Day 1 Match Reports

Match 1, Group C, CHINA 7 TURKIYE 18 (1-3, 2-5, 3-5, 1-5)

Turkey was never headed in the first of many high-scoring matches, as it turned out. From a 2-0 start that had Efe Naipoglu score the second on extra, China opened its account on action before Naipoglu converted a penalty for 3-1 going into the second quarter. Naipoglu scored a second penalty goal before China struck back with a pair, including a penalty strike, for 4-3 behind. Turkiye scored the next four and the 8-3 margin set it up for a wonderful start to the tournament. China netted three in the third period with Haiyuan Ouyang getting two, one from penalty. Naipoglu scored twice as the Turkish tally rattled on to 13 by the final break. Diheng Li scored the opening goal of the fourth with Turkiye shutting up defence and spearing in five more for a big 18-7 differential.

Match Heroes
Naipoglu was best in pool with six goals and Ali Erdag scored five and Arda Yener three.

Turning Point
The opening two goals and then the second-quarter spurt from 4-3 to 8-3.

Stats Don’t Lie
Turkiye converted five from eight on extra and China one from two. All penalty goals were converted with Turkiye on four and China two. Turkiye shot 38 to 24 and took five steals to two.

Bottom Line
Turkiye wanted it more and did everything possible to score goals.

Match 2, Group D, ARGENTINA 25 URUGUAY 4 (7-1, 5-1, 7-2, 3-0)

With a 7-1 advantage by the first break, it is hard to maintain the rage or lose concentration. Not here, as Argentina made a statement and kept the scoring high in every quarter. Argentina was 6-0 ahead before Uruguay made the sheet through Juan Salom on extra. The second goal came at 2:14 in the second through Manuel Campodonico from the top.  Argentina had the 12-2 lead at the turn and 17-0 before the third goal, also on extra, from Lucas Piretti. The fourth was two goals later thanks to Emiliano Scelza on extra. Argentina kept a clean sheet in the last and goes to the second day with a swagger.

Match Heroes
Argentinian captain Alejo Teijeiro with eight goals, Bautista Calcagno, Erik Shone and Santiago Rivera with three each.

Turning Point
Argentina jumping into the pool.

Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina scored all five extra-man chances and defended five from eight. At the penalty line it was also perfect with seven conversions and shut down Uruguay’s one. Argentina shot 39 times to 22.

Bottom Line
Argentina was just too good. However, great to see Uruguay in the international scene.

Match 3, Group E, JAPAN 23 COLOMBIA 19 (8-4, 6-5, 4-5, 5-5)

With 42 goals in a match, you assume it would be a long penalty shootout that produced so many goals. Not so. The 12-goal opening quarter was just a teaser for what was to come. The match was only tied once, although five times it was within one. From seven down at one stage in the third period, Colombia brought it back to four a minute from the final break. Japan stretched it out to six at 20-14 until Colombia scored three times in a minute to bring it to 20-17 and still nearly four minutes remaining. Colombia had to bring it back to four twice in the final minutes as Japan was just too good.

Match Heroes
Keito Matsuda and Toji Nakamura scored five goals each for Japan and Atsuya Maeda and Sota Hombe netted three each. For Colombia, the tall and strong Jean Lopez was sensational with 10 goals from 15 attempts — and was named best in pool — and Daniel Lopera chimed in with four.

Turning Point
The first period of 8-4 meant Japan need not worry and that was retained for long periods.

Stats Don’t Lie
The big statistic was Japan’s seven from 10 on penalty while not giving up one. On extra, Japan two from two to Colombia’s four from five. Japan, however, had the better shooting at 37 to 29.

Bottom Line
Japan was faster and had the better shooting. If only it could have stopped Lopez from getting close to goal and being the “go-to” man.

