In second-day action the big guns are out to play and in Group A, Spain gave up a six-goal lead to defeat a fast-finishing Italy 12-10 and Greece ripped apart Netherlands 13-6. In Group B action, Australia held off New Zealand 15-12 and United States of America used a penalty shootout to beat Hungary 13-12 after the match was tied at nine.
MATCH REPORTS
Match 1, Group A, SPAIN 12 ITALY 10 (4-1, 3-1, 3-2, 2-6)
Spain seemed to be out to emulate its U16 counterparts who took out gold at the recent world championships in Turkiye. It was a sublime effort from a group of players expected to filter into the senior ranks in coming years as the older players start to retire. A final-quarter slowdown did
Spain started strongly with the first two goals in 90 seconds and after giving up an Italian action goal, scored again for 3-1 at 5:14 from the penalty line. It was tighter from then on with the next goal not coming until 23 seconds from the quarter-time buzzer, through Queralt Anton from deep left on extra for 4-1. Teresa Lombardo found herself stranded in the open to receive the ball and score to start the second quarter for Italy. However, Carlota Penalver scored from seven metres and with a counter-attack lob for 6-2 to give her three goals. Itzias Almeda, another first-quarter scorer, scored from deep right after a lengthy VAR review for 7-2 late in the period. Italy’s timeout ploy failed to get past the wood.
Italy started the third period on penalty via Eleonora Bianco and Margarita Peragon netted her second goal from centre forward for 8-3. Captain Beatrice Cassara found the top left from her top-right position to trim the margin to four. The trading continued when Anton converted the penalty foul at 3:24. The margin shot to six when Ariadne Temprano slotted an extra-play goal from top left for what had to be the back-breaking goal inside the final minute.
Italy awoke in the final quarter with Emma Bacelle scoring two action goals either side of a beautiful Martina Claveria centre-forward turn. Lombardo converted extra and suddenly it was 11-7 at 4:09. Italy gained an exclusion, took a timeout and Bianca Rosta converted off the right-post position for 11-8 at 3:14. Spain was having trouble on its attacks and Italy went on attack, shot and regained the rebound; gained an extra play and converted through centre forward Elly Pasqualin at 1:49 and 11-9. Spain managed to gain the exclusion and Penalver stepped up and scored her fourth with 1:19 on the clock. Italy gained an exclusion on the last minute but the shot was blocked and Spain breathed a sigh of relief. Italy had the last say, gaining an exclusion and scoring through Bacelle, for her third of the period and 12-10. Spain retained the ball for the last seven seconds after losing the period 6-2.
Match Heroes
Penalver (above) with her four goals for Spain and Bacelle with her last-quarter heroics and three goals for Italy. Her goalkeeper, Olimpia Sesena, made nine saves.
Turning Point
Spain turning 4-1 into 7-2 by halftime, making it too hard for Italy to come back. Italy’s 6-2 final quarter was admirable, but late.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain managed just four from 12 on extra and defended only three from eight. However, three penalty goals to one; six extra shots and 10 steals to five, helped toward the victory.
Bottom Line
Spain looked classier throughout and even though it lost big time in the final quarter, was still in control. Italy just needed those three quarters to get the feel of the water in Chengdu.
Match 2, Group A, GREECE 13 NETHERLANDS 6 (6-2, 4-1, 1-1, 2-2)
Greece came to Chengdu with 2004 Olympic silver medallist Eftychia Karagianni as head coach and the Dutch had former Hungarian Universiade silver medallist Eszter Gyori at the helm.
Greece came out firing and had the score at 6-0 inside the final two minutes. The Dutch gave up two penalty fouls, which Greece snapped on, while a Dutch attempt was saved. It was not until the final half minute that Netherlands made the scoresheet when Linde Haksteen sat up at the top left and 27 seconds later, Pien Gorter, who was the earlier penalty taker, accepted a long pass from Marjolein de Gier on counter for 6-2, four seconds from the first break.
Ariadni Karampetsou, who scored the 5-0 penalty, converted an early extra-play to start the second quarter with Asimina Klapsianou gaining her second goal, this time with a centre-forward backhand. The margin was back to six goals. Amy Kleinlugtebeld scored at centre forward for Netherlands only for first-quarter double-scorer Aspasia Fouraki to convert extra on the first pass and Despoina Drakotou making the most of her counter for 10-3, which was the last goal until halftime. Greece had the better of Netherlands.
It was a long time coming for a goal in the third period, Gorta supplying Netherlands’ fourth from deep left. Niki Piovan responded on extra and a minute later, Netherlands called a timeout and the subsequent shot creased the crossbar, coming up Greece’s way. Greece’s shot at making it 12-4 came unstuck when Piovan had her penalty attempt stopped by Caitlin van Leeuwin.
Match Heroes
Greece’s Fouraki topped the scoring with three goals and goalkeeper Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou was named player of the match for her nine saves. Gorter and van der Meer scored two each for Netherlands.
Turning Point
Hammering in six goals each minute of the first period, set the scene for Netherlands’ demise.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece converted six from 11 on extra and defended all three Dutch attempts. Greece scored two from three on penalty and saved the one Dutch shot. Greece shot three more times and made eight steals to five.
Bottom Line
Greece had the better statistics all around and the better shooting, the faster passing, the higher water polo intelligence probably, as well. The team is well placed to rocket into the top four.
