malta made the sheet through Eyla Schembri with a shot from the right-hand-catch position, just dribbling across the line off the goalkeeper. Chloe Amato struck another for Malta, this time from the right side and it was 12-2. Marina Pineda scored from two metres, slowly turning her defender, for Spain — her second — before Malta brought up number three via Kaylen Cutajar into the bottom right off a fast pass and shoot. Spain closed the period at 15-3, went to 16-3 and then Malta responded through Amato, again with the long shot into the top left. Pineda closed the scoring at 19-4 with another centre-forward strike.
Match Heroes
Queralt Anton and player-of-the-match Ona Jurado scored four each for Spain and Pineda three. Amato had two for Malta.
Turning Point
Spain now has 41 goals from two matches, so the opening half was where all the damage was done.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain made sure of all five attempts on extra with Malta denied both its chances. Spain scored the only penalty and went 24-19 on shooting. Leading 10-0 at halftime was the biggest statistic.
Bottom Line
Spain is going to the medal round. Malta was playing its first match at this level and it was a tough assignment.
Match 14, Group H, CZECHIA 4 ITALY 26 (1-6, 2-9, 1-5, 0-6)
Italy bounced on to the stage with an encouraging performance that sets it up for a fantastic surge into the finals. It has the team to go far and it has a terrific shooter in Margharita Minuto who is capable of shooting from anywhere at any time. Her 10 goals came off 10 shots, so precision was everything. She had assistance all around the pool as the quarter scores show. Czechia tried hard to get into the play, although its shots became weaker against the dynamic defence that garnered so many steals. Czechia’s four goals came off extra by two, outside and penalty. The statistics say it all and we can expect Italy to perform at the sharp end of the tournament. Its next opponent is China, who beat Czechia by 10 goals on day one, so there will be more resistance there.
Match Heroes
Minuto was the obvious star with her 10 goals —three on action, one from the centre, four from outside six metres and two on counter-attack. Malika Bovo was nearly as good with six, two off counter. Julio Puleo added three more. Four separate Czechs scored.
Turning Point
Italy was always in front, so Czechia had no chance.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy took 35 shots to 11, showing the difference between these nations. Italy stole the ball 11 times to nil and then it had Minuto on the prowl. The major fouls were insignificant in such a fast-paced match with Italy scoring only one from three and Czechia one from two. Both teams converted a penalty foul.
Bottom Line
Italy is another team assured of a tilt at the title, so Czechia was on the back foot, especially after losing by 10 goals to China on day one.
Match 15, Group E, NEW ZEALAND 10 SERBIA 11 (2-4, 1-2, 3-3, 4-2)
This was an intriguing match in which Sebia was never headed, but New Zealand was never far from the lead. Masa Cuk opened for Serbia from centre and nearly four minutes later Isabella Lambie levelled on penalty. Sadly, for the Kiwis, it was the closest they came to the lead. Cuk replied on extra, Serbia scored twice more and Venetia Hickey replied for New Zealand, on extra, for 4-2 at the first break. Five goals came in that last 1:25 and four inside 51 seconds such was the frenzy. Elena Cuk opened the second quarter for a three-goal margin, trimmed to two by Bella Needham on extra and advanced to 6-3 via Nika Ratkovic at 2:13, the last goal of the half. Lambie had it back to two early in the third period and Needham scored on extra for 6-5 behind. Masa Cuk did her best work at centre and Needham scored from the field for 7-6.
Mina Brankovic sent the 8-6 goal in on extra and Ratkovic made it 9-6 on counter before the third break. A minute into the fourth, Needham struck from the field, but Elena Cuk and then Masa Cuk stretched the margin to four at 2:45. Zoe Knight scored the last three goals — on extra from the top, with a lob from the wide left and then with a snap shot in a goal-line melee — and made a steal as the Kiwis closed to 11-10 at 0:28. New Zealand pressed hard, but could not steal the ball and Serbia had three points.
Match Heroes
Masa Cuk finished with four goals and Ratkovic with three. Needham was New Zealand’s best with four goals and Knight’s hat-trick in the final quarter was inspiring.
Turning Point
It was really that first goal for Serbia. New Zealand at 1-1 and coming back from 9-6 down to 11-10 were possible pinch points.
Stats Don’t Lie
New Zealand had the better of the extra-man count, steering in three from six and denying Serbia six from nine. New Zealand also scored one of its two penalty attempts. They had a similar number of shots, but Serbia made seven steals to two.
Bottom Line
These teams were equal across the pool, however, Serbia’s 6-3 first half was better than New Zealand’s 7-5 in the second half.
Progress Points
Group A: NED 3, THA 0
Group B: GRE 3, CAN 3, ZIM 0
Group C: CRO 6,GER 0, FRA
Group D: HUN 3, RSA 3, KAZ 0,
Group E: USA 3, SRB 3, NZL 0,
Group F: AUS 3, TUR 0
Group G: ESP 6, MLT 0, UKR 0,
Group H: ITA 3, CHN 3, CZE 0
Day 3 Schedule
Match 17. 09:00, Group D, Kazakhstan v Hungary
Match 18. 10:15, Group C, Germany v France
Match 19. 11:30, Group B, Zimbabwe v Greece
Match 20. 12:45, Group A, Thailand v Netherlands
Match 21. 16:15, Group H, China v Italy
Match 22. 17:30, Group G, Ukraine v Malta
Match 24. 18:45, Group E, United States of America v Serbia
Match 23. 20:00, Group F, Australia v Turkiye