On the final day of the championships at the Dongan Lake Sports Park Spain defeated Greece 11-9 for the gold medal. Hungary took the bronze medal with a 14-13 margin over outgoing champion United States of America; Australia finished fifth in downing Italy 11-10 and Netherlands beat New Zealand 10-7 for seventh place.
Awards
Most Valuable Player
Ariadni Karampetsou (GRE)
Best Goalkeeper
Maria de los Reyes (ESP)
Highest Goal-Scorer
Raksina Rueangsappaisan (THA) — 26
Best Coach
Marian Diaz (ESP)
Media All Star Team
Goalkeeper:
Maria de los Reyes (ESP)
Field Players:
Kata Hajdu (HUN)
Rosalie Hassett (USA)
Ariadni Karampetsou (GRE)
Efstathia Kovatsevits (GRE)
Carlota Penalver (ESP)
Raksina Rueangsappaisan (THA)
Final Placings
1. Spain
2. Greece
3. Hungary
4. United States of America
5. Australia
6. Italy
7. Netherlands
8. New Zealand
9. Croatia
10. China
11. Israel
12. Canada
13. Thailand
14. South Africa
15. Turkiye
16. Mexico
DAY 8 MATCH REPORTS
Classification 1-2
Match 50, GREECE 9 SPAIN 11 (2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 3-2)
Spain threw a spanner in Greece’s works in the third quarter and ripped apart its golden aspirations. By scoring three straight to go from 6-6 to 9-6, Spain held the torch to Greece and went to three goal margins twice in the final quarter as well. It was Spain’s time to rein.
Greece’s Ariadni Karampetsou and Spain’s Carlota Penalver traded goals twice for 2-2 at the first break. These two players have been revelations all tournament and have been standouts in standout teams. Itziar Almeda converted a penalty to start the second quarter for Spain but goals were traded and Karampetsou sneaked in a beauty on lob from the bottom right. Ariadna Temprano scored from the top on extra to take Spain 4-3 up, following by another star for Greece, Efstathia Kovatsevits, converting the penalty for 4-4 at 3:31. Niki Piovan, 11 goals before today, had her penalty attempt saved and at the other end, Margarita Peragon scored her fifth with a nice turn at centre forward for 5-4, the halftime margin.
Almeda charged down the right, spun her opponent and scored for 6-4 at the start of the second half. Asimina Klapsianou whipped out a quick shot while heavily guarded at centre forward and Despoina Drakotou backhanded from the left-post position for 6-6. Greece took a timeout and did not score from the play. However, Spain went mad with Itziar Martinez from the top left; Martina Claveria from the deep right and then Almeda from the same position, sneaking off the goalkeeper’s left for an incredible 9-6 advantage. Three goals in less than two minutes.
Aspasia Fouraki lobbed from wide left to start the final quarter for Greece. Penalver converted a penalty foul and Kovatsevits made the most of extra-man to score from the right-hand-catch position for 10-8 in arrears. Penalver converted extra at 1:48 for 11-8 and the writing was now well and truly on the wall. Kovatsevits scored her 15th goal at 0:28 from the top left, but it was not enough and Greece had to settle for silver.
Match Heroes
Penalver scored four goals in the final to be best in water and Almeda sent in three more for the both of them to finish with 16 goals. Maria de los Reyes was at her brilliant best in goal with 12 saves — 12 gold-medal-winning saves. For Greece Kovatsevits (15) and Karampetsou (14) scored three each and were true leaders in the pool.
Turning Point
Spain’s three unanswered goals late in the third quarter put a new twist on the match.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain scored two from six on extra and Greece two from eight. On penalties, Spain scored all three and Greece missed one of its three — the championship right there. Spain made nine saves to seven.
Bottom Line
Spain was fifth two years ago and won in 2018 and it now equals USA as double winners of this age group. Greece was second in 2022 and third in 2018 while winning the inaugural event in Perth, Australia in 2012.
Classification 3-4
Match 49, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 13 HUNGARY 14 (3-3, 4-2, 2-6, 4-3)
USA blew a 6-3 lead and 13-12 with two minutes left for Hungary to equalise and scored the winning goal at 1:13. For Hungary it meant retaining its third ranking with consecutive bronze medals.
