Italy was pushed all the way by China before winning 9-8 to win its group and progress to the division one-two crossovers in the best position. The other seven groups were won as expected by the leading nations with big differentials.
Day 3 Matches
Match 17, Group D, KAZAKHSTAN 5 HUNGARY 14 (0-2, 3-3, 1-5, 1-4)
Hungary went two from two to win the group in preparation for the next stage. The pressure was on from Kazakhstan and it had to be soaked up by the Hungarians. The first quarter belonged to the captain, Kincso Kenez. She scored on penalty and extra and missed two extra-man plays and a goal on action. She was also ejected late in the period. Come the second period, she had one shot hit the post, but relied on her team-mates to keep the scoreboard ticking over and maintain that two-goal differential by halftime. Hanga Szalkai on extra and Kinga Alaksza on penalty advanced the margin to four before Kazakhstan converted two extra-man plays and Yana Smolina scored from centre forward for 4-3. Sara Keszthelyi slipped one in just before the halftime buzzer for 5-3. Kenez on extra, Alaksza from outside and Kinez on penalty took the score to 8-3 in the third period. Shirin Khudaibergenova converted extra for Kazakhstan; Szalkai on extra and then Freia Toth from the top gave Hungary a considerable 10-4 margin at the final break. Hungary made it 12-4; Smolina scored from centre for Kazakhstan and two more Hungarian goals straddling the final minute gave Hungary a nine-goal victory.
Match Heroes
Kenez rammed in six with Hanga Szalkai, Sara Keszthelyi and Kinga Alaksza all scoring twice for Hungary. Kazakh captain Yana Smolina netted two, as she did the day before and her goalkeeper, Aisana Baiymbek made eight saves.
Turning Point
With Hungary only two up at the quarter and then again at halftime, the match turned when Hungary went 5-1 in the third.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary converted four from seven on extra and defended five from eight. It scored all four penalty attempts and stopped Kazakhstan’s only shot. In overall shooting Hungary went 29 to 14.
Bottom Line
Hungary is out to retain its crown and the stuttering first half was needed to shape up for an excellent second half.
Match 18, Group C, GERMANY 11 FRANCE 6 (2-1, 2-1, 5-2, 2-2)
Both teams were fighting for second in the group and maintain any chance of making the finals. When Sherihene Benmouna scored from centre forward at 3:36, it was just the third shot. Leni Harms equalled for Germany on extra and two seconds from the buzzer scored from centre again for 2-1. Sohane Bentaleb equalised with a lob from deep left and straight away Emma Fehmel converted a penalty foul to give Germany the lead again. More than three minutes later, Bianca Mitterbauer netted another penalty for 4-2. Germany had a chance to go 5-2 up, but the penalty shot hit the right post. That score did not come until four minutes later when Mara Dzaja converted extra-man attack, accepting a near pass on the left-post position.
Leftie Mitterbauer sent in the third penalty goal and Viktoria Tomica scored consecutive extra-man goals — from the left post and right-hand-catch positions for 8-2. Feryel Bentaleb doubled France’s score with a pair within half a minute — centre forward on extra and from the top right — and Lucy Schuessler made it 9-4 from a short drive down the right post. Germany had the match in its fist by the third-quarter buzzer. Two French goals — the first on counter and the second from Benmouna at six metres— made it 9-6. Tomica, with an extra-man score from the top, stretched it to four at 2:49. However, that was it from France and Fehmel bombed in a long buzzer-beater from wide left for 11-6 and the three points for second place in the group.
Match Heroes
Tomica was named best in water with three goals while Harms, Fehmel and Mitterbauer scored twice for Germany. France’s best were Feryel Bentaleb and Benmouna with a pair each.
Turning Point
Germany going from 2-2 to 4-2 in the second period and moving it out to 8-2 in the third.
Stats Don’t Lie
Germany converted five from seven on extra-man attack and shut down eight from 10. It scored three from four on penalty and needed only 19 shots to 24. However, on steals, Germany took six to one.
Bottom Line
Germany was the all-round better team and deserved the win. France still has a way to go.
