USA shows why it is the triple champion

There were four matches played on the opening day pf women’s competition in front of a capacity crowd with Italy and Canada having a rest day in the two-group, 10-team competition.

The standard of play brought to the new Aquatics Centre by the USA, in particular, was enormous and following first-day nerves, the competition is expected to throw up many upsets.

The cut-throat nature of Olympic Games, as opposed to world championships, is that you must finish in the top eight to continue in the competition. And, you really need to finish top two in your group to have a better chance of making the making the medal round.

DAY 1 MATCHES

Match 1, Group A, NETHERLANDS 10 HUNGARY 8 (4-2, 0-1, 2-3, 4-2)

Last year’s world champion Netherlands took the match to Hungary and led by three goals, and was never headed, although the match was tied inside the final minute. Two snap goals gave the Dutch a handy two-goal margin when it comes to deciding the group, should there be points ties.

Netherlands had the better of the first period, especially with its defensive skills, racing to 3-0 and 4-1 with Hungary pulling back goals at 3-1 and 4-2. The second quarter was a better showing by the Hungarians, not just on defence by closing out the Dutch, but managing to score the only goal of the period, through Kamilla Farago on deep-right catch at 2:20. With the Dutch 4-3 up at halftime, the match was finely balanced. Four of the first-half goals came on extra-man attack with the Netherlands’ first goal from the penalty line via left-armer Simone van de Kraats. The second was from captain Sabrina van der Sloot on a drive down the right and a controlled shot. Kitty Lynn Joustra received the easiest of tap passes to the water on extra from two metres for the 4-1 goal.

Vanda Valyi levelled the match on extra to open the third period. Goals were traded through to 6-6 as the match opened up. Four of the five goals were on extra with the sole field goal coming from Greta Kurucz-Gurisatti on counter, bouncing the ball into goal from the top position. The scores were level at four, five and six with the Dutch still not trailing. Hungary was now solidly in the match and made the most of some sharp shooting that eluded it in the first quarter, in particular.

Netherlands went two ahead at the start of the fourth quarter and then gave both of them back as Hungary pounced from the deep right via Valyi and Dorottya Szilagyi. A minute into the period, Hungarian centre forward Rebecca Parkes was red-carded for a violent action, but with substitution. Maybe this spurred Hungary to those quick goals. Both teams took a timeout inside the three-minute mark with nothing to report. With less than a minute remaining, the Dutch went to a timeout on extra and Lola Moolhuijzen slid down to the deep-left position and planted it cross cage for 9-8 at 0:40. Hungarian goalkeeper Alda Magyari came up on attack, but the ball would not find the net with captain Rita Keszthelyi hitting the top left corner. Magyari was stranded; Bente Rogge gained a six-metre foul at halfway and fired in on the buzzer for a two-goal victory.

Match Heroes
Bente Rogge scored three for Netherlands and van de Kraats twice with goalkeeper Laura Aarts dragging down eight saves in goal. Valyi was best for Hungary with three and Szilagyi nabbed two. Magyari stopped six in goal.

Turning Point
The three goals to establish the leading team. Hungary came back four times with the most promising being at 8-8. However, it was not Hungary’s day.

Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted six from 11 on extra-man attack and Hungary five from 11. Hungary had one extra shot while Netherlands converted the only penalty foul.

Bottom Line
Netherlands wanted it more and the enjoyment of a three-goal buffer does a lot for the psyche. A loss on day one in this competition is telling.

What They Said

Eva DOUDESIS (NED) — Head Coach

On arriving as European champions and his expectations for his team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:
"We are here and we aim high, but staying humble is the key. The world of women’s water polo at the moment is quite close and the difference between the teams is minimal. At the top, I think there are seven teams who could win a medal and we are one of them. We'll do our best. It will be a challenging, demanding tournament, but we’re looking forward to it."

Lola MOOLHUIJZEN (NED) — Goal Scorer

On her decisive goal in the final minute to put Netherlands ahead 9-8:
"I just caught the ball and thought it is now or never. I didn’t see it go in the net, as I ended up under the water, but when I came back up, I could hear and see everyone screaming with joy and celebrating, and I was so happy it was my team-mates who were doing that."  

On her team's performance:
"We wanted to get off to a strong start and stop their powerful centre forwards and use our fast swimming on the counter. The plan worked well and now we look to build on that for our next game.”

Natasa RYBANSKA (HUN) — Athlete

On trailing 3-0 to the Netherlands early in the first quarter:
“We were kind of sleeping at the beginning, I don't know why. I don't know what happened. Usually, our first matches in every competition, every training, are very slow and not very good. So, I feel like this is our thing. Now, we have to just wake up and do our best."