Hungary started with the first and third goals, allowed USA to go ahead 3-2 and then equalised through Kata Hajdu. Zoe Lendvay and Hajdu scored the first two Hungarian goals and Lucy Haaland-Ford, Claire Minton and Rosalie Hassett made the sheet for USA. Sydney Lowell scored a pair to start the second quarter, the first on penalty and the second from the top. Charlotte Raisin took the score to 6-3 from the deep right before Hajdu drilled sent in a bullet from the top on extra and Patricia Kiss scored from the deep left off a cross pass for 7-5. Haaland-Ford had an easy 2m score on extra for 7-5 at 0:29.
The third period was dominated by Hungary scoring through Zoe Lendvay on penalty and Natasa Lendvai on extra. Lowell replied on penalty with Eszter Varro easily turning at centre forward and Natasa Lendvai from the top took Hungary into the lead at 9-8. Allison Cohen responded from the deep right with Hajdu sending in a penalty and captain Panna Tiba firing a last-gasp missile from just inside her half into goal as the buzzer sounded. VAR backed up the goal and Hungary was 11-9 heading into the final quarter.
Hungary missed what seemed like an easy counter-attack with USA goalkeeper Keri Glad shadowing all the way and claiming the ball at the top of the final quarter. This led to a three-goal burst for USA with Hassett scoring either side of an Amber Nowaczek counter goal. USA was 12-11 ahead. Zsofi Horvath scored her second goal of the week and most important from two metres. Hassett replied to regain the lead. Zoe Lendvay converted extra at 1:46 for 13-13. USA immediately went to a timeout. No goal and Hajdu went on counter for her fifth goal and 14-13. USA attacked and at 36 seconds hit the crossbar. Hungary controlled and shot at the end of possession with Glad tipping the ball over the line, denying USA a chance to have a final shot. Hungary controlled the ball for the seven seconds and took home the bronze medal.
Match Heroes
Hajdu was the undoubted star with her five goals that lifted her tally to 22. Zoe Lendvay scored three for 10 and Natasa Lendvai boosted her tally to 16 with two goals today. For USA, Glad made a terrific 13 saves and nearly helped her team across the line. Hassett has been good all week and her four goals lifted her to 12 goals while Lowell scored three for 11. Cohen finished with 14, including seven against Australia.
Turning Point
Many but the most telling was Hajdu’s counter-attack goal at the end. It was dominant and made a statement that reverberated around the stadium.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary went three from 10 on extra and defended four from five. Both teams fired in four penalty goals and Hungary made five steals to two. It also shot 39 times to 27.
Bottom Line
USA is a two-time champion (2014 and 2022). Hungary was the silver medallist in 2012 and won bronze in 2014 and 2022. For USA, it is the second time in recent months that a team has lost its No 1 ranking and finish fourth. The senior women did this at the Paris Olympic Games.
Classification 5-6
Match 48, AUSTRALIA 11 ITALY 10 (3-2, 4-4, 3-1, 1-3)
Australia survived a last-quarter scare when Italy scored three consecutive goals and had the final shot blocked to secure fifth place with a one-goal victory.
Australia played for this position in 2022, losing to Spain16-12. Italy lost to Hungary 9-5 in the bronze-medal encounter.
Today, Australia went to a 2-0 lead, only to have it nullified and then the lead regained for 3-2 at the first break. Sienna Owen scored her sixth and seventh goals of the week after Jemma Potts started proceedings. Beatrice Cassarra and Bianca Rosta, both scored their 11th goals on extra for Italy. Cassara and Potts traded goals at the start of the second quarter with the Italian’s goal, fortuitous, snapping in a rebound. Aussie captain Chelsea Isaac gained her 11th goal on action from the top left for 5-3. Theresa Lombardo went on counter and lobbed for 5-4. Bless Daly responded from wide left and then Italy shot back with two goals — Malika Bovo from the top and Cecilia Grasso on counter with a cool, calculated turn and shot — her ninth goal. With 17 seconds on the clock, Australia went forward, gained the exclusion and passed to Christina Digiandomenico at two metres to score ahead of the halftime buzzer for 7-6.
