First-day action showed that Japan, Croatia, France and Great Britain have the teams capable of making the all-important final in three days’ time. Just making the final qualifies the teams for the World Cup finals in April.
Overview
The first two rounds were played and luckless Portugal was the only team to match its opponent with five levelled scores before bowing to a rampant Croatia 17-9 in the last match of the day. All other matches were wide margins with plenty of scoring.
However, Germany is the only team with two victories — in Group B — and assured of the quarterfinals while Great Britain heads Group A, Japan has the edge on China in Group C and France is up on Croatia in Group D.
Sunday’s third rounds sorts the wheat from the chaff before the bottom four teams head into the crossovers.
Match 1, Group A, GREAT BRITAIN 29 BULGARIA 4 (7-1, 8-1, 6-0, 8-2)
Great Britain looked the complete package against Bulgaria, racing to a 6-0 advantage before gifting a penalty goal to Bulgaria and then claiming its seventh goal before the buzzer. The team was relentless in the second quarter, shooting to 14-1 before Bulgarian Michaela Naneva rocketed in a 9m shot. Great Britain had the halftime score at 15-2.
There was no joy for Bulgaria in the third with Britain’s Toula Falvey picking up her fifth halfway through the period off a cross pass to centre forward. It was her fourth goal from two metres. She scored her sixth as she liked, with a short drive to two metres and then a whopping finish. Katy Cutler grabbed three of her five in the final quarter and Izzy Howe going on counter for her fifth and 29th goal for the team closed that side of the ledger. Valensia Todorova and Pioletina Dimitrova scored in the last 81 seconds to give Bulgaria some inspiration for the upcoming two matches in the group.
Match Heroes
Falvey, with six goals, and Cutler and Howe’s five apiece, scored the majority of the British goals. Jade Smith made seven saves in goal.
Turning Point
The opening 6-0 burst said it all.
Stats Don’t Lie
Great Britain went three from five on extra attack to blocked both Bulgarian chances. Great Britain put away five of its six penalty attempts and Bulgaria one from two. The Britons made 12 steals to four and had 10 more shots at goal.
Bottom Line
Britain is in with a chance and needs to turn it on against Turkiye on Sunday to take confidence into the quarterfinals.
Match 2, Group B, CZECHIA 6 GERMANY 24 (1-8, 3-2, 2-9, 0-5)
Germany notched up an inspirational performance that had Czechia bewildered. However, this happened after Josefina Hola opened the scoring for Czechia from the penalty line. A Belen Vosseberg penalty drew the match level and Germany went on the rampage to 8-1 by the first break with Gesa Deike scoring four different-style goals. From 10-1 midway through the third, Czechia struck back with Hola twice finding openings from the left side and Rosalie Fugnerova converting extra for 10-4 at the long break.
Goals were traded to start the third period with Deike and Hola involved. At 12-6, Jana Stuwe scored consecutive goals at centre forward and her third came up at 18-6 on counter. Deike backhanded in a centre-forward goal for her sixth and 19-6 at the final break. Hola had her penalty attempt rejected and Germany pulled away to 23-6. Jolana Chodlova hit the crowbar with her penalty attempt for Czechia, leaving Deike to throw the final dice for her seventh and 24-6.
Match Heroes
Gesa Deike blasted home seven goals from eight attempts and Vosseberg added five more. Hola made four as captain of Czechia.
Turning Point
Germany going from one down 10-1, which set the scene for the encounter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Czechia converted three of four on extra and Germany two from three. Germany made two from three on penalty and Czechia two from four. The Germans plundered 15 steals to six and shot 36 times to 23.
Bottom Line
Germany has been on the verge of the top world grouping for some time, but lack of international play at that highest level has been a hindrance. This new-look team has the goods to usher in a new era for Germany.
Match 3, Group C, CHINA 20 SOUTH AFRICA 7 (5-2, 5-0, 5-2, 5-3)
China was very consistent with those quarter scores while South Africa struggled to keep up. At 3-2 South Africa was in the hunt, but it became 11-2 early in the third period after Zhou Shang scored twice to lift her tally to three. Consecutive goals to Boati Motau and Tia Caswell — her second — have a little hope. However, China, with Zhang Yumian scoring twice, had the margin at a comfortable nine goals by the final break. South Africa had its best quarter with Hannah Banks nailing a second before being fouled from the match. China rolled on to 20-7 with signs of better things to come.
Match Heroes
Zhou topped the Chinese scoring with four goals while Wang Huan and Nong Sanfeng netted three apiece. Banks was the best for South Africa with three goals.
