DAY 5 MATCHES

Crossovers

Match 31, JAPAN 16 CANADA 17 (1-3, 1-2, 3-1, 0-6)

Canada won through with a score that resembles a shootout in the days when these matches were played over 30m. Now with 25m, the scoring is much faster as the scores steeple. Canada started well to go 3-1 up and Japan did well to equalise inside the final minute. Jason Joseph gave Canada the edge from centre. Sora Minagawa equalised at the top of the second period. Japan had a penalty shot save and had to level twice before taking a 7-6 advantage via Genko Matsuda at 1:45. Kai Brierley equalised with seven seconds remaining for 7-7 at the turn. Japan went into the lead, Canada struck back and took the lead out to 10-8 and by 1:47, Ivan Khramtsov scored on extra for 12-9. Joseph made it 13-11 and Keito Matsuda scored on extra 22 seconds from time to 13-12 down. Jason pushed it out to 14-12 two minutes into the last period, Japan had another penalty shot saved, but Toji Nakamura converted his penalty shot at 5:19 to close the gap to one. Khramtsov made it two goals again from centre. Goals were traded and Atsuya Maeda scored from two metres for 16-15 behind. Keito Matsuda brought the match level with a penalty strike at 1:02. Khramtsov scored from the field for what was the winner, 17 seconds from the final buzzer. Marko Pejovic saved Japan’s final shot and Canada had another win.

Match Heroes
Khramtsov (14 in total) and Joseph netted five goals each for Canada. Keito Matsuda (18) and Maeda (15) scored three each for Japan

Turning Point
Both teams took the lead twice, however, Canada maintained the lead more often. The final turning point was the last goal.

Stats Don’t Lie
Canada scored five from six on extra-man attack while Japan had a splendid eight from 10. Japan netted three from six on penalty and Canada had the better of the steals 9-7.

Bottom Line
Canada loved scoring action goals, going 12-5 from the field. This freedom of shooting got Canada across the line.

Match 32, SOUTH AFRICA 16 URUGUAY 5 (4-2, 5-0, 5-2, 2-1)

South Africa was always going to win this match as it has been playing some wonderful water polo. Karabo Mamaregane opened for South Africa and it led to a 3-0 advantage inside the last three minutes. Uruguay struck back twice through Emiliano Scelza with the second on counter. Rheese Hall squeezed in a score on extra, just before the buzzer for 4-2.  Mamaregane started the second quarter as well as Uruguay was kept scoreless and South Africa helped itself to five goals. Matthew Lortan started the third and Uruguay stopped its nine-minute hiatus with a Luca Piretti score from centre. Juan Salom followed up with an outside shot for 10-4. South Africa replied with four unanswered goals for 14-4 at the final break. Oliver Ditz opened with a penalty goal for South Africa and Matias Nario responded on extra for 15-5. Hall scored on extra at 2:44 and the score held until the final buzzer.

Match Heroes
Mamaregane, Ross Rovelli and Hall scored three each for the victor. Scelza was Uruguay’s best with two goals.

Turning Point
The 3-0 opening start.

Stats Don’t Lie
South Africa netted seven from 10 on extra and blocked five from six — a huge difference in the match. South Africa also converted all six penalty attempts and saved one Uruguayan attempt. South Africa was freer with the ball, screaming in 36 times to 25.

Bottom Line
It was South Africa’s first win and Uruguay remains winless.

Match 33, COLOMBIA 9 CHINA 10 (0-3, 1-2, 3-3, 5-2)

China built on its excellent opening quarter to slip home the winner. The opening period was all China with Zhou Qin scoring twice. Haiyuan Ooyang, who had 10 goals before this match, scored two penalty goals in the second quarter as the difference became 5-1 at halftime. Jean Lopez pulled back one early in the third period  and Daniel Lopera scored the 6-3 goal for Colombia as China moved to 8-3 on penalty. Juan Lopez smashed in a late goal for 8-4 at the final break. Colombia hit a purple patch with three successive goals before Diheng Li scored off counter for 9-7. Jean Lopez shot from the top for 9-8 and Li converted a penalty for 10-8 at 0:56. Juan Lopez responded at 0:36. Both sides had shots saved in the dying seconds with China surviving the late Colombian juggernaut.

Match Heroes
Li fired in four Chinese goals and Juan Lopez and Jean Lopez each scored a triple.

Turning Point
China was always safe, however, the three Colombian goals to draw to wining one early in the fourth period, was alarming.

Stats Don’t Lie
China survived through two from five on extra compared to one from five and four from six  on penalty, saving three of Colombia’s chance from four chances. Colombia had the better of the steals at 12-9 and shot more at 36/27, but not accurately enough for to force the shootout.

Bottom Line
China has finally broken through for a win after losing in a shootout to Canada on day three and by a goal to Argentina on day four. For Colombia it was its closest loss.