Match 4, Group F, AUSTRALIA 14 KAZAKHSTAN 13 (3-4, 4-3, 2-1, 5-5)

Australia survived by the skin of its teeth in a match where Kazakhstan had the lead four times. It started with an  Aussie penalty and an extra-man goal for Kazakhstan. Then Daniel Magasanik scored his second on extra and Nikolay Babenko responded from outside for 2-2. Kazakhstan scored two one with Magasanik claiming his third from centre forward. Kazakhstan went to the second period with a 4-3 advantage. Magasanik drew level with a shot from the top and Yegor Beloussov replied on penalty for 5-4. Two quick outside goals had Australia in the lead 6-5 with Kazakhstan responding on extra. Beloussov gave Kazakhstan the 7-6 advantage on extra with Magasanik bringing up the equaliser on extra eight seconds from time. Goals were traded early in the third period with Beloussov again scoring on penalty. Magasanik converted his penalty attempt for 9-8 up at 4:46, the last scoring until the three-quarter buzzer. Ashton Brown, Edward Handley  and Magasanik  scored goals that put Australia two ahead. Nurassyo Satbergen scored his third of the period for 12-11. Rex Palazzi and Dauren Ali swapped goals, Magasanik converted extra at 1:40 and Ali came good with an outside shot for 14-13 at 1:18. Both teams took timeouts and could not get a shot away, giving Australia victory on day one.

Match Heroes
Magasanik, with his eight goals, showed why he was the best in pool. Brown was a double scorer. For Kazakhstan, Beloussov finished with four and Satbergen with three.

Turning Point
So many, with Kazakhstan gaining the lead four times and Australia five.

Stats Don’t Lie
Australia scored four from eight on extra and Kazakhstan five from seven. The Aussies went three from four on penalty and Kazakhstan scored both its chances. Kazakhstan shot 31 times to 26.

Bottom Line
Either team could have won and first-day nerves might have played a part, although by the scoring, I don’t think so.

Match 5, Group A, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 MONTENEGRO 13 (2-5, 3-4, 4-2, 2-2)

Montenegro was never headed, although it was given a scare in the final quarter a few times, especially after losing the third quarter 4-2. Montenegro started with the first two goals and then went 3-1, 4-2 and 5-2 before the buzzer. Tim Perov scored his second to begin the second quarter and Srdan Janovic converted extra-man attack for 7-2. Goals were traded for 8-3 and Bode Brinkema made it 8-4 with another pair traded inside the final minute for 9-5 at halftime. Montenegro had three shots blocked in the early stage of the third period before Ben Forer netted his fourth and fifth goals and 9-7 for USA. Janovic and Forer each scored for 10-8 before Gavin Conant narrowed it to one on action. Perov scored from two metres to give Montenegro the 11-9 advantage at the final break. Brinkema sent one in from the penalty line and Janovic replied for 12-10. Gavin Appledorn scored off extra and Janovic did the same at 1:52. Brinkema missed a penalty attempt and both sides missed shots and took timeouts with no further joy. Montenegro had diligently won its first match.

Match Heroes
Forer scored six goals for USA with Appledorn and Brinkema two apiece. Beloussov led his team to victory with four goals and Satbergen nabbed three.

Turning Point
Having a three-goal advantage in the first quarter gave Montenegro the breathing room to perform.

Stats Don’t Lie
Montenegro gained five from eight on extra and defended three from five. USA missed one of its two penalty attempts. Montenegro shot 32 times to 22.

Bottom Line
Montenegro showed its mental strength, let alone ability, in winning first up. USA worked hard, but could not break the gain line.

Match 6, Group B, GREECE 13 SPAIN 10 (4-0, 3-3, 3-3, 3-4)

Two leading nations and playing each other in the first day. Greece ripped out of the starting blocks to go to the first-quarter break with a stunning four-goal margin. Spain was shell-shocked. It was nearly 10 minutes into the match that it scored, but by then the damage had been done. Greece went to 5-1, 6-2 and 7-3 by halftime. Christos Siamas converted extra for Greece at 5:46 in the third with Tomas Perrone (that famous name) scoring his second, this time on extra. Dimitrios Chatzis made it 9-4 and Saul Granados 9-5 from centre forward. So many famous names! Javier Fernandez and Christos Laskaridis — on counter — traded goals for the 10-6 margin at the final break. Albert Sabadell made it 10-7 on extra and Tomas Soler brought it within two at 7:18 in the fourth. Goals were traded and Spyridon Lykoudis scored his second consecutive goal for 12-9. Siamas lifted it to four with Perrone replying on extra for the final score of 13-10.

Match Heroes
Iosif Kokkinos drilled four goals early on and Spyridon grabbed three. For Spain, Perrone took three, Soler and Marc Rodriguez two each.

Turning Point
That first quarter says it all. Spain won the match from there 10-9.

