The group stage finished today with Serbia and Italy winning the two major groups while Turkey, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia won the lesser groups.
In Group A, Serbia overcame Montenegro 18-16 in penalty shootout after the match was locked at 13-all, and Hungary had the better of United States of America 19-13.
In Group B, Italy bested Spain 9-8 and Croatia beat Greece 13-11.
In group matches C to F, New Zealand downed Japan 23-18, Australia outdid South Africa 20-13, Canada needed a shootout over China, finishing at 16-16, and winning the penalties 4-2 for 20-18. Brazil defeated Argentina 16-8.
The top groups have a day off on Friday while crossover matches will be played by the bottom four groups.
DAY 3 MATCHES
Match 17, Group E, JAPAN 18 NEW ZEALAND 23 (5-5, 6-6, 3-8, 4-4)
New Zealand came up with a big score against Japan, starting the scoring first and going 2-1 and 3-2 before the match was tied at three, four and five. The Kiwis always scored the go-ahead goals. Liam Dodunski began the second period as his team shot to 7-5 on penalty and 8-5 with a centre-forward goal to Alistar Rogers. Three Japanese goals with two from Sora Minagawa had the score level at eight. It was tied at nine, 10 and 11 with New Zealand in front each time. Come the third period, it was tied at 12 before the Kiwis stretched the margin to three. New Zealand pushed it out to 16-13 and 17-4 with Dodunski scoring from centre. He scored a repeat shot for 18-14 and Sam Keightley made it 19-14 on extra just before the final break. Keightley took it to a six-goal differential in the fourth with Japan trimming it to four three times. Rogers converted extra for 23-18 wo win the match.
Match Heroes
Dodunski hit seven goals with Keightley and Rogers snaring five each. Keito Matsuda and Atsuya Maeda scored four each for Japan and Genko Matsuda three.
Turning Point
The Kiwi surge away in the third and fourth periods.
Stats Don’t Lie
New Zealand went six from six on extra and defended three from six. New Zealand converted its one penalty chance and stopped one of Japan’s attempts. New Zealand made 11 steals to six.
Bottom Line
New Zealand started and was never headed. That is a good result considering the number of goals scored.
Match 18, Group F, AUSTRALIA 20 SOUTH AFRICA 13 (6-2, 6-4, 3-5, 5-2)
Australia set itself up with a trans-Tasman clash on Friday against the neighbouring Kiwis. A 4-0 start set the scene for what was to come. This became 6-2 as South Africa scored through Karabo Mamaregane and Ross Stuart. Australia worked the score to 8-4 halfway through the second quarter, then to 10-6 and 12-6 inside the final minute of the half. It took three minutes for Sam Bright to score Australia’s 13th goal. He scored again, both from centre, with South Africa responding through Nicholas Fall who scored three goals in each of the first two matches. It started a good segment for the Africans, moving from 14-6 behind to 15-11 at the last break. Australia opened the fourth quarter with three goals for 18-11 with Fall and Rheese Hall stopping the charge. Ashton Brown on extra and Nicholas Mordes from centre, saw Australia home 20-13.
Match Heroes
Brown, Daniel Magasanik and Bright scored five each for Australia. Fall made it three with Oliver Ditz and Stuart scoring two each for the Africans.
Turning Point
Those four goals in the first quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia converted four from six and stopped two of five on extra. It scored both penalty attempts as did South Africa with its one. Australia made nine steals to seven.
Bottom Line
Australia was the better team with the better shooters. Magasanik now has 13 goals from two matches.
Match 19, Group C, CHINA 18 CANADA 20 in penalty shootout FT: 16-16. Pens: 2-4 (2-2, 3-5, 5-7, 6-2)
Canada made it hard on itself, leading 14-10 at three-quarter time only to relinquish the lead and gift China six goals — enough to earn a shootout. Canada led twice in the first quarter with China equalising each time. China led 3-2 with Canada drawing and going ahead 4-3 and 5-3. Goals were traded to 7-5 by halftime. Canada went out to 10-6 with the score moving to 12-9 and 14-10 by the final break. The match was seemingly in the bag for Canada. Even with four minutes to go, Canada had the same advantage. Then Diheng Li and Zirui Deng trimmed it to two. Jason Joseph scored from centre for 15-12 by 3:16. Deng traded goals with Ilya Belyaev and then Deng brought it to two at 2:14. Zhou Qin scored at 0:49 through a bounce shot from deep left and Hainuo Liu pumped in a shot from the left while his goalkeeper was sucking in defenders with a cross swim at three metres with two seconds on the clock for 16-16, setting up the shootout. Canada missed its first shot and China missed second and fourth, leaving captain Pavle Jelic to score the winner inside the rotation.
Match Heroes
Belyaev and Jelic scored three each for the victor. Haiyuan Ooyang topped the scoring with four goals. Li, Hainuo Liu, Qin and Deng scored three each.
