The quarterfinal line-ups have been decided as Australia and Spain finished atop their groups on the final day of preliminaries and the last day of water polo at the Aquatics Centre. The focus shifts to the La Defense Arena with men’s water polo on Monday and the women’s quarters on Tuesday.
State Of The Play
In Group A, Australia made sure of the top spot, albeit in a 14-12 shootout win over world No 2 Hungary after the match was tied at 9-9. Its 10 points were equalled by Netherlands — who trounced Canada 20-22 — but Australia beat the Dutch in a shootout earlier in the week, so goes top. By claiming the No 1 position, Australia takes on Group B’s fourth-ranked side Greece, who bundled host France from the competition with an 11-4 win. Spain claimed top spot in the group with a shaky 13-11 margin over Italy.
The action was all about who would take what position in the group for the all-important quarterfinals.
In Group A, Australia, Netherlands Hungary and Canada claimed the four spots with winless China departing Paris.
In Group B, Spain went top, followed by United States of America, Italy and Greece with France completing its programme, going out with a win in a three-way tie for third, but with a poorer differential. Italy’s valiant effort meant it took third ahead of Greece by a two-goal-better differential, thus avoiding Australia in the quarters.
The Quarterfinals
Canada will have the unenviable task of playing Spain in the first match; Netherlands will clash with a resurgent Italy; Australia will face Greece, which has just the one win; and Hungary has the daunting tasking of taking on Olympic champion USA.
DAY 9 MATCHES
Match 17, Group A, HUNGARY 12 AUSTRALIA 14 in penalty shootout. FT: 9-9. Pens: 4-5 (1-1, 2-2, 2-3, 4-3)
World No 2 Hungary came from two goals behind twice for 9-9 to force a penalty shootout against the world No 6 Aussie Stingers. It was a valiant comeback by the Hungarians who only led the match at 1-0, but one penalty shot hit the right upright while Australia scored all five to secure the match 14-12, collect two points and top the group. Hungary beat Australia 13-9 in the group stage at Doha 2024 en route to Hungary’s silver medal.
Krisztina Garda opened the scoring with a nine-metre rocket for Hungary early in the period and more than five minutes later, Australia replied through skipper Zoe Arancini from deep left. Australia was nervous and had trouble setting attacks while Hungary pushed in closer to goal. However, goals were traded in the first half of the second quarter and trading came again with six different players scoring. Hungary’s third came from former New Zealander Rebecca Parkes from the penalty line. The match was locked at 3-3 by halftime.
Abby Andrews and Natasa Rybanska swapped goals to start the third period before the big move, which saw Elle Armit and Alice Williams convert extra plays — making them the fifth and sixth different scorers for Australia. Hungary called a timeout for no effect, but soon after Dorottya Szilagyi, who played her junior water polo in New Zealand and Western Australia — fired in on extra from the deep left for 6-5 behind at 3:17. Neither team could change the scoreboard before the last break.
Four-time Olympian Rita Keszthelyi levelled at 6:50 in the fourth period — the third levelled score after 1-1 and 3-3 — and Williams struck quickly with two goals, the first an eight-metre lob and the second on extra after a steal that set her up for 8-6. Szilagyi converted extra from top right and Williams scored her fourth on penalty for 9-7, still 5:05 from the final buzzer. Hungary missed a certain goal, creasing the crossbar and soon after grabbed a penalty foul with Keszthelyi converting for 9-8 at 2:58. Hungary took a timeout at 1:27 and could not score. Australia missed a chance and at 0:51, Dora Leimeter scored her first goal in Paris on extra from deep right for 9-9. At 0:51, Australia went to a timeout, gained an exclusion on Leimeter and Bronte Halligan’s shot hit the post, sending the match to the shootout.
Australia went first and scored all five attempts with Hungary’s Kamilla Farago finding the right upright on the third rotation, aiding Australia to the 14-12 victory.
The win over Hungary follows up on the Aussie Sharks' 9-8 success against Hungary the night before.
Match Heroes
Gabi Palm was the standout for Australia and probably the whole match with a magnificent 13 saves in goal. Williams crunched in four goals. For Hungary, Szilagyi and Keszthelyi scored twice each and Alda Magyari made seven saves in goal.
Turning Point
Australia’s two two-goal leads and Hungary’s two comebacks, especially the two goals the last three minutes.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia converted four from eight on extra-man attack and Hungary five from nine. Hungary had 29 shots to 26. Hungary scored both penalty attempts and Australia one.
Bottom Line
Australia has been the form team and nerves today played a huge part. Australia should have forced the play when two ahead and won the match in real time. Hungary was magnificent when down, which was most of the match.
What They Said
Alice WILLIAMS (AUS) — Four Goals
On winning the match and topping the group:
“We are elated. Undefeated going into quarterfinals is insane. Two penalty shootout (wins) in the round games – we keep it interesting, that's for sure. My heart rate is through the roof, but it's really exciting and well deserved. It's always physical with Hungary. They are such a solid team of outside shooters, so we were very aware of that going into the game. Our defence today needed to be on point. I’m very proud of how we pulled that together, (we had) nerves of steel.”