Match 19, Group B, ZIMBABWE 3 GREECE 21 (2-6, 0-3, 1-7, 0-5)
Greece was not to be denied a goal fest such is the structure of women’s water polo at home compared to Zimbabwe’s. It went 3-0 up with the first two goals from centre forward Afroditi Bitsakou, followed by a Nefeli Krassas penalty conversion. Amelie Mtongwiza lit up the pool with consecutive goals from outside for Zimbabwe — the first goals in Manisa — the first from 10m and the second from eight metres, both into the top right, for 3-2 down. Krassa scored the fourth and sixth goals on extra with Bitsakou countering for her third. It was a thrilling first quarter. Rafaela Saltamanika drilled two outside shots and Sofia Lampropoulou closed the half for 9-2. Third-quarter goals came on extra, a lob from the deep left, another off extra from the left-post position, on counter, a cross pass to the left post, and a centre-forward goal at 0:48 for 15-2.
Zimbabwe made the sheet again through Natasha Chaniwa with a blast from the top left, just getting across the line at 0:22. Androniki Karagianni — a six-goaler on day two — put away a centre-forward shot ahead of the buzzer. Eleni Valvi lobbed from deep left to start the final-quarter scoring, followed by Saltamanika from deep left. Bitsakou and Valvi scored penalty goals for 20-3 and Bitsakou finished off an extra-man play quickly from the left-post position for 21-3.
Match Heroes
Bitsakou with five goals to give her eight from two matches, and the player-of-the-match certificate. Anastasia Bikou and captain Nefeli Krassa netted three each while Mtongwiza was happy with her two outside rockets for Zimbabwe.
Turning Point
Greece made sure it was going to score first and keep Zimbabwe away from its goalmouth as often as possible. With the 3-0 start, the inevitability of the result was set in motion.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece went six from nine on extra and did not give up a major foul at all, a tournament first and a rarity at any level. It scored three penalty goals and shot 28 times to 13.
Bottom Line
Greece made it two wins in the group and is now well primed for the higher stages. Zimbabwe will cherish playing one of the best teams in the world and will be keen to take that experience into the lower-level classifications.
Match 20, Group A, NETHERLANDS 10 THAILAND 3 (1-3, 1-2, 4-0, 2-0)
Because of Israel’s withdrawal, this is a two-team group and they played each other twice, Netherlands winning the opening-day encounter 11-7. With a shut-out second half, Netherlands made sure of the second success. It took nearly three minutes for Netherlands to open the scoring from the deep left from Loeki Ouwerkerk and for Thailand to respond with an eight-metre lob from the top left by Paranee Chotrotchanaanan. Judith Joosten countered down the right and Jette Bottermans drilled from the top for 3-1 at 1:20. Netherlands missed four shots and Thailand two. Nattamon Khamma turned at centre and left-handed the ball into goal for Thailand to start the second quarter. Marjolein de Gier shot off the left-post position on extra for 4-2. With 21 seconds left in the half, Thailand’s Thanidakarn Kwantongtanaree found empty space on the right on extra with a long shot from the top for 4-3. It was 6-4 to Netherlands in the first encounter. Netherlands’ Lin Godefrooij found herself free on the bottom right and cross-caged into the bottom left for 5-3 a minute into the third quarter.
Joosten expanded the score to 6-3 from the left-hand-catch position for her second goal. Myrthe Broekmate converted a penalty with a “doughnut” glancing off the goalkeeper’s head for 7-3. Thailand gave up another penalty foul and Botermans converted for 8-3 (it was 9-4 on Friday). Such was the Thai defence that the Dutch could not find a gap until 2:47 in the fourth when Isa Verschoor received a cross pass at two metres and bounced the ball off the goalkeeper for 9-3, only just crossing the line. Thailand took a timeout at 2:06, but the centre-forward backhander failed to reach the line. Netherlands had a timeout at 1:09 with no joy, Thailand hit the right post and the Dutch scored in the last four seconds with Vera van As blasting in from the right post and almost on the goal-line.
Match Heroes
Botermans and player-of-the-match Joosten scored twice each as eight Dutch players made the sheet.
Turning Point
The second half where the shutters went up and Thailand denied a goal.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands had 25 shots to 13; made five steals to one; scored both penalty goals but equalled Thailand on extra with one from four each.
Bottom Line
Netherlands is the classier team, although Thailand plays well, but does not have the firepower of the Dutch. However, it does finish second.