Turning Point
Forget the early stuff. What about China’s brilliant fourth-quarter comeback?
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada put in only one of four on extra and defended five of eight. China converted four of five on penalty and could not stop Canada’s two.
Bottom Line
Canad deserved to win for its large body of work, excluding the final four minutes where its two goals were not enough.
Match 20, Group D, BRAZIL 16 ARGENTINA 8 (3-1, 2-1, 6-4, 5-2)
Brazil had a big win over Uruguay on day two and made sure of another big win in the South American group. It went 2-0 up and held on for 3-1 at the first break. The second four minutes of the first yielded nothing for the scoreboard. Argentina grabbed one back through Adriano Mazzoni early in the second period with Lucas Wulfhorst responding for Brazil on penalty. Nearly four minutes later he had his third for the match and 12th for the tournament as Brazil took a 5-2 advantage to the second half. It became 7-2 and at 4:00, Alejo Teijeiro converted extra for 7-3. Brazil scored the next three for 10-3, with Teijeiro stopping the charge with a penalty goal. Goals were traded with Teijeiro gaining another penalty shot and Erik Shone scored on extra for 11-6 by the last break. Teijeiro trimmed it to 11-7 with a third penalty goal to start the final period. Brazil took it to 14-7 with goals traded, the second to Wulfhorst, and Joao Leme finished off the scoring on extra at 0:45 for 16-8.
Match Heroes
Wulfhorst scored five goals with Henrico Martins on four for Brazil. Teijeiro also scored five, for Argentina.
Turning Point
When Brazil had the ball, it looked safe.
Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil converted six from 11 on extra-man attack and Argentina three from four. Brazil made the most of its two penalty fouls as did Argentina with three goals. Brazil shot 34 to 26.
Bottom Line
Brazil is now the best in South America and will want to prove it is capable of reproducing that form against the European teams.
Match 21, Group A, SERBIA 18 MONTENEGRO 16 penalty shootout. FT: 13-13. Pens: 5-3 (4-1, 1-4, 5-5, 3-3)
The clash of the big European neighbours was well received and the players did not disappoint the big crowd. Going to a shootout was extra excitement. Montenegro started scoring with Serbia taking over the reins and had a comfortable 4-1 advantage by the first buzzer. Montenegro bounced back and slowly, but surely, gathered in the goals, levelling at 4-4 via Srdan Janovic and then going 5-4 ahead through Janovic on extra at 0:39. Luka Gladovic stopped the nonsense on extra, levelling with 11 seconds from halftime. Serbia went ahead twice and Montenegro levelled each time, even going ahead at 8-7 with Janovic scoring on extra. Gladovic levelled twice more for 9-9. Ivan Markovic gave Montenegro the 10-9 lead with Strahinja Krstic equalising with an outside shot for 10-10. Goals were swapped at the start of the fourth with Strahinja Gojkovic grabbing a Montenegrin lead at 5:11 on extra. Three minutes later, after a timeout, Montenegro’s Tim Perov put it away on extra. Milan Djokanovic pulled one back on extra at 1:44 and then Montenegro struck a problem. Markovic was excluded for violence and penalty awarded — Gladovic converting — and then Serbia would normally have four minutes, although there was only 45 seconds remaining. No further goals came, so it went to a shootout. Montenegro missed the third shot and Serbia was perfect, winning 18-16.
Match Heroes
Gladovic finished with four and Djokanovic scored three goals. Janovic collected five for Montenegro and Markovic three.
Turning Point
A few twists and turns with the worst being the two-goal lead obliterated by Serbia in the dying minutes.
Stats Don’t Lie
Montenegro may have lost but in the four quarters it managed a commendable eight from 10 on extra and stopped six of 13 Serbian chances. Serbia missed one of its two penalty attempts.
Bottom Line
Montenegro was on form, but something like a violence foul can upset a team. Serbia wanted this match more.
Match 22, Group B, ITALY 9 SPAIN 8 (3-2, 1-2, 3-3, 2-1)
Italy went three straight and the last two matches were by one goal. It has stamped its authority on the group and now needs to sweep aside other group contenders in coming days. There was little in the first quarter where Italy took a 3-2 lead into the second. The pressure was on from both sides with Antonio de Simone finding a gap at 5:47 and nothing more scaring the scoreboard until 1:38 when Ricardo Sordo scored on action. Tomas Soler followed up for Spain on counter for 4-4, 28 seconds from halftime. The second half started well for Spain with Tomas Perrone scoring on extra and Sordo doing the same a minute later for 6-4. Giobatta Valle found the net from centre forward to pull one back with Francesco Scordo sending another in from outside at 2:11 for the 6-6 equaliser. Spain took the lead again through Alex Llaurado on extra only for Italy to draw level on extra two seconds from time thanks to Scordo. Alessandro Salipante converted a penalty early in the fourth quarter and Spain was finding it hard to pierce the Italian defence. Italy’s Maurizio Maffei scored on counter at 3:14 for 9-7. Perrone came to the party with his second goal, on extra, for 9-8 with plenty of time to spare. However, Italy stymied the Spanish attack in the dying minutes to secure the victory.