Match 2, Group B, GREECE 6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15 (0-3, 2-6, 2-3, 2-3)

What a contrast these teams were on the referees’ walkway when the anthems were being played. Greece, almost to a woman, had tears flowing at the solemnity of the occasion. USA was stoic as in, been there and done that before, many times. And USA did it again, making no mistakes, to take the match with a commanding 3-0 lead in the first quarter. With Ashleigh Johnson making four saves in the opening quarter, including one that flipped across her head, USA was defensively strong. On top of that, it went three from three on extra-man attack, working hard for the exclusion and then whipping the ball around too quick for Greece to defend. Rachel Fattal, skipper Maggie Steffens and Jenna Flynn finished off the player-up situations in the first period.

In the second quarter, Maddie Musselman converted a penalty foul and Kaleigh Gilchrist ripped one in from top right for 5-0 by 6:42. Greece called a timeout, but lost the ball and at the other end, Jovana Sekulic scooped the ball in from two metres for 6-0. Greece soaked up a lot of USA’s offence before Flynn snared a second from the top left, less than a minute after Jewel Roemer had her penalty attempt saved. The Greek breakthrough came at 2:25 with Eleftheria Plevritou squeezing in a swift shot from the very deep right with Johnson stretched to her limit for 7-1 down. Emily Ausmus (18) converted extra for her first Olympic goal; Eleni Xenaki showed her skill at centre forward and Flynn nailed a third before the halftime buzzer.

Greece stepped up in the third quarter. After going 11-2 down thanks to Steffens and Tara Prentice, Maria Myriokefalatiki and Eirini Ninou doubled Greece’s score either side of another Prentice goal. Ninou drilled it into the top right on extra before USA could organise its defence, just two seconds from the final break. Roemer went on counter down the right to score the first goal of the final quarter. Nikoleta Eleftheriadou and Flynn traded goals; Sekulic boosted it to 15 from centre forward and Vasiliki Plevritou rocketed one in from the top to close all scoring at 15-6 by 0:46.

Match Heroes
Flynn debuted at the Olympics with four goals with Prentice and Steffens adding two apiece. Johnson made 10 saves before being switched a minute into the final quarter. There were six different scorers for Greece.

Turning Point
When you lead 7-0, there can be no other turning point.

Stats Don’t Lie
USA rifled in seven of 11 extra-man chances and defended eight of 11. It converted two of three penalty attempts while Greece shot 32 to 29 times.

Bottom Line
USA is here to win every match and showed that it was better prepared both physically, skillfully and mentally. First-day jitters hit Greece, which should not be repeated.

What They Said

Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) — Head Coach

On his team’s performance:
“When we’re playing well and we get the momentum going like that, we’re pretty tough to beat. It was a very team-oriented performance and that’s when we are at our best. I was incredibly impressed by our younger players. They've just improved so much in the past year, and they're a big reason why we have a shot here during this tournament.

“It was a really good start. I was so pleased with our composure in the biggest moments. I thought we were very controlled and everything looked good today.”

Alexia KAMMENOU (GRE) — Head Coach

On reasons for the loss:
“We played against the most experienced team in the tournament, but that is no excuse for this result. The first day, it's always strange, and this team hasn't been at the Olympics for some years. We have to forget this game, we have to go on, and we are just starting. As the game went on, our decisions began to improve, but we were totally lost in defence at the start.”

On what she said to her players after she called them for a huddle:
“I have faith in my team. I believe in our work. So, I just said to them: ‘This is only the beginning. We will work out our faults and we move on’."

Match 3, Group B, SPAIN 15 FRANCE 6 (6-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1)

Spain had no sense of history favouring France in its first Olympic match. Instead, it raced to 2-0 and 6-2 before breaking at 6-3. That opening quarter said it all for the swift, smart and sharper Spanish team, bent on cracking the gold-medal hoodoo. Spain scored four of its six goals on action from six different players. France scored twice on extra and used three different players. Elena Ruiz became a double scorer to start the second period, as did Juliette Dhalluin for France. Paula Leiton and Ruiz for a third, from penalty, took Spain to 9-4 at the long break.

Spain’s Isabel Piralkova netted a second to start the third quarter with Dhalluin gaining her third, on penalty. Maica Garcia and Ruiz finished off extra-man plays to send Spain 12-5 up into the final quarter. Captain Pili Pena grabbed a second on extra when French star Camelia Bouloukbachi gained a third major foul and goalkeeper Martina Terre left the pool for a minute. France took a timeout a minute after Terre rejoined the pool and Ema Vernoux converted extra for 13-6, much to the delight of the home crowd. Bea Ortiz and Piralkova buried field shots and Paula Crespi (ESP) found herself in hot water with a red card inside the final two minutes. Despite a French timeout, France could not narrow the margin.

Match Heroes
Ruiz finishing atop the scoring at four with Piralkova netting twice for Spain. Dhalluin with three and Vernoux scoring twice, had France’s interests at heart. Mia Rycraw made 10 saves in goal.

