The early session provided spectacular upset water polo with France stunning Italy 9-8 and triple Olympic champion United States of America completely dominated by European champion Spain 13-11. In Group A clashes, Netherlands came from behind to beat China 15-11 and Hungary rolled Canada 12-7.
Day 3 MATCHES
Match 5, Group B, FRANCE 9 ITALY 8 (1-3, 3-3, 2-1, 3-1)
What a magical day for French water polo and for the Paris Olympics — the host nation winning not only a match, but the first victory in only the second Olympic encounter. Italy was undone by French goalkeeper Mia Rycraw who brilliantly saved three penalty shots and watched as a fourth struck the right upright, while at the other end, France made sure of its two attempts. That statistic alone crushed the Setterosa, a nation that won gold in 2004.
France was more than good all around the pool, surviving the Italian onslaught in the opening quarter, scoring a penalty for 1-0 after Italy missed both its chances in the opening 70 seconds and giving up three straight to the Italians by the quarter break.
Juliette Dhalluin, just 19 years old, charged into the right post, accepted an air ball and scored for 3-2 to start the second quarter and set herself up for a tremendous showing. Goals were traded and Dhalluin netted a second from her preferred left-hand-catch position to level at four by 3:36. Chiara Tabani on extra and Claudia Marletta, thankfully, from the penalty line, shunted Italy to 6-4. Rycraw starred again as she stopped Roberta Bianconi’s second penalty attempt to restrict the margin to two at halftime.
It was a plodding third period as neither team wanted to give up a goal until Lara Andres fired one off the post on extra and veteran captain Louise Guillet, twice the age of Dhalluin, scored from the other side of the Seine for 6-6, much to her obvious delight. Sofia Giustini restored some pride for Italy with a shot from very deep right for 7-6. Come the final quarter and Rycraw was there again to thwart an Italian penalty goal, this time from Marletta who missed the first attempt. This spurred France into a scoring frenzy with Andres needing binoculars to see the goal with her shot past 10m and Dhalluin converting a penalty for the go-ahead goal.
Following a timeout and late in possession, Ema Vernoux took France two up on extra at 3:19. Italy had no luck after a timeout, but at 1:57, evergreen Bianconi atoned for her two missed penalty shots with a score from top right at 1:57. Tabani dragged back a point-blank ball into Rycraw at 1:05, the last scoring opportunity by either team. France gained a turnover and spent the last 17 seconds realising what it had a achieved as it retained the ball and came up with the historic victory.
Match Heroes
Rycraw. Who else? She made 11 saves and almost single-handedly won the match. Dhalluin with three and Andres and Vernoux with two each shored up the other end. Bianconi was the only double scorer for Italy.
Turning Point
The penalties were like gold for France. Saving another in the final quarter and going 3-0 to 9-7 was the big move.
Stats Don’t Lie
This has to be one of the biggest statistical lies. Italy missing four from five on penalty while allowing two through. It killed the match for Italy. Both teams sent in three from nine on extra while Italy had its chances with 31 shots to 25.
Bottom Line
France needed to make a statement for its adoring crowd and prove that it was capable of winning an Olympic match. Those penalties preyed too much on the Italian mind, especially missing three in the first quarter.
What They Said
Louise GUILLET (FRA) – Captain
On the first victory at an Olympic Games for the French women’s team:
“It’s quite a moment for the French (women’s) water polo team. It’s the first time we’ve played at an Olympic Games, we’d never won and we did today. We don’t realise now what happened, but we played a good game and it was incredible. All the public, we work a lot, very hard, and this is why we play and train every day, for this moment, because we want moments like this all the time.”
Ema VERNOUX (FRA) — Two Goals
On what the victory means for women’s water polo in France:
“For me, for women’s water polo, it's an amazing moment. We worked very hard every day and it’s an incredible moment. I don’t have words for this moment. I’m very happy for the team, for women here in France, and there is more to come.”
On her message to girls in France who might consider taking up water polo:
“Come to see us, it is not finished. Today we win, but we will win other games and we will make an incredible spectacle in the game. So come to see us and you will enjoy it.”
Juliette DHALLUIN (FRA) — Three Goals
On the win:
“We have worked so much for this year. We have worked hard together. We’ve spent half the time – more than half the time – in the pool, working and working. And having results – finally having results – makes us so proud. We’re going to use that to win our next matches.”