Turning Point
That first-quarter shift from 3-2 up to 11-2 into the third period.
Stats Don’t Lie
China was perfect on extra-attack with four conversions, denying South Africa its sole attempt. Neither team earned a penalty foul and the steals were relatively even at 4-5 and both teams shot 20 times.
Bottom Line
China has been a leading team and the Paris Olympics experience will put it in good stead.
Match 4, Group D, FRANCE 15 PORTUGAL 4 (4-0, 4-1, 4-1, 3-2)
France showed what Olympians can do. Although only a handful remains from Paris, the French have that history as well as Ema Vernoux and the magnificent Mia Rycraw in goal. In fact, Rycraw was named best in water with her 11 saves and Ema Vernoux scored three goals. Keeping Portugal scoreless until the last minute of the half was where the match was won and lost. Going 8-0 up before Joanna Arromba lobbed on counter for Portugal, gave both teams something to ponder at halftime.
Portugal returned to score on extra through Beatriz Fernandes from the top position and this euphoria was only dulled when she had her penalty attempt saved on the next scoring opportunity. Ema Vernoux scored twice as France edged out to 12-2 by the last break. Lara Andres converted a penalty for France to start the fourth quarter and Iara dos Santos on penalty and Jessica Goncalves on extra from the left, had the score at 13-4. Goncalves had her penalty hit the bar and France fired the last two for 15-4.
Match Heroes
France’s former United States of American citizen and Olympian Rycraw stopped 11 shots in goal. Ema Vernoux made scored three goals while four others scored twice and nine players scoring, in all. Maria Santos was best for Portugal with eight saves in goal.
Turning Point
You can’t give a team eight goals and expect to compete on level terms. France was too good in the first half, although strayed a little in the second.
Stats Don’t Lie
France converted all four extra-play attempts and blocked five of seven. France netted two from three on penalty and Portugal none from three, France stole the ball 10 times to three and shot 31 times to 25.
Bottom Line
France needs to blend the old with the new if it is to progress to the final day in a healthy position. Portugal gets was on a two-match day and will be looking to play well in the bottom-four crossovers.
Match 5, Group A, BULGARIA 6 TURKIYE 21 (1-3, 1-7, 2-6, 2-5)
Turkiye took advantage of being the fresh team while Bulgaria was coming off a 29-4 loss to Great Britain in the opener. At 3-0, it was not a huge lead and Ivet Dimitrova converted the third penalty of the quarter for 3-1 at the first break. Captain Kubra Kus scored five goals in the second quarter to give her six by halftime. Three of these were penalty goals but her activity in front of goal and then from outside was pivotal in Turkiye racking up the goals. The 10-2 halftime lead said much for Turkiye’s determination, especially with its power shooting close in to goal.
Dilara Burali scored twice in the third and Arik Bilge scored a brilliant centre-forward goal. Sadly, for her, she was hammered with a red card for an alleged violent action after the quarter buzzer, meaning Turkiye had to play four minutes one player down. It did not seem to faze Turkiye as Kus and Burali made it a 2-1 score in the suspension period. Kus struck twice again as Turkiye raced to 21-5, giving up an action goal near the end.
Match Heroes
Alif Aydinlik dragged down 10 balls in goal while Kus finished with a day’s-high none goals and Burali three for the victor. Michaela Naneva and Dimitrova scored twice each for Bulgaria.
Turning Point
By being 8-1, as previous teams have found, the chances of coming back are virtually nil.
Stats Don’t Lie
Turkiye nailed two from three on extra and sensationally blocked nine from 10 Bulgarian attempts. Turkiye put away all six penalty attempts while Bulgaria made the most of its three chances with three goals. Turkiye stole the ball seven times to one while both teams had 28 shots at goal.
Bottom Line
Turkiye could be a wild card when it comes to the last day. Bulgaria has plenty to learn at this level.
Match 6, Group B, GERMANY 24 SINGAPORE 8 (8-1, 7-5, 5-1, 4-1)
Germany became the most successful team of the day with two victories and it was built on speed and power as the team rifled in eight goals before a penalty goal put Singapore on the board, 15 seconds from the buzzer. The news was better for Singapore in the second quarter as Ranice Yap scored three goals after two Singapore penalty strikes. It was 10-5 as Yap’s subsequent two penalty goals made it four, before Belen Vosseberg scored a hat-trick in a five-goal German surge for 15-5. Yap’s third on a cross pass to centre forward closed the half at 15-6.
