Spain and Netherlands picked up their second victories and World Aquatics and World Cup champion United States of America lost again during an exciting day of action. Spain downed Greece 14-8; Netherlands sent off Italy 11-8, Hungary defeated USA 12-7 and Olympic silver medallist Australia turned over Israel 15-6.
Overview
It was a moving day for teams with two remaining without a loss and Hungary and Australia collecting a first victory here.
Hungary’s win over USA was probably not the shock of the past as many North Americans are new to this style of play and they did come up against wonder shooter Rita Keszthelyi who at 33 still managed to win the three swim-ups she contested.
Spain continued to show its credentials against Greece, who probably chalks this one up as an “off day”.
Australia rested star player Alice Williams and many newcomers gained valuable international play against the supposedly weaker Israelis.
Match Reports
Match 5, Group A, HUNGARY 12 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 7 (2-1, 5-3, 1-1, 4-2)
Hungary inflicted USA’s second defeat in two days to put the champion on shaky ground heading toward the finals. Hungary has secured victories over USA when the North Americans were in their prime, so knows what it takes to take down this champion combination, no matter how fresh some of the opponents are. Chrissy Flynn opened on penalty for USA and veteran Rita Keszthelyi went on counter for the equaliser a minute later. Dorina Dobi scored from the top on extra at 1:24 to give Hungary the lead before the quarter-time buzzer. USA scored another penalty to start the second period with Kata Hajdu stealing the ball and scoring on counter and Panna Tiba scoring from top right, sending the score to 4-2.
An interesting exchange happened next with Margaret Ryan becoming the third different USA penalty scorer. Keszthelyi had her penalty shot rejected and then was penalty fouled on the rebound, which USA head coach Adam Krikorian challenged. He lost the challenge and Keszthelyi shot again and missed. Tiba swam up to take a penalty shot less than a minute later and had the ball hit the arm and crossbar before regaining and scoring. So much work for 5-3. Malia Allen narrowed it to one before Keszthelyi from the top and Tekla Aubeli found freedom at two metres for 7-4, 11 seconds from halftime.
Goals were traded in the third period as defences shut up shop. In the fourth, Keszthelyi scored twice — on extra and a with a six-metre, free-throw shot — and Tiba went on counter. Flynn scored on extra from the top and Hajdu buried the last on extra from deep left to secure the 12-7 margin.
Match Heroes
Captain Keszthelyi with four goals and Tiba with three for Hungary. Flynn and Maryn Dempsey netted twice and goalkeeper Isobel Williams made nine saves in the post-Ashleigh Johnson era.
Turning Point
The consistency in the Hungarian attack with just the one shared quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary scored only three from nine on extra and USA only three from 10. Hungary missed all three penalty attempts and USA scored its three chances. Hungary shot 35 times to 23.
Bottom Line
Hungary had the experience and the star shooter in Keszthelyi — more than 800 international goals — while USA is still finding its feet with the new roster.
Match 6, Group B, ITALY 8 NETHERLANDS 11 (2-3, 1-1, 4-1, 1-6)
Netherlands had to come up with answers in the final quarter and much to the dismay of Italian head coach Carlo Silipo, the Dutch found a way to break down the Italian defence. The match was tied at one, two, three, four and five in the first half as Italy had to come from behind twice and the Dutch twice for the 5-5 mark. It became 7-7 and 8-8 with four minutes remaining with the Dutch slamming in the last three.
Italy went 2-1 up and Netherlands scored a pair on extra for the first-quarter advantage. Sofia Giustini sent off a quick shot off a cross pass for 3-3 and Marit van der Weijden scored three minutes later from the same position — the only goals of the second quarter.
Chiara Ranalli is relishing her debut at this level, with repeat goals to give Italy the lead again early in the third period. Lieke Rogge sent in a missile off a six-metre shot; Noa de Vries had her penalty attempt slapped down, leaving Italy to score twice before the last break. Silipo successfully challenged a corner award and he looked happy at this point.
Van der Weijden scored twice from outside and Italy’s dominance was challenged. An Italian timeout yielded nothing and Lola Moolhuijzen rifled in a lot shot to give Netherlands the edge. Paola di Maria gained her first international goal at this level following a Dutch turnover for 8-8 at 4:07. When Simone van de Kraats scored off extra form her usual top-right position, Silipo had his hands on his head. Nina Ten Broek snaffled a rebound at two metres and Fleurien Bosveld scored off the right-post position on extra for 11-8. Neither team could add to the score and the Dutch made sure of defence.
Match Heroes
Van der Weijden with three goals for Netherlands. Gant and Ranalli scored twice each for Italy.
Turning Point
Coming from 7-5 behind at the last break to win with a stunning 6-1 last period.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands fired in five from 11 on extra and Italy just two from five. Netherlands missed the only penalty attempt and made three to five on steals. Netherlands shot 34 to 27.