On the home crowd’s support:
“Huge, huge. We would like to thank everyone for coming. Just come and see water polo – it’s an amazing sport.”
Mia RYCRAW (FRA) — Goalkeeper
On taking the lead in the fourth quarter and holding on for the victory:
“At the end, and throughout, we were just staying calm and focused. Remaining mentally focused throughout the match was the most important thing and the thing we did so well."
On how hard she was made to work as her team's goalkeeper:
“Italy are super talented, they have years of experience and all their shooters are great. They were shooting on point, like all the shots were on cage. They definitely put up a fight and made me work. I'm tired right now. My pulse is going. You know, I'm definitely tired. They made me work.”
On the importance of the victory:
“I’m still processing this result because it's history for this team, the country of France, and the history of the Olympics. It's all about enjoying the moment, as time is flying by so much. We want to enjoy every little bit. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Roberta BIANCONI (ITA) — Two Goals
On the defeat:
“We needed a good performance today, but we didn’t have it. We didn't find our balance or any real motion. In the end, we lost everything. We lost our minds and our game. We need to be more relaxed and more focused going forward. Almost everything went wrong today but, of course, some things we did good, so we will work on those.”
Match 6, Group B, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 SPAIN 13 (3-2, 2-4, 4-5, 2-2)
Those who managed to get a ticket to this session were rewarded with another fantastic upset as World League champion Spain went 11-6 up on Olympic, World and World Cup champion USA in the third period and held on to a two-goal margin, trimmed in the dying seconds by an Ashleigh Johnson goal. That goal by the goalkeeper could prove vital when it comes to goal differential at the end of the rounds to see who will finish in which positions.
What a thrilling encounter as these are the best two teams in the world and Spain, twice a losing finalist at the last three Olympics, turned the tables on USA and created mayhem in the rankings. We were promised a tight and exciting women’s competition and today lives up to those expectations.
There was no hint of USA under pressure in the first quarter as USA went 3-1 up thanks to two Jordan Raney goals that pleased her masters water-polo-mad dad, Chris Raney, in the crowd. Spain turned the goal tap on with Maica Garcia converting extra to close the first quarter. Left-hander Judith Forca found the top right and Pili Pena struck from eight metres, one second from the end of possession to grab the 4-3 advantage. USA came back twice as Spain set the play, Garcia shrugging off two defenders for 6-5 from the two-metre line.
Paula Crespi started the third period and Rachel Fattal slipped in a deep shot on extra for 7-6 in Spain’s favour. Enter Bea Ortiz. She scored on penalty in the second quarter and now scored four straight with two on extra from the top to lift Spain to an amazing 11-6 differential that will have the USA statisticians clamouring to find if that has ever occurred against this multi-champion side. A USA triple regained some normality before the final break.
With Elena Ruiz striking the left upright on penalty, Kaleigh Gilchrist breathed fire into the match with a strike from the top right for 11-10 down. Anni Espar, from wide left, regained the two-goal margin at 4:10. USA went to a timeout at 1:08 and came up with a penalty shot, which Maddie Musselman had saved by Martina Terre. Paula Leiton turned in a near pass off the right-post position on extra at 0:17 and Spain was 13-10 ahead. USA went on attack, brought up goalkeeper Johnson and she shot from seven metres for 13-11 with two seconds left. Spain had gained an important victory and bragging rights.
Match Heroes
Ortiz with five goals and that four-goal spurt. Raney was USA’s only double scorer with 10 making the sheet and Johnson dragging down 13 saves.
Turning Points
Ortiz and her magical spell that took the match from 7-6 to 11-6. USA’s heroic comeback to 11-10 down was also commendable.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted four from seven on extra and defended six from 11. Spain gained one from two on penalties and USA two from three. Spain out-shot USA 35-27.
Bottom Line
If you take your eye off the ball at this level for even a few minutes, you will be caned. Spain maintained momentum after the slow start and never let up against a team that can always promise to deliver until the final whistle. However, it was not to be for USA today. All kudos to Spain.
What They Said
Martina TERRE (ESP) — Goalkeeper
On beating the USA:
“It's difficult to beat them, as they play so good and are the world champions. We did a great job today, but we don't need to think that we can beat everyone. This was just one match. We still need to improve as we let them score 11 goals, which is a lot, so there are things we need to fix."