Turning Point
Going 6-2 in the first quarter and 9-4 by halftime gave Spain the edge.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain rattled in five from eight on extra and defended seven of 11. Both teams landed a penalty goal with Spain firing in 30 shots to 22.

Bottom Line
Spain has a fantastic record since 2012 with a lot of medals. France was competing at this level for the first time and did not disappoint.

What They Said

Anni ESPAR (ESP) — Athlete

On her team’s performance:
“We were very aggressive from the very beginning and in defence we didn't let France take their chances. We started very well and managed to get a good lead in the first quarter and that was the key to us winning the game. It was a very exciting game with all the crowd and the special atmosphere inside the arena.”

Ema VERNOUX (FRA) — Goal Scorer

On becoming the first French woman to score a goal in water polo at the Olympic Games:
"I was very excited about this game, and to score the first goal in the game, it was very impressive for me. I feel so many emotions. When I woke up this morning, I was very excited about our first game of the Olympics, and I was ready for the game. I was excited about it all through the day."

On the result:
“We knew the Spain team is a very big and hard team, so it was a very hard game. But we did many good things during the game, and we must work for the next game.”

Orsolya HERTZKA (FRA) — Athlete

On France’s preparation:
"We feel super good. We’re really excited to start in front of our home crowd against Spain, to show how much we’ve progressed over this year-and-a-half that we’ve been working with our new coach. We’re on form and we’re ready to go."

On what is special about France women's team coach, Theo LORANTOS (FRA):
"He brings the energy out there. He’s definitely very specific about what he wants, but in our sport there are a lot of specifics and tactics and stuff, so I think it’s good that he holds us accountable about what we need to do. We’re used to him now, it’s no problem."

Match 4, Group A, AUSTRALIA 7 CHINA 5 (3-2, 2-1, 0-0, 2-2)

The Aussie Stingers built victory on superior statistics. The game of water polo is immersed in the extra-man plays and Australia recorded two from five but, more importantly, defended nine from 12 and went three to one on penalty goals. This discipline gave Australia the upper hand. This, and a 2-0 start, gave the team confidence. China is fast progressing up the ladder under the leadership of Spanish coaching maestro Juan Jane and this was never going to be an easy match.

Those opening two penalty goals were nullified as Nong Sanfeng on extra and Zhang Jing on penalty made the scoresheet. Left-hander Abby Andrews fired in her second goal from wide right with just three seconds left on the clock for the quarter-time 3-2 advantage. Andrews opened the second quarter on extra before Chen Xiao received a cross pass on extra to score from plum in front. Aussie captain and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini made sure of an extra-man goal from deep right, eight seconds from halftime and a healthy 5-3 difference.

The third period was relentless with no goals, despite some excellent shooting. China could say it won the period with some excellent shots just being tipped out by Aussie goalkeeper Gabi Palm. Two minutes into the fourth period, China used a timeout to its benefit, converting the extra-man play from deep right through Wang Huan. She struck again less than a minute later from top left for 5-5 at 4:42. It was game on. Australia took a timeout, gained a red card on Nong and Alice Williams converted her second penalty foul. Another Aussie timeout reaped the winning goal as it turned out. After a rebound, the ball made its way to Bronte Halligan at the top who sat up from seven metres and drilled the goal for 7-5 at 0:22. Australia had survived the tenacious Chinese attack.

Match Heroes
Andrews with her three goals — on action, extra and penalty — and a Williams pair had Australia in the box seat. Wang’s couple and Shen Yineng’s nine saves in goal kept China in the picture.

Turning Point
The first two penalty goals. China swung the match back in its favour at 5-5 only for Australia to stop the momentum with a timeout.

Stats Don’t Lie
As recorded above, Australia was superior on extra and penalties and had six more shots than China.

Bottom Line
Australia was fourth at last year’s world championships and has a greater history of Olympic success. That determination came through tonight.

What They Said

Alice WILLIAMS (AUS) — Two Goals

“The Olympics is always going to be tough, the best of the best are here, and you can’t switch off at any point. I’m really proud of us for grinding, it’s tough to win any game at the Olympics, especially a grinding one. 

“We came together and in critical moments we had phenomenal defence and some of our players stepped up in really critical attacking moments as well. I had to get the cobwebs out, it was very emotional and I was crying in the anthem, my family was right behind me and it was always going to be a bit of an adjustment. But, of course, none of my goals are without my team-mates’ involvement. I just finish all the hard work that they start.”

Progress Points

Group A: Australia 3, Netherlands 3, China 0, Hungary 0, Canada.
Group B: Spain 3, USA 3, France 0, Greece 0, Italy.

Day 3 Schedule

Match 05. 14:00. Group B, France v Italy
Match 06. 15:35. Group B, United States of America v Spain
Match 07. 18:30. Group A, China v Netherlands
Match 08. 20:05. Group A, Hungary v Canada