Stats Don’t Lie
Greece converted two from five on extra and blocked six from 10. On penalties, Greece converted all three. Spain had the better of steals, 6-4.

Bottom Line
Greece made its presence known early and that shaped the outcome of the match. Spain has time to recover.

Match 7, Group A, SERBIA 13 HUNGARY 12 (2-3, 3-2, 4-2, 4-5)

An advantage can be a tough thing to maintain. Leading means you are always the hunted. Serbia led twice and Hungary once, when it counted, just before the first break.  Hungary’s third goal was scored by Mor Benedek and, yes, he is the son of the triple Olympic champion and Hungarian captain and coach, the late Tibor Benedek. He looks and acts so much like his father with the one major difference, he is right-handed. He scored a second extra-man goal to start the second quarter and give Hungary a two-goal buffer. That was nullified by Miljan Djokanovic on extra and Filip Novakovic by 4:47.

Hungary went ahead again through Bence Haverkampf from the top. Novakovic equalised 30 seconds from the turn. Goals were traded and Strahinja Krstic scored consecutive goals on extra for 7-6. He added a third two minutes later for a two-goal difference. Traded goals inside the final minute still had Serbia two up. Andras Toth  and Vuk Kojic swapped goals and Botond Balogh and Haverkamph shot long for 10-10 at 5:54. Kojic and Balogh traded for 11-11 and Novakovic and Kojic jumped the score to 13-11 at 2:06. Haverkampf made it back to one at 1:42. Serbia twice went to a timeout and Hungary one, but no more goals eventuated.

Match Heroes
Krstic topped with four and Novakovic and Kojic with three for Serbia. Hungary’s best was Haverkampf with four, followed by Toth with three.

Turning Point
Serbia going 2-1 up and Hungary leading 4-2. Serbia went 9-7 at the end of three quarters and survived two ties to win.

Stats Don’t Lie
Serbia went five from six on extra and stopped five from nine. Hungary missed its only penalty shot and Hungary had the better of shooting — 38 to 29.

Bottom Line
Serbia and Hungary have the talents to go far. Hungary will bounce back, for sure.

Match 8, Group B, ITALY 12 CROATIA 8 (3-2, 1-1, 3-3, 5-2)

Italy had a grip on the match that it was not going to relinquish. Croatia started the scoring and then once Italy equalised, it retained the momentum. Croatia levelled at three early in the second quarter and when Emanuele Miraldi scored on action at 4:50 it established supremacy and neither team added to the score by the halftime buzzer. Alessandro Salipante converted extra from 5-3 and Simone de Vecchis also sent one in on extra for 6-3. Croatia made good use of a timeout and Ante Jerkovic equalised on extra at 1:04. Salipante pushed it out to 7-6 on extra, 35 seconds from time. It took some time for Mislav Curkovic, on extra, to equalise in the fourth quarter. Goals were traded and Giobatta Valle and Francesco Scordo took the margin to 11-8 at 1:34. De Vecchis went on counter at 1:03 for the final goal and a four-goal margin for victory.

Match Heroes
De Vecchis and Salipante scored three each for Italy. Curkovic and Gabrijel Burburan netted twice each for Croatia.

Turning Point
Italy took the 2-1 lead and made sure of not losing it despite Croatia levelling at three, six, seven and eight.

Stats Don’t Lie
Italy threw a staggering nine from 15 on extra and Croatia five from seven. Italy made eight steals to four and there were no penalty fouls.

Bottom Line
Both teams will venture far with Italy given the edge.

Progress Points

Group A: MNE 3, SRB 3, HUN 0, USA 0.
Group B: ITA 3, GRE 3, ESP 0, CRO 0.
Group C: TUR 3, CHN 0, CAN.
Group D: ARG 3, URU 0, BRA. 
Group E: JPN 3 COL 0, NZL.
Group F: AUS 3, KAZ 0,  RSA.

Day 2 Schedule

Match 10. 09:00. Group E, New Zealand v Colombia
Match 11. 10:30. Group F, South Africa v Kazakhstan
Match 12. 12:00. Group C, Canada v Turkiye
Match 09. 13:30. Group D, Brazil v Uruguay
Match 13. 16:00. Group B, Greece v Italy
Match 14. 17:30. Group A, United States of America v Serbia
Match 15. 19:00. Group B, Spain v Croatia
Match 16. 20:30. Group A, Montenegro v Hungary