On saving a penalty late in the fourth quarter:
“I like penalties. They scored their first two, but the third one was my chance to finally stop that ball. I was grateful to save it, but I'm critical of myself. I need to be better and save more balls in the future.”
Anni ESPAR (ESP) — Goal Scorer
On the win:
“It feels great, but this is not the goal of the tournament. It was an important game and we want to try to get ranked first in the group, but this means nothing. It's just a win and just a win against a great team, and just gives us some confidence to keep playing like that.”
On taking a five-goal lead, 11-6, in the third quarter:
“That quarter was very important for us, to go ahead and give us the belief we could win, but then we also need to correct some mistakes we had in the fourth quarter where we let them come back. When you're up by five and the other team is coming back, it's like they couldn't score for a while, and then when they scored, it looked like it was easy for them to score again."
On the importance of her goal in the fourth quarter to go up 12-10:
“After they scored three or four goals and came back to within one goal, I think scoring that goal gave us some more calmness. We started to feel like we have the control again. We just needed to do long attacks and play good defence. And we knew if we did that, we could win this.”
Kayleigh GILCHRIST (USA) — Goal Scorer
On her team’s performance:
“We started off pretty well, then it was a battle back and forth, and then in the third quarter, they got hot. Bea Ortiz (who scored five goals) really went off tonight. She's one of the best shooters in the world. She really stepped up for their team and we just couldn't figure it out.
“We should have been able to adjust a little quicker and when we did, you could see us slowly but surely crawling our way back. If we could have done a few things differently in the third quarter, who knows? But that's the way it goes. It's a long tournament. We're just going to have to go over this performance, learn from it, move forward. We have a great game coming up in two days versus Italy.”
On losing to Spain, who they beat in the final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games:
“We know Spain have been close many times in the past, so we knew they were fired up. We've always had battles with them. We knew it was going to be a great game and it was just that. It was exciting for the spectators. If we're fortunate enough to keep moving forward, we might have another clash (with Spain).”
Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) — Head Coach
On the defeat:
“Spain played fabulous. They are one of the best teams. They have some of the best players in the world. I'm not surprised, not shocked at all. It's a long tournament. We've got to learn from it and hopefully, if we get in that situation again, we can be a bit more poised.”
On fighting back to 10-11 in the final quarter after being 6-11 down in the third:
“I’m incredibly proud of how we came back, but I wasn't pleased with how we handled being down there in the first place. We got away from what the plan was. We stopped trusting each other a bit, and that's how they were able to widen the gap."
Match 7, Group A, CHINA 11 NETHERLANDS 15 (4-1, 4-4, 1-5, 2-5)
A match of two halves. It sound like a cliché, but check out the quarter scores. China came our firing, dominating both quarters before a change in weather as storm clouds gathered and rained on China after halftime with the 2023 world champion Dutch reverting to their normal, winning ways.
China went 2-0 and then 4-1 with two scored on extra-man attack. Brigitte Sleeking accepted a cross pass from the hard-working Bente Rogge on counter for the Dutch score. Simone van de Kraats countered for 4-2 at the top of the second quarter with Xiong Dunhan — the fifth different Chinese scorer — responding with a backhand from two metres. Goals were traded through to 8-5 by halftime.
The tide turned after halftime as the Dutch scored four unanswered goals with Maartje Keuning grabbing a pair — on counter and with a left-post lob. Deng Zewen became China’s seventh scorer from the left post on action for 9-9 at 0:45. The 33-year-old Dutch captain, Sabrina van der Sloot, gave Netherlands the edge at the final break from the top right. Four straight goals from Netherlands mesmerised the Chinese before Lu Yiwen responded from close in to goal. It was van der Sloot, with her third, who made it 15-10 at 2:50. Deng converted extra at 1:29 for 15-11 and the Dutch had come home from being three goals down on three occasions.
Match Heroes
Van der Sloot and Keuning scored three apiece for the Dutch. Deng, Nong Sanfeng and Jing Zhang scored twice each for China.
Turning Point
The four goals for Netherlands at the start of the third period.
Stats Don’t Lie
China did better on the extra-man count at four from six and defended four from nine. The Dutch, however, fired in 34 shots to 27. China converted the only penalty
Bottom Line
Netherlands was the better team in the end but, as the first two matches tday showed, upsets could be the norm in Paris. This nearly was.