Match 3, Group B, NEW ZEALAND 12 AUSTRALIA 15 (4-4, 2-2, 3-5, 3-4)
New Zealand’s head coach is Angie Winstanley-Smith, the long-time Kiwi senior coach and former Great Britain international. Australia’s head coach is Rowie Webster, Olympic bronze medallist and multi world medallist and award winner.
It was tough duel between these Trans-Tasman neighbours with the Kiwis leading on six occasions and the match level at every number to nine. A three-goal surge by Australia separated the teams in the final quarter.
Australia normally holds sway over the Kiwis but in the opening quarter New Zealand went 2-1 ahead after trailling by a goal, fended off Australia three times, only for the women in green to equalise at four on the buzzer. Riaan Bryant scored twice for New Zealand with the second on penalty. Holly Dunn had her penalty shot hit the left upright and her rebound shot found the same post. Saskia Dunn scored Australia’s second goal and made the six-metre foul shot to close the quarter.
Goals were traded in the second quarter with Charley Stephens netting her second and Dunn coming good with her first for 5-5. Bryant lobbed from afar and the Kiwis had the lead for the fourth time. Christina Digiandomenico backhanded from two metres for 6-6 at 4:47. Neither team could find the goal despite some excellent shots and it was locked at the halftime break.
The third quarter was just as frenetic with the score level at every number until nine. Then Chelsea Isaac, who gave Australia the edge at the start of the period, took a penalty shot, had it rejected and then put away the rebound for 10-9. Jemma Potts lobbed from outside six metres for 11-9 at 0:35.
Bless Daly on penalty and left-hander Dunn with her preferred six-metre-foul shot to took it 12-10 early in the fourth period. Matilda Waugh at centre and Dunn with another six-metre goal made it tantalisingly close at 14-12 and still 4:29 on the clock. However, Owen pulled one down from two metres for 14-11 and at 2:47, senior international Gabrielle Doyle converted extra for 14-12. New Zealand failed to convert after a timeout and Australia called its second timeout at 0:40 with Indiana Smith making good on extra for 15-12 at 0:25. Someone had to lose and it was the plucky New Zealand team on this occasion.
Match Heroes
Kiwi pair Dunn (Below) and Bryant slotted four goals each while Owen (above) was named player of the match for Australia with her three goals. Isaac also scored three for the Aussies.
Turning Point
Australia running in three unanswered goals straddling the final break.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia converted four from seven on extra and more damagingly, defended eight from 11. Each team went one from two on penalty and New Zealand had the better of the steals at nine to five.
Bottom Line
The extra-man plays was where the match was won as the rest of the time it was even all over the field. Bothe teams deserved to win.
Match 4, Group B, HUNGARY 12 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 13 in penalty shootout. FT: 9-9. Pens: 3-4 (1-1, 5-4, 3-2, 0-2)
USA came through a penalty shootout to defeat Hungary in its opening encounter in Chengdu after the match was tied at nine and Hungary had controlled much of the match.
Hungary contains the potent Kata Hajdu, a precocious player who has already won the world junior (U20) crown in 2023 and a silver medal at World League level for her national team. Playing here in the U18 tournament means she will be a threat all week. She managed to score three goals in the second quarter to send her team into the lead, converted a penalty in the shootout and was named player of the match.
The match was tied at one, two, three and four in the first half with USA having the lead at 4-3 when Amber Nowacsek gained her second goal. Hajdu answered in triplicate and had Hungary 6-4 in the lead. Alison Cohen responded on penalty for 6-5 to go to the turn.
Captain Lucy Haaland-Ford levelled a minute into the third period and sent USA up soon after. Her counterpart, Dominika Kardos, replied for 7-7. Zsofi Horvath on a cross pass at centre forward and Emma Gulyas-Oldal on counter had Hungary 9-7 ahead by the final break. It was all USA in the final quarter as Hungary could find no way through and Nowacsek and Haaland-Ford scored on counter and from the top to secure the shootout.
It was 3-3 in the shootout before each team had a goal saved and then Kardos had hers saved, leaving Haaland-Ford to push USA across the line with the final shot in the rotation for the 13-12 win that secures just the two points for winning and one for losing.
Match Heroes
Hajdu had the presence and her three goals from six attempts made a huge difference when needed. Haaland-Ford and Nowacsek must be congratulated for their superb efforts, both adding an extra in the shootout.
Turning Point
The two USA goals in the final quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary scored three from seven on extra and defended the solitary chance for USA. Both teams scored their one penalty attempt and USA made six steals to three. Both teams shot 26, so they were evenly poised heading into the cut-throat shootout.
Bottom Line
Each team deserved victory in a match that was even seven times.
Progress Points
Group A: GRE 3, ESP 3, ITA 0, NED 0
Group B: AUS 3, USA 2, HUN 1, NZL 0
Group C: CRO 3, CAN 3, THA 0, RSA 0
Group D: CHN 3, ISR 3, TUR 0, MEX
Day 3 Schedule
Match 09. 09:00. Group C, Croatia v Thailand
Match 10. 10:30. Group C, Canada v South Africa
Match 11. 12:00. Group D, Mexico v Israel
Match 12. 13:30. Group A, Netherlands v Italy
Match 13. 16:00. Group A, Greece v Spain
Match 14. 17:30. Group B, United States of America v Australia
Match 15. 19:00. Group D, Turkiye v China
Match 16. 20:30. Group B, Hungary v New Zealand