On celebrating after the match:
“The emotions are so high. It's the Olympic Games, so whenever you get a goal that your team-mates have worked so hard for, everything comes to the surface.”
On the performance of Gabriella PALM who produced 13 saves in regular time:
“She's phenomenal. I could talk about her for hours. She is our last line of defence. She is so important. She's having the tournament of her life. Stoked to have her in the goal. I want her on my team, not the other one, that's for sure.”
Match 18, Group B, ITALY 11 SPAIN 13 (0-2, 4-3, 3-4, 4-4)
It’s amazing what being fourth in the group can do for a team wanting to lift higher before the quarterfinals. Italy played above expectations and although it threw everything it could at Spain, the world No 3 and perennial visitor to the podium. Spain has two silver medals at Olympics and Italy the 2004 crown. Today it was Spain who wished to maintain its winning run and collect the group win.
Anni Espar and Maica Garcia scored Spain’s two goals in the opening quarter, both on extra-man attack. While Espar made it 3-0 on penalty to start the second quarter, Italy was stung into action and went into the trading game: Roberta Bianconi and Pili Pena — must have 800 or more internationals between them —Domitilla Picozzi and Paula Crespi for 5-2. Picozzi snatched another, followed by Giuditta Galardi’s extra-man goal off the left-post position off a near pass for 5-4 before the halftime buzzer.
Claudia Marletta levelled off a long cross pass to start the third period. Judith Forca delivered for Spain from the bottom right through three defenders in goal on extra. Italy scored a counter goal only for the referees to consult VAR and determine that an Espar shot had scored earlier, the ball only just crossing the line. Italy’s goal was denied and Spain was 7-5 up. Never mind, Sofia Giustini and Bianconi on extra had it level again — 7-7. Elena Ruiz and Bea Ortiz both scored on action with the 9-7 goal sliding in from the top left at 1:57, which held out until the final break. Ruiz, at 19, is already playing her second Olympic Games.
Dafne Bettini made it 9-8 to start the final period, converting extra. Bea Ortiz from wide left and Forca from the right with her left arm on extra, took Spain out to 11-8. Marletta on extra and Ruiz from the top left took it to 12-9 by 4:13. Bettini made it eight from 12 on extra for 12-10 at 3:46, still time to win the match. However, Isabel Piralkova converted extra, as did Marletta at 1:56 for 13-11. Spain stole the ball off the centre forward, went on attack and earned an exclusion. However, Espar’s shot was saved and the ball regained and held on to win the match.
Match Heroes
Espar with three goals and goalkeeper Laura Ester with 10 saves were the stars for Spain. Marletta sent in three for Italy and goalkeeper Caterina Banchelli saved nine.
Turning Point
Spain starting with the first three goals, then Italy’s heroics in coming back to 5-5 and 7-7, but it could never get the lead.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy wanted it badly and fired in nine from 13 on extra and defended nine from 15. Spain scored the only penalty goal.
Bottom Line
Spain is the better team. However, Italy showed the difference between first and fourth in the group is only two goals. Better luck in the quarterfinals where it will face another 2023 world champion Netherlands.
What They Said
Anni ESPAR (ESP) — Three Goals
On the win:
“Italy came back a couple of times, but we stayed strong and played very good defence, with Laura Ester in the cage, and she made some very good saves. We did a very good job. Italy had a lot to lose in this game. They needed the win so much and I feel sorry for them about that, but we needed to play our game and do our best. I'm happy with the team performance.
On scoring three goals:
“In every game, different players can step up and today, all my team-mates gave me the extra buzz I needed to score. We played a great team effort.”
On looking ahead to the quarterfinals:
“That's the best part of the tournament. We're looking forward to it after such good group games. We know we haven't done any job yet, so we just need to focus on that game versus Canada and prepare for that.”
Roberta BIANCONI (ITA) — Two Goals
On the defeat:
“We were hoping to get at least one point. We were really close, but (we got) nothing. In the first two periods, we played a really nice game. In the third we lost maybe the concentration; we did some mistakes and that's what put Spain in front of us. I don't know really what happened because we received a lot of exclusions, so we need to watch the game back to understand what happened.”
Match 19, Group A, CANADA 11 NETHERLANDS 20 (4-5, 2-6, 3-4, 2-5)
Netherlands improved its record to 4-1 with just that penalty-shootout loss to Australia. Canada had made the top eight and wanted prove that it was better than fourth-ranked in the group, something it could not shake off even if it won. It was about pride and the big matches to come.
In fact, Canada opened the scoring, fended off 1-1, 2-2,and 3-3 scorelines for 4-3 with four different scorers. Netherlands was hanging on and in the last two minutes scored twice with Brigitte Sleeking, who sent in the first two goals for Netherlands, claiming a third for the go-ahead 5-4 score, still nearly two minutes from the quarter buzzer.