Potts started the third quarter, passing to the right, driving in to the right post, accepting the return pass, to score for 8-6 at 7:42. It was her third goal and eighth for the tournament. Italy took a timeout and the shot was saved, sending Australia on counter with Potts finishing for 9-6. On the next Aussie attack, Australia gained a penalty foul and Saskia Dunn put away her ninth goal for an incredible 10-6 differential. Italy snapped back through Rosta with her second goal on extra, 40 seconds from the final break.
Cassara and Rosta scored their 13th goals to bring the difference to two by 5:47 in the fourth period. Italy had better chances to score but could not find the right spot as the match moved to 2:41 when Australia went to a timeout. No goal and inside the final minute, Italy went on attack, gained the extra and scored from deep left to Matilde Gallettini. Australia went on attack and failed to do enough, leaving Italy on attack. The Italian timeout was called at six seconds from time and eventually, Italian goalkeeper Olimpia Sesina swam up and shot, only for the ball to be blocked by the last defender in front of goal, giving Australia the victory.
Match Heroes
Australia’s Potts with her four goals and she was named player of the match. She finished with nine goals, two behind captain Isaac with 11 and one behind Dunn on nine. For Italy, Cassara and Rosta scored three each and 13 for the week. Emma Bacelle did not score today but finished with 10 and Grasso tallied nine. Sesina was wonderful again with 11 saves.
Turning Point
Australia surging from 7-6 to 10-6 in the third period.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia scored three from six on extra and denied Italy seven of 10. Australia converted the only penalty foul and Italy stole four balls to three. Italy had three extra shots than Australia.
Bottom Line
Australia deserved the victory because of being equalled three times but never headed throughout. It has yet to medal, finishing fourth as the best result in 2018. Italy has won silver and bronze at this level with the best finish losing to Spain in 2018.
Classification 7-8
Match 47, NETHERLANDS 10 NEW ZEALAND 7 (3-3, 1-2, 4-2, 2-0)
As in 2022, Netherlands defeated New Zealand for seventh place with this result far better than the 18-8 in Belgrade. This was a match that New Zealand threw away with two bungled counter-attacks and wayward shooting in the final quarter marring what had been a fantastic performance from the team Down Under. New Zealand made all the plays to 7-6 and was even 6-4 ahead in the third quarter.
The match was all about catch-up with the Kiwis setting the pace, scoring, only to watch Netherlands equalise. This happened to 3-3 at the first break and 4-4 before Holly Dunn grabbed her third to give New Zealand the halftime edge. On the other side of the ledger, Tatum van der Elst was scoring her sixth and seventh goals in Chengdu as Netherlands battled to stay in the contest.
After Bianca Pennington brought up New Zealand’s sixth goal from the top left, the break had been made. However, the Dutch were stoic and Marjolein de Gier scored her first goal of the week from the top on extra and Kiara Heerink, who scored the 3-3 goal for the Dutch, made it 6-6 on extra. Tallulah Goldsworthy buried a shot for the 7-6 Kiwi lead at 4:18, but Iris Vreeling, another first-time scorer, drilled one from the deep left for 7-7 and Tess van der Meer stood up at the top for 8-7 just before the final break.
Bryant had her penalty attempt blocked by Caitlin van Leeuwin early in the fourth period. Both teams called timeouts to no avail and at 1:41, Heerink found herself free on the left to score for a two-goal advantage. New Zealand had trouble finishing, especially on those counter-attacks and then sending balls high when earlier they were finding the net. The Dutch took a second timeout and set Heerink to hammer in the final nail for her fourth and 10-7. A Kiwi timeout at 0:43 reaped nothing and it will rue a lost opportunity.
Match Heroes
Heerink was named best with her four goals to top her team with 11. Van der Elst scored twice for seven overall and van der Meer’s one took her to nine. Van Leeuwin was again sensational in goal with 10 saves. Dunn (above) claimed three for the Kiwis to top her team with 11 while Bryant finished with 10.
Turning Point
Van der Meer’s go-ahead goal late in the third quarter that set Netherlands on the path to victory.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted three from nine on extra and shut out four of New Zealand’s five attempts. New Zealand managed two from three on penalty and took seven saves to four, although the Dutch shot 29 times to 25.
Bottom Line
New Zealand had the team to win and if the impetus of the first three quarters could have been maintained in the fourth, the result could have been different. Netherlands departs with the same placing as two years ago and two down on 2018. Its best result was fourth in 2016. New Zealand stays eighth with its best result being sixth in 2012.