Match 21, Group H, CHINA 8 ITALY 9 (3-1, 1-3, 2-2, 2-3)
Italy’s scoring sensation Margharita Minuto came to the fore when needed most, scoring her fourth goal at 1:24 in the final quarter to break the 8-8 deadlock and win the group. There was nothing in the match with the scores level at one, three, four, five, six, seven and eight. China held the lead five times and Italy three until Minuto made it four goals for her on extra-man late in the play. It was an engrossing match with China sitting pretty at 3-1 by the quarter break, but it was not always good for China as those eight goals came from an extremely low 11 shots while Italy went 50 per cent from its 18 attempts. The defence was solid all around as the other statistics show. Jingwen Zhang opened the scoring on extra for China, went ahead through Xiwen Cao for 2-1 and 3-1 via a Shangyu Chen extra-man score. Minuto had the only Italian goal. She scored again at the top of the second quarter and Malika Bovo converted a penalty for the equaliser. Italy scored on counter through Carlotta Paganuzzi and Shangyu Chen replied on extra for 4-4 by halftime — China’s only shot of the period and fifth for the match.
Martina Abrizi scored on Italy’s third shot from the top into the top right for 5-4 and China’s Sirui Huang converted extra for the first of two successful shots in the period. Cao scored on extra from the left-hand-catch position at 0:30 and Bovo replied with a right-hand backhand from centre at 0:12 for 6-6. Yiting Yin won the fourth-quarter sprint, passed back and swam deep left where she received the ball and scored the 7-6 goal with Minuto striking back from centre. Three minutes later, Sara Pulvirenti also scored a backhander from two metres and Siyao Li responded from the left-hand-catch spot into the top left for 8-8. Italy called a timeout, gained an exclusion and Minuto made sure of victory from deep left.
Match Heroes
Player-of-the-match Minuto with her four — and crucial winning goal — lifting her two-match tally to an incredible 14. Bovo sent in two. Shangyu Chen and Cao scored twice each for China. Xiwen Chang made five saves in the Chinese goal while the Italian goalkeeper was not troubled once.
Turning Points
China going to 3-1. Italy levelling at 3-3 and that final goal for Italy.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy’s overall shooting was the key. China’s five from five on extra was brilliant, also denying Italy two from four. Scoring the only penalty shot, was critical for Italy.
Bottom Line
Italy won big against Czechia so, having to battle against China, will help for the rest of the tournament. China still has a chance to show its skills and progress, although it has to face in-form USA on Monday.
Match 22, Group G, UKRAINE 12 MALTA 7 (1-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-1)
Ukraine picked up its first win in Manisa and has booked a crossover match with group winner Australia. It took time for the teams to settle and swap goals late in the period with Malta 2-1 ahead. Marharyta Synytsia put Ukraine on the board in the first from just inside halfway and equalised early in the second on extra-man attack. She followed up on penalty for 3-2 only for Malta to strike back with a pair for 4-3, a lead it held for three minutes before Synytsia converted another penalty goal for the 4-4 halftime score. Holly Camilleri scored with a lob from deep right and Veronika Murzakova replied instantly from the centre over the head of the advancing goalkeeper. Viktoriia Rudnyk converted counter at 3:42 to have Ukraine ahead.
However, Eyla Schembri, who scored both Maltese goals in the first quarter, claimed her third with a long shot from wide left and 6-6. Synytsia sent in penalty No. 3 and Rudnyk slipped in a counter-attack goal three seconds from time for the 8-6 advantage. Synytsia made it a fourth penalty strike for 9-6 just after the restart and Rudnyk made it a four-goal margin with a shot from deep left on the next Ukrainian attack. She then scored on extra and counter for a match-winning 12-6 with Schembri scoring from the left-hand-catch position for her fourth and 12-7 at 2:11. Malta shot twice more for no effect.
Match Heroes
Synytsia headed all scorers with six goals — four from penalty — and team-mate Rudnyk slammed in five. Anna Chentsova pulled down seven saves for Ukraine. Schembrie claimed four goals as the best for Malta.
Turning Point
From 4-4 at halftime and 5-4 down early in the third quarter and then 6-6, Ukraine seized the match with the last two goals before the final break.
Stats Don’t Lie
Ukraine had eight less shots than Malta and still won the match — 12 goals from 18 shots. Ukraine converted two from three on extra and defended all three Maltese attempts. It also scored four penalty goals to none — statistics that win close matches.
Bottom Line
Ukraine took the lessons of the big loss to Spain on day one and turned them into a successful day with the prospect of more to come. Malta also suffered at Spain’s hands and now sits out the division three crossovers to return on Tuesday.
