USA, Spain, Greece and Hungary finalise quarterfinal line-ups

Day 7 Schedule

Classification 13-16 Round Robin
Match 39 09:00. Mexico v Turkiye
Match 40. 10:30. Thailand v South Africa

Classification 11-12
Match 41. 12:00. Israel v Canada

Classification 9-10
Match 22. 13:30. Croatia v China

Classification 5-8 Semifinals
Match 43. 16:00. Netherlands v Australia
Match 44. 17:30. New Zealand v Italy

Classification 1-4 Semifinals
Match 45. 19:00. USA v Greece
Match 46. 20:30. Spain v Hungary

DAY 6 MATCH REPORTS

Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals

Match 38, ITALY 11 HUNGARY 12 (1-1, 4-4, 4-4,2-3)

Hungary snuck home a winner 39 seconds from time when Natasa Lendvai scored her fifth goal to secure a semifinal berth. The only numbers where the match was not tied was four and 12. It was a thrilling encounter between two class teams, but only one could win. In the play-off for bronze two years ago, Hungary was also the winner.

The first quarter was a tight affair considering how it broke open in the second. Full pressure was put on both teams in the opening period and it was not until 2:09 that Beatrice Cassara made a breakthrough from the top right. Natasa Lendvai pulled the trigger from the point position to equalise on the next attack — the only scoring of the eight minutes.  Goals were traded twice for 3-3 and Laura Kardos gained a late VAR review to get her deep-left shot on the scoreboard. This triggered two more Hungarian goals through Kata Hajdu for her second and Zoe Lendvay from the penalty line. Italy pounced on two opportunities in the closing minute with Malika Bovo from the top and Cassara for her third and seventh in total on penalty for 5-5 at the halftime break.

Lili Soti scored off the right-post position on extra for 6-5 and 20 seconds later Cassara missed her penalty attempt. However, she converted extra from the top left for 6-6 and Cecilia Grasso, who scored Italy’s second goal, converted a penalty for 7-6 and Lendvai did the same on the next attack. Hungary went to a timeout but the shot was too late. Italy countered, gained the exclusion and collected a penalty foul, giving Eleonora Bianco her first goal of the match and an 8-7 advantage. Hajdu plucked a goal from the top on extra for 8-8 at 1:38 and Luca Horvath also converted extra, from right in front of the goalkeeper, for 9-8 to Hungary. Emma Bacelle made it 9-9 and her ninth in total, before the final break with a wicked shot from deep left.

Cassara was at it again, scoring with a lob from the centre, four metres out to start the fourth period and give Italy the edge. Lendvai scored twice to regain the lead for Hungary, both on extra with the second from about seven metres out. Italy went to a timeout on extra at 4:13 and the subsequent shot sprayed wide. A Hungarian timeout also yielded nothing. Bacelle scored the equaliser on extra from the left-post position on extra. The celebrations were short-lived as Lendvai created history.

Match Heroes
Lendvai was the undoubted star with five goals, backed up by Hajdu with three and Luca Torma made nine saves in goal. Cassara was a standout for Italy, coming good when most needed and scoring five goals.

Turning Point
Lendvai’s final goal.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary scored an incredible with from 121 on extra and denied Italy six of 10 attempts. Hungary scored both penalty attempts and Italy converted three from five. Italy was the best thief with seven steals to four and Italy also shot 31 time to 24.

Bottom Line
Hungary was ranked a little higher and this showed through tonight, despite there being two different teams in the water from 2022.

Match 37, AUSTRALIA 3 GREECE 16 (0-3, 1-5, 1-3, 1-5)

Greece blitzed Australia and showed the difference between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere water polo at this level, much like Spain did to New Zealand in the previous quarterfinal.