Bottom Line
Netherlands wanted it more, as showed by the final quarter. The Dutch have two wins in the bag and Italy one and needs another against Australia on Thursday.
Match 7, Group A, SPAIN 14 GREECE 8 (4-2, 4-0, 4-3, 2-3)
A 9-1 advantage in the middle of the match was what killed Greece and showed the awesome power of Spain. Greece was not in this match while Spain continued its normal all-conquering ways with its well-defined teamwork, accurate passing and fine shooting. Spain opened with the first two goals and after the Greek coach had a challenge rejected for a corner throw, captain Eleftheria Plevritou converted a penalty foul. Elena Ruiz could not do the same for Spain, having her shot go for a corner. Foteini Tricha and Elena Ruiz swapped goals with Spain ahead 4-2 at the quarter break. Spain kept Greece scoreless in the second quarter and scored four of its own.
Goals were traded at the top of the third quarter; Vasiliki Plevritou scoring on extra from the top for Greece’s first goal in more than nine minutes. Paula Crespi netted both Spain’s early goals in the period for three in total with Elena Ruiz from the deep left and Paula Leiton, steering in an air ball at two metres for 12-3. Greece took a timeout and Eirini Ninou converted the extra-player strategy. It gave some solace to the team and became more energised. Tricha countered to close the period at 12-5. Ninou lobbed and Leiton swept in a centre-forward shot to give impetus to the final quarter. Ninou on extra and Vasiliki Plevritou on penalty made it 13-8, but Ninou’s penalty attempt was saved by the keeper. Spanish captain Bea Ortiz fired in an easy extra-man goal from the left to close the match, five seconds from time.
Match Heroes
Crespi, Elena Ruiz and Leiton scored a triple each and Martina Terre dragged in 12 saves from the goalmouth. For Greece, only Ninou could score three goals.
Turning Point
The 3-0 lead in the first quarter that became 9-2 early in the third.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain went six from 10 on extra and Greece four from 10. Spain missed its one penalty chance and Greece missed one of three. Greece made two steals to one and both teams had 30 shots.
Bottom Line
Greece had an off day and Italy had a blinder, capitalising on Greek mistakes and making it hard to find direct lines to the goal. Both teams were first-day winners.
Match 8, Group B, AUSTRALIA 15 ISRAEL 6 (4-0, 3-1, 4-3, 4-2)
Australia, with its Olympic heritage of gold, silver and two bronzes, proved too hard for Israel. In fact, head Coach Bec Rippon is a bronze medallist from Beijing 2008 and assistant coach Taryn Woods a gold medallist from Sydney 2000. Although only a handful of Aussie Stingers are returning Olympic silver medallists, the basis is there for a new team to take over the mantle of best Down Under. Israel struggled to get into the match, but once there, worked diligently and as seen by its last extra-player movement, the structure worked. Australia went 4-0 in the first quarter with the Andrews players (not sisters) coming good, Charlize Andrews scoring three after Abby Andrews started the Aussie scoring from the penalty line. Charlize Andrews scored off a short drive to centre, from the deep left and then from the top. Danijela Jackovich turned at two metres to open the second-quarter scoring for 5-0. Israeli captain Maria Bogachenko scored a beauty from wide, deep left at 5:33 to get her team on the board. Sienna Hearn on extra and Abby Andrews from deep right had Australia 7-1 up at halftime.
Carmel Rahum screamed in a centre-forward shot from four metres, skipping the ball, followed by three Aussie goals, moving the score to 10-2, three minutes from the third-quarter buzzer. Alma Yaacobi scored a pair of goals either side of a Nioka Thomas centre-forward lob — 11-4 at the final break. Jackovich and Pippa Pedley, for her second, made it 13-4 with Rahum scoring another from the centre position. Goals were traded with another Charlize Andrews strike and Abby Andrews finished off counter at 0:32 for a handsome 15-6 victory.
Match Heroes
Charlize Andrews with five goals and Abby Andrews with three. Claire Durston made 10 saves in goal for the Aussie Stingers. Yaacobi and Rahum scored twice each for Israel.
Turning Point
Right from the opening whistle, Australia had control.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia’s superior extra-player count at seven from nine was impressive but probably more impressive was restricting Israel to two from 11. The Aussies nailed the one penalty shot, made 11 steals to four and shot 26 times to 25.
Bottom Line
Australia has Olympic credentials with a handful of Paris silver medallists in the water while resting star shooter Alice Williams. Israel is regrouping after major roster changes.
Progress Points
Group A: Spain 6, Greece 3, Hungary 3, United States of America 0
Group B: Netherlands 6, Australia 3, Italy 3, Israel 0
Day 3 Schedule
Match 09. 15:00. Group A, Spain v Hungary
Match 10. 17:00. Group B, Netherlands v Israel
Match 11. 19:00. Group A, Greece v United States of America
Match 12. 21:00. Group B, Italy v Australia