Yap opened the third quarter from the left with Anne Rieck and Vosseberg scoring twice each to take Germany to 20-7 at the final break. Vosseberg scored her sixth to start the final eight minutes and Aylin Fry closed all scoring with a pair for 24-8, the last on counter.
Match Heroes
Vosseberg topped the scoring with six goals and Fry added four more for Germany. Yap took four — two on penalty — for Singapore.
Turning Point
That 8-0 margin again. It’s a killer.
Stats Don’t Lie
Germany made the difference in the match with five from eight on extra to Singapore’s none from one. Singapore relied heavily on its five from five from the penalty line, giving up the one chance for Germany, who made sure of the strike. Germany stole eight to two and showed its supremacy with 38 shots to 13.
Bottom Line
Germany is looking good, although tougher teams are ahead. Singapore can take heart from the third quarter and its ability to draw penalty fouls.
Match 7, Group C, SOUTH AFRICA 5 JAPAN 31 (2-9, 1-7, 0-7, 2-8)
A look at the quarter scores tell the story of this encounter. Japan was fast, not just swimming, but on passing and seeking out the correct person to receive the ball. Dinky dives in front of goal opened up the centimetres needed for pinpoint passes. Japan also took time with the shooting, even with players on the shooter’s back. The 9-2 opener was crushing. Having a 13-goal advantage at halftime was also a powerful message to other teams. There were 10 different scorers by halftime.
South Africa was finding it hard to take shots, let alone score, such was the Japanese. With the likes of Eruma Ura and Hikara Shitara in fine form, Japan was building the scoring strongly. Throw in a goal from legend Yumi Arima at the top of the fourth and Japan has the team to go all the way in Istanbul. Georgina Eccles backhanded a wide ball for 25-4 and Tori Voke snapped in an extra-player goal a second from the final buzzer for 31-5.defence.
Match Heroes
Ura and Shitara claimed five goals each and Maho Kobayashi four as all field players scored. South Africa’s Banks made two before being fouled out.
Turning Point
The infamous 8-0 has everything to do with it.
Stats Don’t Lie
Japan was sublime on extra with eight from eight and restricting South Africa to one from two. Penalty shooting was perfect with Japan gaining two and South Africa one. Japan had the jump on steals at 5-2, but, more importantly, restricted the Africans to 12 shots while sending in 39.
Bottom Line
Japan is good. Don’t be surprised to see it make the final and head to the April finale.
Match 8, Group D, PORTUGAL 9 CROATIA 17 (5-4, 1-7, 1-2, 2-4)
Croatia had to wait all day to see what it could do and started not in the manner it wished. Being two up and then trailing by one, it bounced back to regain the lead at 4-3 only to relinquish it at 5-4 down. A missed penalty goal to close the quarter did not help. However, that seemed to spur the team on as the second quarter was totally different as Croatia rejected a Portuguese penalty attempt and went to the halftime with 11-6 in the bag. What a turnaround! Lara Srhoj, so prominent internationally this year, added another pair to her first-quarter double.
In the third period, Jelena Butic scored from centre forward and Srhoj closed with a conversion of extra, 30 seconds from time to stretch the advantage by one to 13-7. Portugal’s Madalena Lousa scored her second, followed by Carolina Fernandes, both on action, for 14-8, but Croatia sent in the last three for a handsome eight-goal advantage and knowledge it’s in the top echelon in Istanbul.
Match Heroes
Srhoj, with her five goals, and Neli Jankovic with three, headed the Croatian scoring. Lousa with three and Maria Machado with two, starred for Portugal.
Turning Point
The topsy-turvy first quarter by both teams — the closest action of the day — that reaped three level scores. There were two ties in the second quarter, as well, but then Croatia pierced the goal six times for the ultimate turnaround.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia made sure of its four extra-player attempts and shut down Portugal seven times from eight tries. Both went one from two on penalty; Portugal won the steals 6-5 and even took more shots at 25-22.
Bottom Line
Croatia is another dark horse who could make the second half of this whistle-stop tournament a real belter.
Progress Points
Group A: Great Britain 3, Turkiye 3, Bulgaria 0
Group B: Germany 6, Singapore 0, Czechia 0
Group C: Japan 3, China 3, South Africa 0
Group D: France 3,Croatia 3, Portugal 0
Day 2 Schedule
Match 9. 10:00. Group A, Turkiye v Great Britain
Match 10. 11:30. Group B, Singapore v Czechia
Match 11. 13:00. Group C, Japan v China
Match 12. 14:30. Group D, Croatia v France
Classification 9-12 Crossovers
Match 13. 18:00. Group D, 3A v 3B
Match 14. 19:30. Group D, 3C v 3D