Greece wasted no time in taking the match by the scruff, gaining a penalty within 15 seconds and scoring twice off extra to have the match in its hand 3-0 by 4:49. Australia was slow to get into the match but the three goals awoke the spirit and shut out Greece for the remainder of the quarter. Unfortunately, the Aussie shooting was not effective enough to threaten the scoreboard. The very clean sheet continued in the second quarter as Greece defended stoutly and went on attack fast, scoring goals before the excluded player has had time to move, seemingly. Five different players made the sheet and it was not until the sixth goal that anyone doubled. Aspasia Fouraki gained her second on extra, as did Niki Piovan. It was the fifth conversion of extra with only one action goal, that to Efstathia Kovatsevits. Piovan netted her third, this time from eight metres. With only two seconds left on the clock, Indiana Smith rocketed in an outside shot to get Australia on the board at 8-1.

Bridget Cranley scored her second of the week from centre forward for 8-2 to start the third period. It was not long before the Piovan menace reared its head with a blast from the top on extra for her fourth. Ariadni Karampetsou played a six-metre-foul shot for 10-2 and Piovan fired from the top again, for 11-2 and her fifth goal, doubling her tally in Chengdu. Greece called a timeout, but could not best the Australian defence at any time before the final break.

Penalties were traded for 12-3 and then bench players Eleni Beta and Olga Oikonomou slipped into the rhythm with their first goals on action. An Aussie timeout reaped three shots, all unsuccessful. Kovatsevits and Despoina Drakotou helped themselves to late goals for the 16-3 demolition.

Match Heroes
Piovan (above) was best in pool with five goals while four others scored twice. Goalkeeper Eftychia Konstantopoulou make nine saves during her time in the pool.

Turning Point
Going 8-0 does make statement.

Stats Don’t Lie
Greece killed Australia on extra-man, nailing seven from 11 and stopping all eight of Australia’s chances. It scored both penalty goals as Australia did with its one and made 12 steals to six, shooting four more times than Australia.

Bottom Line
Greece has the talent to go all the way and certainly deserves to make the semifinals considering it was second two years ago. Australia will need to be much sharper in the next round.  

Match 36, NEW ZEALAND 5 SPAIN 16 (2-5, 0-2,2-3, 1-6)

Spain eased into the semifinals and immediately is at least one place better than two years ago. Spain had eight players on the scoresheet, showing the balance, and pressed New Zealand out to shoot from afar.

New Zealand had a tough nut to crack against the more controlled Spaniards. Spain started and New Zealand retaliated two minutes later. Then three unanswered Spanish goals had the Kiwis on the back foot. Luckily a Spanish penalty attempt was smacked down by goalkeeper Zoe Crisp. Two of the goals came easily at centre forward. Riaan Bryant slotted one from wide left for 4-2 and just inside the final minute, Itziar Almeda converted extra for 5-2 at the first break. The second quarter was a much tougher affair with the pressure fully on New Zealand. Almeda backhanded a hopeful shot from deep right, catching the goalkeeper off guard, and Carlota Penalver launched one in from top right for 7-2 nearly six minutes after the previous goal.

The third period started well for New Zealand with Emison Styris countering for 7-3 at 6:53.  Daniela Quinzada, who had no goals before this match, scored the second Spanish goal and now claimed the eighth with a smart, fast conversion of extra man. Penalver and Itziar Martinez scored identical goals from the top left for 10-3 and the fourth Kiwi goal came from Bryant on penalty. New Zealand used the time to keep out the Spaniards by the three-quarter buzzer.

Spain closed with a flurry, winning the final period 6-1, showing what it is capable of in such an important elimination match. Six different scorers were utilised while Styris scored her second for New Zealand on extra at 12-5.

Match Heroes
Penalver took out the top award with her three goals. It’s so hard to elevate from the crowd in a Spanish team brimming with talent and shooting power. Styris and Bryant scored twice for the Kiwis.

Turning Point
Spain going from 11-1 to 4-1 and then scoring multiple goals to the Kiwis’ odd one.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted two from three on extra and stopped five from eight. Spain muscled in four of five penalty goals to New Zealand’s one and made 13 steals to six.

Bottom Line
Spain is a class above and overall team-work could see it make the gold-medal final. New Zealand was eighth last time so will use that knowledge to try and make the play-off for fifth.

Match 35, NETHERLANDS 10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 (2-2, 3-3, 2-3, 3-3)

USA kept its head and maintained he one-goal lead it gained at the end of the third period. It was a match that was level at every number to 10 before USA grabbed the winner almost two minutes from time.