Match 34, KAZAKHSTAN 14 ARGENTINA 15 in penalty shootout FT: 10-10. Pens: 4-5 (3-3, 2-3, 3-2, 2-2)

Argentina spoilt Kazakhstan’s day when it equalised late and then won the shootout. Kazakhstan had a two-goal lead and was 3-1 up before Adriano Mazzoni and captain Alejo Teijeiro brought the match level with four seconds left on the clock. Argentina went three up with Teijeiro netting twice. However, Yegor Beloussov and Kirill Panteleyev scored extra-man goals for 6-5 in arrears by halftime. Kazakhstan made it 6-6 with Argentina sliding out to 8-6 and Beloussov and Satbergen bringing the match to parity inside the final minute. Mazzoni countered for 9-8 to start the final period and Dauren Ali replied with a penalty goal. Things went quiet  for four minutes before Nurdaulet Suleiman scored from the top to give Kazakhstan the advantage. However, Rio came good and the match went to the shootout. It was Ali, Kazakhstan’s second shooter, who had his shot saved and the full rotation brought up Argentina as the winner.

Match Heroes
Teijeiro was best with four goals and Mazzoni and Erik Shone scored twice each for Argentina. Panteleyev, Beloussov and Satbergen netted twice each for Kazakhstan.

Turning Point
Rio’s equaliser to send the match into a shootout.

Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams went two from four on extra and Kazakhstan scored three from three on penalty, denying Argentina its sole opportunity. Argentina shot 39 times to 22 and made eight steals to two.

Bottom Line
This was Argentina’s third win and Kazakhstan is stranded on two. It was a second consecutive one-goal win for Argentina and Kazakhstan lost by a goal to Australia on day one.

Match 35, TURKIYE 8 MONTENEGRO 11 (3-4, 1-6, 1-5, 4-9)

Now it was time for the big boys to come out and play and Montenegro did impress, as did Turkiye. In fact, Turkiye tipped over the scoreboard first, but it did not take long for Montenegro to have the 2-1 lead. Efe Naipoglu, with 20 goals heading into the match, equalised from the top a minute from the break. Drasko Samardzic converted extra-man play for the go-ahead goal on the first attack of the second quarter. Three minutes later, Ali Erdag put away a centre-forward goal for 3-3 and his 10th goal. Strahinja Gojkovic and Orhan Alpman traded goals with Mithat Ayaksiz making it 5-4, a lead Montenegro nullified on the next attack through centre-forward Miljan Boskovic. Montenegro charged up in the third period and piled on three goals for 8-5 with Naipoglu pulling one back on extra at 0:25 for 8-6. Montenegro did another three straight to start the final period, Naipoglu stopping the thundering Montenegrins with an extra-man conversion. Ali Nuray scored from in front of goal for 11-8 at 3:49, and despite many attempts, neither side could find the goal again.

Match Heroes
Srdan Janovic, Gojkovic and Samardzic scored twice each for Montenegro. Naipoglu grabbed three for Turkiye and Ayaksic two.

Turning Point
Montenegro turning the first goal over and then resisting Turkiye, even when Turkiye gained a 5-4 advantage.

Stats Don’t Lie
Statistics were tight with Montenegro converting four from five on extra and defending three from seven. There were no penalty fouls and the only other differential was Montenegro’s nine steals to six.

Bottom Line
Montenegro is from the elite groupings and Turkiye did well to come so close. It was Montenegro’s second win after a one-goal loss and a penalty-shootout defeat. Turkiye came into the match with two victories.

Match 36 NEW ZEALAND 9 GREECE 24 (3-4, 1-6, 1-5, 4-9)

Greece started slowly and then unleashed barrage after barrage of goals. New Zealand did well to return to scoring duties in the final quarter. Liam Dodunski, who arrived at the match with 13 goals, opened the scoring and Sam Keightley took it 2-1 before Christof Laskaridis drew level and first-goal scorer Spytholean Karatzas converted extra for 3-2. Dimitrios Chatzis and Dodunski traded goals by 2:36, which became the quarter-time score. Greece showed why it is in the top group and one of the better teams in the world with six unanswered goals for 10-3 Only Gene Baggott could get a look in for the Kiwis for 10-4 by halftime. Greece scored the first four of the third period. Dodunski slowed the progression and Panagiotas Maragkoudakis closed the scoring with a strike from centre. Greece sent in the first two of the last period with Dodunski claiming his fourth for 17-6. Another four goals came Greece’s way for 21-6. Keightley scored after a timeout; Nikolaos Alevras and Spyridon Lykoudis made it 23-7; Keightley scored on action; Chatzis converted a penalty and Keightley closed all scoring on extra five seconds from time.

Match Heroes
Karatzas with four and Alevras and Chatzis with three apiece. Dodunski and Keightley with four each. They have 25 goals between them.