Netherlands scored the next three in the second quarter for 8-4 with Lieke Rogge collecting a pair. Verica Bakoc nailed her second and Canada’s first in 10 minutes, for 8-5 with a shot from wide right on extra. Kitty Lynn Joustra from centre forward and Lieke Rogge off a cross pass had the score at 10-5. Goals were traded for 11-6 at halftime.
Iris Wolves started the second half and Canada responded with goals from Shae La Roche and captain Emma Wright. Bente Rogge and Bakoc traded with Dutch captain Sabrina van der Sloot and Wolves on extra making it 15-9 by the last break. Lieke Rogge and Serena Browne traded to start the fourth period with the Dutch sliding out to 19-10, with Lieke Rogge gaining her fifth on extra. La Roche and Lola Moolhuijzen finished the match with the latter lobbing from top left with six seconds on the clock.
Match Heroes
Lieke Rogge with five goals and Sleeking with four were the best for the Dutch. Bakoc with three and Browne and La Roche with two each, led the way for Canada. Goalkeepers Jessica Gaudreault (eight saves) and Clara Vulpisi (seven) were kept busy.
Turning Point
Busting away from Canada’s 4-3 dominance of the first four minutes and going to 8-4 ahead.
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada was excellent on extra-man situations, converting four from six and defending seven of 13. The Dutch, however, had the possession and shot 38 times to 29 and scored the only penalty goal.
Bottom Line
Netherlands was world champion last year and Canada was eighth in Doha this year.
What They Said
Brigitte SLEEKING (NED) — Four Goals
On the win:
“It was a really good win. I think we needed to play with confidence again, and you could see that in our game, that we were stable. We’ve had some days away to train and think, because we felt like we were not playing our game. We went back to the basics. Everyone was really calm and confident.”
On scoring four goals:
“I was calm, confident and concentrated. That helped me a lot and I could help the team more, so I'm happy about it.”
On the quarterfinals:
“If we can come back and do the same again as we did today, we can go really far in this tournament.”
Match 20, Group B, FRANCE 4 GREECE 11 (1-2, 2-1, 1-3, 0-5)
France was desperate to win this encounter and avoid a three-way tie where it was not favoured with the goal differential. Greece was chasing its first win and entry to the quarterfinals. It was a tense match with voluble French fans urging on their heroes.
Greece quietened the arena with the first two goals and Orsolya Hertzka responded to a din for 2-1 at quarter time. The roof nearly flew all those solar panels into the ether as Camille Radosavljevic on extra from the left-post position and captain Ema Vernoux also captured an extra-man goal from the deep left. France was 3-2 ahead and off in the right direction. France snuffed a Greek penalty attempt before Eleni Xenaki scored her second with an excellent, turning centre-forward goal for 3-3 inside the final minute.
A Greek onslaught in the third period gained three goals with two on counter to stretch the lead to three goals. Vernoux regained one goal on penalty for 6-4 by the final break. France was well in the match. However, when Vasiliki Plevritou scored on extra for 7-4, the task became even harder. Xenaki went on counter for her third goal; Vasiliki Plevritou rifled one in from the top on extra; Athina Giannopoulou from the deep right and Vasiliki Plevritou with a penalty conversion at 1:21, put paid to any thoughts France had of continuing in the competition. Both teams took a timeout with no further goals.
Match Heroes
Xenaki and Vasiliki Plevritou for Greece, notching three goals each. Ioanna Stamatopoulou made an excellent 10 saves in goal. For France, Vernoux claimed two goals to go home with six goals, one behind team-mate Juliette Dhalluin.
Turning Point
Greece’s opening two goals; France’s three-goal comeback to lead, then Greece marching away to 6-3. Keeping France to one goal in more than 20 minutes was also telling.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece garnered three from nine on extra and stopped five of seven. Greece shot 29 times to 25 and both teams converted their single penalty attempt.
Bottom Line
Greece deserves to be in the top eight and will be happy with its first win. France will relish its 9-8 win over Italy in its debut Olympics with the promise of more to come.
What They Said
Vasiliki PLEVRITOU (GRE) — Three Goals
On the win:
“It was a game we needed to play focused, be strong and show what we can do. Most of the time (we were) good, and when the score was tight, we kept controlling the game, and we got the win.”
On the importance of the win to qualify for the quarterfinals:
“So far, we didn't have a good tournament. We wanted to have the win, so we can qualify to the final eight. We want to play strong.”
On scoring three goals:
“I’m excited and happy when I help my team in scoring, and in defence as well. It's nice playing with the full crowd cheering for you and for the opponent. I’m happy and stay focused for the next stage.”
Final Points
Group A: Australia 10, Netherlands 10, Hungary 7, Canada 3, China 0.
Group B: Spain 12, USA 9, Italy 3, Greece 3, France 3.
Day 11 Schedule
Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 24. 14:00. Canada v Spain
Match 22. 15:35. Netherlands v Italy
Match 21. 19:00. Australia v Greece
Match 23. 20:35. Hungary v United States of America