There was never going to be much in this match when it came to differential and that proved the case. Netherlands scored first thanks to a penalty save, Kiara Heerink shooting from the right top. Charlotte Raisin from the deep right and Lucy Haaland-Ford from the top on extra had USA in the lead at 2-1. Tatum van der Elst converted extra and it was 202 by the first-quarter buzzer. Sydney Lowell slotted the penalty attempt to start the second quarter as goals were traded. Van der Elst scored from centre forward for 3-3 and Lowell drilled one from deep left for the lead once more. Captain Amy Kleinlugtebeld scored from the top left and Tess van der Meer shot from five metres for a Dutch 5-4. With a minute remaining, Haaland-Ford converted a penalty foul for the equaliser.

Kleinlugtebeld started the third period from centre and Raisin equalised on extra. Pien Gorter had her penalty attempt sent out of the pool leaving Raisin to lob for 7-6 on the next attack. Heerink responded on counter for 7-7 at 1:24 and at 0:15, Sam Hofley scored her first goal of the week with a brilliant turn at centre forward for the 8-7 margin by the final break.

Kleinlugtebeld burst down the left post to accept a pass from the centre forward on extra to score the final-quarter opener and 8-8. She only had three goals coming into this match, so three today is a magnificent effort.

Match Heroes
Netherlands’ Kleinlugtebeld was instrumental in keeping her team on target and her four goals, surpassing what she had scored earlier in the week, proved she is one of the best around. Heerink gained three goals. For the victorious USA, goalkeeper Keri Glad made 12 valuable saves while Raisin and Haaland-Ford grabbed three apiece.

Turning Point
USA coming back from one down at the start. It set off a chain reaction of goals that kept USA in the limelight.

Stats Don’t Lie
USA went four from nine on extra while Netherlands better at four from five. USA put away two from three on penalty to Netherlands’ none from one. Both teams made four steals.

Bottom Line
USA is the reigning champion and will be thankful of coming through that almighty test. The Dutch will be pushing for fifth place now.

Classification 9-12 Semifinals

Match 32, CHINA 10 CANADA 4 (0-1, 4-0, 4-2, 2-1)

China was untroubled in getting to the ninth-place play-off with a strong defensive game and accurate shooting.

It was amazing that the team who scored did so while taking only two shots in the quarter. The team trailing took nine shots for no reward. Canada struggled to maintain possession of the ball or find someone to receive the ball with the intent of shooting. There were few saves by the goalkeepers as shots were either wayward or did not come close to the cages. Sydney Krushen converted the penalty goal at 2:40. It heated up in the second quarter as left-hander Shao Yixin made the most of a poor Canadian pass to go on counter and score for 1-1 at 6:59. This sparked another Chinese goal three minutes later when Zhang Yumian claimed her 15^th goal on counter at 3:53. At 1:17, Shi Yitong went on counter and passed off to Li Jiao to score for 3-1. Zhang Yumian converted extra from the top for 4-1, much to the pleasure of the Chinese spectators.

Li Jianyu drove deep right to score the opening goal of the third period and next attack Canada’s Riley Milne scored off her rebounded backhand shot for her first goal in Chengdu. Han Wen scored on extra and a Canadian timeout did not change the scoreboard. Zhang Yumian sent in a penalty shot for her third and 17^th. Shi sent one in from deep right and Kayla Gaul responded for Canada at 0:55 from the top for 8-3. It took until 4:40 on the final period for a goal to be scored, Han turning at centre forward for 9-3. Yu Anran repeated the dose for her second goal this week. Gaul nabbed a second — six for the week — backhanding from centre forward for 10-4.

Match Heroes
Zhang Yumian netted three goals for China and Gaul two for Canada.  

Turning Point
The second quarter where Canada was scoreless and China went to 4-1.

Stats Don’t Lie
China converted two from six on extra and closed down all three Canadian attempts. Both teams converted a penalty foul; China stole 13 times to 11 but where it counted, China shot 32 times to 22.

Bottom Line
China worked well as a team with excellent defence and sharp shooting. Ninth place beckons.