Match Heroes
Scordo and de Simone with two each for Italy. Sordo and Perrone for Spain, netted twice each.
Turning Point
Many and varied , but what counted was the two-goal margin to 9-7 that gave Italy breathing space.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain made mincemeat of Italy on extra-man attack, scoring four from nine and stopping eight of nine. Italy gained the only penalty goal and had three more shots than Spain.
Bottom Line
Italy is a winning team. Spain has yet to find its rhythm and win a match.
Match 23, Group A, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 13 HUNGARY 19 (4-4, 4-4, 3-6, 2-5)
Hungary came through in the second half after two tied periods and flattered itself with a six-goal margin. Hungary was first on the board and went to 2-1, then USA twisted the score in its favour 3-2. Whatever, the score was tied at one, two, three and four. USA was strongest in the second quarter, making the pace and edging out to 6-4 and 7-5. Hungary tied at seven and USA went ahead at 3:03, a lead it held until Mor Benedek, son of the late Tibor Benedek, scored an action goal with seven seconds remaining on the clock. It was short-lived, the celebrations, as USA pushed the margin to two and even three (11-8). Benedek brought it back to 11-9 and 11-10 before Botond Balogh scored a long shot for 11-11. He scored on penalty and Maxim Cseh punched one in for 13-11 and Marton Zeman did the same for 14-11. The puff had gone from USA’s sails. Benedek and Cseh provided the first two goals of the fourth quarter and Hungary was 16-11 and on the way to victory. Goals were traded for 17-12 and inside the final minute, Zeman scored on extra, Gavin Appledorn responded from the top and Viktor Pajan converted extra for the final goal and a solid 19-13 success.
Match Heroes
Benedek with five goals was the best in pool. Zeman chimed in with four. The USA’s Bode Brinkema was credited with four goals and Appledorn grabbed a triple.
Turning Point
It was 11-11 in the third period, the final resistance from USA and the fulcrum for the Hungarian juggernaut.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary went seven from 10 on extra and stopped seven of USA’s 13 chances. Hungary converted three from four on penalty and USA two from two. USA shot 37 times to 33.
Bottom Line
Hungary secured second spot in the group and USA has yet to win a match.
Match 24, Group B, GREECE 11 CROATIA 13 (4-2, 4-3, 1-6, 2-2)
Croatia won the battle of the middle teams in the group for better positioning come the crossovers. The win was all the more meritorious as Greece had the 8-5 halftime lead. It needed a herculean effort in the third for Croatia to come up with victory. This it did. Greece was on song for the first quarter, taking the score to 4-1 before Duje Cuzzi pulled one back. It went further in Greece’s favour when Spytholean Karatzas and Christos Siamas took the margin to four — 6-2. Greece had four-goal margins twice more until the final second when Bartul Bucevic scored on extra for Croatia at 8-5. From 6:30, Croatia plucked the rabbit out of the bag three times before Greece responded through Siamas on extra. Ante Jerkovic converted extra for 9-9 at 3:58. Greece provided some resistance and at 1:22, Viktor Toncinic scored from centre and Cuzzi was rewarded on extra for a Croatian 11-9 advantage at the final break. Goals were traded midway through the quarter and traded again for 13-11 by 1:12, the final score.
Match Heroes
Cuzzi with his five goals and Toncinic with three for Croatia. Karatzas was Greece’s best with four goals.
Turning Point
The third-period tsunami of Croatian goals.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia went five from 11 on extra and stopped nine from 16. Croatia put in its penalty and Greece missed. Greece stole six times and Croatia four,
Bottom Line
Croatia will take second place and see who its opponent is in two days’ time.
Final Points
Group A: SRB 8, HUN 6, MNE 4, USA 0.
Group B: ITA 9, CRO 5, GRE 3, ESP 1.
Group C: TUR 6, CAN 2, CHN 1.
Group D: BRA 6, ARG 3, URU 0.
Group E: NZL 6, JPN 3, COL 0.
Group F: AUS 6, KAZ 3, RSA 0.
Day 4 Schedule
Match 25. 10:30. 2C CAN v 3D URU
Match 26. 12:00. 2E JPN v 3F RSA
Match 27. 13:30. 3C CHN v 2D ARG
Match 28. 15:00. 3E COL v 2F KAZ
Match 29. 16:30. 1D BRA v 1C TUR
Match 30. 18:00. 1E NZL v 1F AUS