Match 24, Group E, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 22 SERBIA 3 (4-3, 6-0, 7-0, 5-0)
USA produced a set of statistics that could hardly be replicated by any team, anywhere. These alone accounted for most of the goals. It was an interesting start with Serbia beginning from the centre through second-day, four-goal hero Masa Cuk, but Kirra Pantaleon and captain Charlotte Raisin, twice, giving USA the 3-1 advantage. Jana Jankovic scored on extra and Elena Cuk, also on extra, for the leveller. Sixteen seconds later and eight seconds from the first break, Gabriella Alexson scored off extra for 4-3. Then came the onslaught as USA shut the gates and went about scoring at will, lifting the halftime margin to seven by halftime and 14 by the final break. Another five in the last quarter set USA up for what could be an exciting tournament.
Match Heroes
Player-of-the-match Pantaleon finished with five while Raisin and Alexson scored four each.
Turning Point
The final goal of the first quarter. The break chat with the coach might have helped as well, because it spelt the demise of Serbia.
Stats Don’t Lie
When you send in nine from nine on extra-man attack, you have the team to perform at the sharp end of the tournament. When you defend all 11 attempts by the opposition, you have to start thinking of the title. With 24 shots to only 10, USA was impeccable, especially when you throw in five from five from the penalty line. That means an advantage of 26 from set plays.
Bottom Line
Just look at the statistics again. USA is here to win. Serbia showed grit and more can be expected of the team here in Manisa, although Italy on day four will be tough. USA faces China in the crossovers.
Match 23, Group F, AUSTRALIA 13 TURKIYE 3 (3-0, 3-1, 4-0, 3-2)
Australia made it a double against Turkiye and the result was similar. These teams are the only ones in the group with the withdrawal of Mexico, so played on the first day with the Aussies finishing 11-2. Today it was a 10-goal difference, so not much change. Lucy Stuart opened proceedings from the left-hand-catch position on extra at 2:41, so it took some time coming. She also scored the third, on counter, to close the quarter after Ali McCarthy grabbed one from two metres, turning her opponent. Leftie Stuart plugged a penalty goal to open the fourth quarter before Mina Bozkurt drilled extra for Turkiye’s opener. Stuart on extra and McCarthy on counter made it 6-1 at 2:21, which was also the halftime score. A flawless third quarter took the Aussies to 10-1 through four new and different shooters. This became 12-1 early in the fourth. Turkiye’s Betul Haltas scored from two metres after turning her player outside the left post and Bozkurt grabbed a second on extra, bouncing in from left-hand-catch for 12-3 at 2:40. Amelie Hoefel scored from deep left and had a penalty attempt saved as the match closed at 13-3.
Match Heroes
Stuart collected the player-of-the-match award for her four goals, with Alannah Paul, McCarthy and Sienna Walker netting twice each. Bozkurt was Turkiye’s best with two.
Turning Point
With a 3-0 start, this could be the only turning point.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia went three from four on extra and Turkiye two from three. Australia missed two of its three penalty attempts and Turkiye one. On shooting, Australia shot 24 and defended strongly, allowing Turkiye only 10 attempts.
Bottom Line
It was a repeat showing of day one and now Australia plays Ukraine and Turkiye can expect a tough opponent in Spain.
Final Points
Group A: NED 6, THA 0
Group B: GRE 6, CAN 3, ZIM 0
Group C: CRO 6,GER 3, FRA 0
Group D: HUN 6, RSA 3, KAZ 0
Group E: USA 6, SRB 3, NZL 0
Group F: AUS 6, TUR 0
Group G: ESP 6, UKR 3, MLT 0
Group H: ITA 6, CHN 3, CZE 0
Day 4 Schedule
Division 1-2 Crossovers
Match 25. 09:00, 1A NED v 2D RSA
Match 26. 10:15, 2B CAN v 1C CRO
Match 27. 11:30, 2C GER v 1B GRE
Match 28. 12:45, 2A THA v 1D HUN
Match 29. 16:30, 1E USA v 2H CHN
Match 30. 17:45, 2F TUR v 1G ESP
Match 31. 19:00, 1F AUS v 2G UKR
Match 32. 20:15, 2E SRB v 1H ITA
Division 3 Crossovers
Match 58. 14:00, 3B ZIM v 3C FRA
Match 59. 15:15, 3E NZL v 3H CZE