Match 31, CROATIA 18 ISRAEL 9 (5-2, 3-0, 6-3, 4-4)

Croatia made it into the play-off for ninth place with a thundering victory over a somewhat dormant Israel.

Israel raced into the match, going up 2-1 and then the goals dried up as Croatia was persistent, resilient and defiant, shooting out to 5-2 by quarter time and then to 8-2 by the halftime buzzer. Three of the first four goals were from the penalty line and Lara Srhoj scored her second from penalty and Croatia’s third penalty goal to close the first-quarter scoring. Ria Glas opened the second quarter with a lob on counter and Neli Jankovic scored from top left. At 2:18, Jankovic scored her third goal and 20^th for the tournament, when she was the recipient of a cross pass on counter. She was the third Croatian swimmer to make the charge and was rewarded with an easy goal.

Glas opened the second-half scoring on counter. She anticipated early and had seven metres on her closest rival as she swept upfield for 9-2. Three penalty goals with two to Croatia and one to Israel made it 11-3. The Israeli goal came more than 16 and a half minutes after the previous one. Maya Katzir converted extra from the top at 4:10, Israel’s second goal on extra from six attempts. Israel’s Carmel Rahum had her penalty attempt saved and Glas scored her fourth on extra, rising high to take the shot. Captain Miya Tirosh snapped in an extra-man shot from deep left and Jelena Butic (main picture) from eight metres for 13-5. Israel called a timeout to no avail. Croatia had a full attack and one second from time, Butic struck with a missile from outside 10m for 14-5.

Butic started the fourth period the way she finished the third, with a goal, this time on counter for her fifth goal. Gili Borenstein fired in from left-hand-catch for Israel’s first action goal and sixth for the match. Shiri Wissman made it two action goals in 22 seconds when she drove down the middle to shoot for 15-7 and her first goal of the tournament. Tirosh continued the theme for Israel from right-hand-catch at 3:33 with her 13th goal. Goals were traded before Glas and Jankovic put the seal on the match.

Match Heroes
Glas (pictured) was named player of the match with her five goals that elevated her to 17 and Butic’s five took her to 19. Jankovic claimed four to go to 21 goals. Raz and Tirosh scored twice each for Israel

Turning Point
Croatia coming from 2-1 down to 10-2 ahead said it all.

Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia was dominant in this area, scoring its only extra-man chance and shutting down eight of Israel’s 10 attempts. It put away all five penalty goals and Israel two from three. Croatia made 10 steals to one and shot six more times.

Bottom Line
Croatia was out for victory to prove its superiority and Israel was having an off day, as the statistics show.

Classification 13-16 Round Robin

Match 34, THAILAND 19 TURKIYE 18 (4-3, 6-5, 9-5, 3-5)

What an amazing match this was with spectacular shots going in all over the place. The match was tied at two, four, five and 10, but Thailand had the edge at every quarter break.

The closeness of this mini-tournament is exciting and although Turkiye began with a bang, Thailand responded in kind and had the 4-3 quarter-time advantage. Once again it was a period of seven goals with seven different scorers. It levelled twice in the second quarter  before Thailand surged to 7-5 and 9-6 before Turkiye kept clinging on to trail 10-8 at halftime. Raksina Rueangsappaisan netted three goals to go with the six she scored against Mexico on Thursday. Thanita Kongchouy, Yanisa Turon and Thanidakarn Kwantongtanaree scored twice each for Thailand. Hanzade Dabbag scored a hat-trick for Turkiye.

Dabbag opened the third quarter on extra and Arik Bilge collected her second to level at 10. A pair of Thai goals, a Turkish score and then two more Thai goals had the score at 14-11. Rueangsappaisan had four goals by now. Derin Pehlivanoglu trimmed it to two before Rueangsappaisan converted consecutive penalty goals to bring up her 20^th goal for the championship. Betul Haltas netted her second, this time on extra, for 16-13 just before the final break.

Turkiye came good in the last quarter, winning it 5-3 with the score moving to 18-5 with Rueangsappaisan’s seventh goal and 19-16 by 2:52 From a Turkish timeout, Bilge scored from the top and then Hamiyet Suzmecelik bounced one it at 1:16 for 19-18, still time to force the shootout. However, it was not to be and Thailand had a second victory in the series.