Turning Point
Greece putting the first quarter behind it and showing what it can do.

Stats Don’t Lie
Greece did not give away much for the Kiwis to work on. On extra, Greece converted five from seven and stopped two from three. On penalty, Greece converted four from six and did not give up a foul. On steals, Greece plundered 15 to five and, on overall shooting, took 40 to 25.

Bottom Line
With nine goals in the final quarter, this shows what Greece is capable of while the Kiwis did well to break open on shooting in the fourth, as well. It was a second win for Greece after two close losses.

Match 37 BRAZIL 9 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 13 (3-3, 3-2, 2-5, 1-3)

Brazil started the stronger of the two and went to 2-0 and 3-2. Bode Brinkema made it 2-2 for USA and Gavin Appledorn, on action, just before the buzzer for 3-3. Eduardo Carraresi broke the deadlock on the first attack and Pedro Ribeiro, from out the top, took Brazil to 5-3. Appledorn and Ben Forer brought the match level by 0:33. Ribeiro sent one in 10 seconds from time to keep Brazil in front 6-5. Henrico Martins drove the dagger deeper at 7-5 early in the third quarter. Connor Ohl and Corbin Stanley drew USA level as Brazil seemed to wilt. Forer converted a penalty foul, Appledorn made the most of his extra-man chance and Appledorn scored off counter to change the context of the match and have USA 10-7 ahead. Carraresi replied at 0:19 for two down at the last break. USA had control of the match and Ohl made sure of an extra-man play, as did Stanley for 12-8. More than four minutes expired before Ohl claimed his third on extra for 13-8 and Brazil struck late through Carraresi, also on extra for 13-9. USA did well to shut Lucas Wulfhorst out of the match as he scored 18 goals and today, he had all six attempts blocked.

Match Heroes
Gavin Appledorn was best in pool with five goals while Connor Ohl chimed in with three for USA. Eduardo Carraresi topped Brazil’s scoring four with Ribeiro and Martins netting twice each.

Turning Point
When USA went from 7-7 to 10-7.

Stats Don’t Lie
USA converted five from 11 on extra and defended six from nine. USA scored both penalty goals. USA won despite having only 29 shots to 33.

Bottom Line
USA gained its first victory after three tough matches in the top-tier group play. It bided its time and came through strongly against Brazil, who was defiant until the last.

Match 38 AUSTRALIA 10 SPAIN 24 (1-6, 3-4, 3-8, 3-6)

The team with no wins beat the team with three wins, such is the structure of the competition. Spain may have struggled to win a match in the top group, but it showed today how it can easily make the dais on the last day. The opening 6-1 lead said it all. Spain was making sure of priming itself for the harder matches to come. Sean Bright opened the second quarter for Australia and when Tomas Perrone converted extra for Spain, it was 8-2. Auguste Korac converted extra for the Aussies while Spain responded with another two goals for 10-3. Nicholas Mordes scored on extra for 10-4, the halftime score. Lewis Saupin opened for Australia on extra and goals were traded for 11-6. Carlos Nunez struck twice and Perrone took it to 14-6. Nunez and Perrone did the job again and it suddenly was 16-6. Ashton Brown and Perrone traded with Ricardo Sordo drilling the last for 18-7, five seconds from the last break. Cory Webber scored from the left-hand-catch position for 18-8 and Spain went to 20-8 with Bright replying from centre with the goalkeeper advancing. Sordo scored twice and Australia brought up its 10th goal on penalty thanks to Zachary Izzard. Alex Llaurado for his and Perrone with a bouncer from top left for his sixth, made it 24-10.

Match Heroes
Nunez was named player of the match for his five goals and Perrone finished with six for 13 in total. Llaurado had four, his best result. Brown (11 for the week), Saupin and Bright scored twice each for the Aussies.

Turning Point
Scoring 6-1 in the opening period leaves little thought for an Australian comeback.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain went six from seven on extra and Australia five from eight. Spain scored both penalty attempts and saved one of three. Spain had 35 shots to 31 and made eight steals to one.

Bottom Line
Spain is one of the better teams here. Australia is probably one of the best of the lower group. We will know how they progress in a few days.

Group Standings

Group G: Canada 6, Japan 3, South Africa 3, Uruguay 0.
Group H: Argentina 6, Kazakhstan 6, Colombia 0, China 0.

Day 6 Schedule

Second Round
Match 39. 09:00. Group G, 2C CAN v 3F RSA
Match 40. 10:30. Group G, 2E JPN v 3D URU
Match 41. 12:00. Group H, 3D CHN v 2F KAZ
Match 42. 13:30. 3E Group H, COL v 2D ARG

Group 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 43. 16:00. 1A SRB v W38 ESP
Match 44. 17:30. 1B ITA v W37 USA
Match 45. 19:00. 2A HUN v W36 GRE
Match 46. 20:30. 2B CRO v W35 MNE