What They Said
Maartje KEUNING (NED) — Three Goals
On how the game swung from China's possession to Netherlands':
"Quite a game. We didn't start really well. It was not the kind of way we always play, so we had to step up our game and, in the end, we did. Step by step, we came back because we were behind by some three (goals) or so. I'm happy that in the end we did it; we won the game. That's just the most important thing; that we won."
On whether her team expected the opposition to start strongly and dominate the first two quarters:
"Actually, yes, because we played them in Doha at the worlds, and we were surprised by them there. So, we said to each other, 'Let's not get surprised again, because we know that they're a good team.' We have respect for them. They have really strong centres, good shooters; they're good. It's just that we didn't start good. We knew they were good, but we didn't start good."
On what triggered Netherlands' comeback in the match:
"It was the coach. In the beginning, of course, he was not happy with how we played, and he was like, 'What are we doing? This is not us.' Also our captain was like, 'Girls, we just have to play like we always play. What are we doing? Just enjoy and let's go play.' And then, step by step, we came back, and we were like, 'OK, breathe in, breathe out, and let's start over. We have a lot of time. We still have three quarters to come back.'"
On her favourite among the three goals she scored in the victory:
"Maybe the one I was in contact and I saw the goalie coming, and I pushed it up. I flicked it out with my left, and then I made a lob with my right. I think it was my first goal, and it was the start of coming back, and we were moving. We were doing our thing, so maybe that's my favourite."
On the most special experience of Paris 2024 so far:
"Today, our king and queen were in the stands, and we were singing the national anthem. It gave me goosebumps. It was so special to see our queen and king with their two children in the stands and sing the national anthem and see the Olympic Rings and see our family and friends and all our fans. Well, that kind of moment — it is just so special, and you have to pinch yourself, 'Is it real?' So far, that was my most special moment. We will be going to meet them now."
Match 8, Group A, HUNGARY 12 CANADA 7 (4-1, 3-3, 1-1, 4-2)
A 3-0 opening stanza gave Hungary the boost for a first victory in Paris while Canada will be ruing lost opportunities in its first match after resting on day one. It was a physical encounter as the statistics show and some great defence from both teams. However, Hungary managed to get the jump on Canada and used that to advantage for the remainder of the contest. At 4-1 by the first break, Hungary was sitting pretty — Rebecca Parkes scoring twice from centre forward and captain Rita Keszthelyi barring one in from 10m and converting a penalty. Only Hayley McKelvey could respond at 3-1. Kindred Paul opened the second quarter for Canada, slipping into the right-post position and steering in a cross pass for 4-2 — the closest Canada would come to Hungary. Greta Kurucz-Gurisatti scored twice and goals were traded to 7-4 at halftime.
Defence dominated the third period until Axelle Crevier, whose mother Marie-Claude Deslieres played the 2000 Games and refereed subsequent Olympics, converted a penalty at 1:04. Krisztina Garda fired a missile down the right post and Keszthelyi stretched and with the finest of touches, tipped the ball into goal, confusing the TV graphics people.
Garda made one of her own to start the final quarter; goals were traded and Kurucz-Gurisatti on extra and Dorottya Szilagyi from the right had Hungary 12-6 up at 3:19. Canadian skipper Emma Wright converted extra from deep right for her second goal and 12-7, still 2:37 from the final whistle. Despite both teams taking timeouts, there was no other score.
Match Heroes
Kurucz-Gurisatti and Keszthelyi topped the scoring with three goals each for Hungary. McKelvey, Paul and Wright netted twice each for Canada.
Turning Point
Starting at 3-0 has its benefits.
Stats Don’t Lie
This was a big defensive match with Hungary converting only three from 14 on extra and Canada one from seven. Both teams sent a penalty goal and Hungary shot 30 times to 23.
Bottom Line
Hungary slips into second place on the ladder after losing on the opening day to Netherlands. It was Canada’s first match and experience will prove invaluable in more tough matches ahead.
Progress Points
Group A: Netherlands 6, Hungary 3, Australia 3, Canada 0, China 0.
Group B: Spain 6, USA 3, France 3, Italy 0, Greece 0.
Day 5 Schedule — Women
Match 09. 14:00. Group A, Netherlands v Australia
Match 10. 15:35. Group A, Canada v China
Match 11. 18:30. Group B, Italy v United States of America
Match 12. 20:05. Group B, Spain v Greece