Match Heroes
Rueangsappaisan (above) was named best in pool, understandably with her seven goals. Turon had four and Kongchouy three. For Turkiye, Dabbag finished with five to lift her tally to 12.

Turning Point
Thailand turning 2-0 down into 4-2 ahead and never relinquishing the advantage.

Stats Don’t Lie
Thailand went six from eight on extra and Turkiye three from five. Thailand sent in all five penalty attempts to Turkiye’s one chance. Turkiye outshot Thailand 34-28 and made nine steals to seven.

Bottom Line
Thailand has all-round shooters and some classy players that sets it up well for the final round-robin match on Saturday.

Match 33, MEXICO 13 SOUTH AFRICA 14 (4-3, 2-5, 4-1, 3-5)

In a topsy-turvy encounter, South Africa survived for a second last-gasp victory in the round robin, following Thursday’s penalty-shootout win over Turkiye. It came from 10-9 down at the final break to win the final quarter 5-3.

South Africa shot out to 2-0 only for Mexico to lead 3-2. It was then tied at three before Mia Brondo claimed her third goal with a centre-forward lob for 4-3 at the first break. Brondo was in exceptional form, coming into the match with eight goals, and put away the first two Mexican goals. Sofia Gaytan pushed Mexico out to 5-3 a minute into the second quarter. However, South Africa then took centre stage, scoring the next two on counter with Brondo converting a penalty foul for 6-5 behind. The next three goals came from South Africa and it had an 8-6 advantage at the long break. Seven different players made the sheet for South Africa with Hannah Banks the only double scorer.

Tori Voke became a double scorer with a centre-forward backhand and soon after an apparent South African goal failed to get past VAR. Mercedes Feliciano scored her 10th goal of the week, on penalty, and less than a minute later converted extra while Gaytan levelled the score at centre forward, deserving a punch in the air. South Africa’s timeout was wasted with bad passing and the next score came from Mercedes Feliciano on counter for the 10-9 lead. She had a penalty attempt denied at 2:24, which was the score at the final buzzer.

Alexa de Villiers nailed her second from deep right and Amy Smith made sure of scoring in every match with a six-metre-foul shot to give the lead back to South Africa a minute into the final quarter. The South Africa resurgence continued when Voke netted her third and seventh overall from deep left, forcing a Mexican timeout. No goal ensued and South Africa took a penalty, spraying to the right. Victoria Feliciano converted extra and Gaytan scooped in a centre-forward shot to level the match again. De Villiers lobbed from deep right and Roxy Uys pressured her opponent and stole the ball, spinning on to counter and scoring for 14-12, probably the most important goal of her life and second in Chengdu. Brondo scored on extra from plumb in front at 1:01. South Africa took a timeout, had its shot saved; gained a turnover foul at 26 seconds and then committed an error in shooting with 13 seconds left in possession. It missed and Mexico went to a timeout, sent up its goalkeeper, gained an exclusion but failed to shoot before the final buzzer. South Africa had survived a second match in front.

Match Heroes
Brondo was named player of the match with her five goals to lift her to 13 goals and Gaytan (9) and Mercedes Feliciano (12) scored three each. The real star was probably goalkeeper Alma Luna who made 16 saves. She has been a revelation this tournament. Voke and de Villiers netted three each for the Africans.

Turning Point
Mexico at 5-3; South Africa at 9-6; Mexico at 10-9 and then South Africa at 14-12. So many twists.

Stats Don’t Lie
South Africa threw everything at the goal, including 43 shots to 26. Mexico had the better of extra-man attack with sic from 11 and shutting down South Africa five fives from seven. Mexico gained two from three on penalty and South Africa missed its one chance. South Africa virtually bludgeoned its way to victory.

Bottom Line
South Africa has the experience of tight matches. It showed through today. Mexico could have won but relied on five scorers to South Africa’s nine.

Progress Points

Classification 13-16 Round Robin
Thailand 6, South Africa 5, Turkiye 1, Mexico 0.