Overview

In Group 1, Spain and Netherlands are the leading teams here and their wins were possibly expected. Spain had to break free from an 11-11 deadlock halfway through the final quarter for its victory over the Aussie Stingers while Netherlands was three up at the final break and only gave up the last goal a second from time. These teams have qualified for the finals series.

In Group 2, the huge talking point was USA’s implosion in the final quarter, allowing Italy to go 6-0, letting through the winner 17 seconds from the buzzer. Hungary was luxuriating in its shootout victory over Spain the day before, admirably managing its 18-9 margin over Israel. Two of these teams will qualify for the finals series.

Match Reports

Group 1 Series (Classification 1-4)

Match 15, NETHERLANDS 11 GREECE 10 (3-3, 3-1, 4-3, 1-3)

Image Source: Simone van de Kraats (NED) passes while Eirini Ninou (GRE) defends/Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

The result makes it look closer than it really was as the Dutch had the match in hand at most stages. Netherlands started through veteran captain Sabrina van der Sloot and the Dutch set the pace with Greece equalising three times. This was broken in the second quarter as two Dutch goals, including a rebound score from the left post by Nina Ten Broek, took the score to 5-3. Greek captain Eleftheria Plevritou lobbed from the top right and van der Sloot sent in a rocket from the top for 6-4 by halftime.

Van der Sloot scored from the top again, on extra, to start the second half and goals were traded to 9-6. Vasiliki Plevritou had her penalty attempt swatted down. Soon after, Maria Myriokefalitaki converted a penalty, which was unsuccessfully challenged by the Dutch coach, Eve Doudesis. Simone van de Kraats snaffled her third goal on extra from deep right to have the Dutch 10-7 ahead at the final break. Goals were swapped and Myriokefalitaki brought Greece within two when she ploughed one in from centre forward. Both teams called timeouts, but it was only Greece who made the connection with Eirini Ninou finishing off extra man, just before the final buzzer, to lose by one.

Match Heroes
Van der Sloot
and van de Kraats grabbed three apiece and goalkeeper Britt van den Dobbelsteen snared 11 saves. Athina Giannopoulou, Ninou and Myriokefalitaki scored twice each for Greece. The goalkeepers had 10 saves between them.

Image Source: Maria Patra (GRE) and Nina Ten Broek (NED)/Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

Turning Point
By scoring first, Netherlands controlled the match, fended off three equalisers and went on to victory.

Stats Don’t Lie
The Dutch sent in four from six on extra and Greece could not manage to score its sole foul. Greece scored two from three on penalty; Netherlands stole the ball eight times to three and took 32 shots to 31.

Bottom Line
There is very little between these top four teams and Greece proved that by coming back from 10-7 down at the last break. Netherlands protected its lead throughout.

Match 16, SPAIN 14 AUSTRALIA 11 (3-3, 5-0, 3-7, 3-1)

Image Source: Nona Perez (ESP) passes over Charlize Andrews (AUS)/Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

Spain still has the edge over Australia, having won the Olympic final 11-9 and now winning this encounter by three goals. Although the match was tied at three in the first quarter, a solid march and five goals to none in the second made a huge difference to the nature of the clash. Now it became tactical with Spain wishing to maintain that gap and Australia having to try and bridge the gap. Alice Williams had a pair in the first five minutes with the second a buzzer-beater off her back at the six-metre mark. Elena Ruiz missed a penalty chance but scored her 12th goal of the tournament from deep left for Spain. Elena’s older sister Ariadne Ruiz converted a penalty foul and scored from deep right with her left arm for 6-3. Nona Perez collected her second and centre forward Paula Leiton backhanded from outside the left upright for 8-3 by halftime.

With Williams starting the ball rolling in the third period, goals were traded until 11-6. The Aussie Stingers then put the foot down on the accelerator and scored four unanswered goals with Abby Andrews netting her second; Hayley Ballesty smashing in a pair on extra and Williams also taking advantage of the extra player for 11-10 at the final break. The Aussie impetus continued in the fourth period as Charlize Andrews slipped one in from the bottom left at 6:08. Australia’s 7-3 third quarter was well earned. Equalising in the last was paramount to what would come. Two minutes after Charlize Andrews’ equaliser, Spanish skipper Bea Ortiz converted a penalty foul. Australia took a timeout to no avail and Paula Prats sat up to score from the top left at 1:25. Australia’s last meaningful attack had a centre-forward-seeking pass slip by. Spain went on attack and Leiton was left alone four metres from goal, plumb in front, finishing off the extra play at 0:23 for a three-goal victory.

Image Source: Ariadne Ruiz (ESP) defends Hayley Ballesty (AUS)Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

Match Heroes
Leiton
led the Spanish scoring with three as another eight players made the sheet. Williams snared five goals — the same as the Paris Olympic final.

Turning Point
The second quarter was where this match was won. Australia’s heroic third quarter needed to be repeated in the final quarter.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted two from four on extra and Australia five from 11. Spain missed one of its three penalty attempts and Australia gained one. The steals were even at seven and Spain shot more at 29-22.

Bottom Line
Spain needed to rebound from Wednesday’s loss to Hungary in shootout. The point was made with a superb second quarter. Australia needs more consistency.

Group 2 Series (Classification 5-8)

Match 13, HUNGARY 18 ISRAEL 9 (6-4, 5-0, 3-3, 4-2)

Image Source: Bibor Pogonyi (HUN)/Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

Hungary did what it needed for the harder matches to come and qualify for the finals. It came after a spirited first quarter and then the damage was done in the second with Hungary ripping in five goals to nil for 11-4 at the halftime mark. Tekla Aubelie scored the first two goals for Hungary while the next double scorer was Dorina Dobi on extra at the top of the second quarter. Four new shooters came to the party for Hungary.

Israel was back to its best in the third period with Alma Yaacobi scoring from deep left and at centre forward on extra. It was a very slow quarter as a coach’s challenge for alleged violence led to six minutes of consultation before a decision was made. Natasa Rybanska scored her second, as did Vanda Baksa for 14-6. Dobi opened the fourth period and Maria Bogachenko responded on penalty. Goals were traded and Bibor Pogonyi scored twice inside the last 92 seconds with Israel missing a penalty attempt, 22 seconds from full time.

Match Heroes
Dobi
top-scored for Hungary with three while 10 others made the scoresheet. Yaacobi (ISR) also scored three.

Image Source: Kata Hajdu (HUN) and Ronny Gazit (ISR)Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

Turning Point
The 5-0 second quarter that shook off Israel’s fine first-quarter effort.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary slotted six from nine on extra and defended six from eight. Hungary scored its one penalty chance and Israel one from two. The steals went the way of Israel 6-2 and Hungary nudged out Israel 27-26 on overall shooting.

Bottom Line
Hungary was coming off a euphoric victory over Spain and now has three consecutive victories with just the first-day loss to Greece on the record. Hungary is setting itself to make the finals and is one match short of doing so.

Match 14, ITALY 13 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 12 (3-5, 1-4, 3-3, 6-0)

Image Source: Adam Krikorian (USA) watches from the stands/Sia Karekla/World Aquatics

USA handed over a five-goal advantage to gift Italy a last-gasp victory and deny its team the luxury of a first win at this tournament. As it is, the defending champion is now without a win from four outings. USA was so close to going to a shootout, but its last-minute goal was denied through lack of time, leaving Italy open to find the winner. The coaching reins were in the hands of Molly Cahill, long-term assistant to Adam Krikorian, who was sitting high in the stands, fulfilling a suspension for a red card the day before.

Italy started with two goals, had the 3-1 margin after five minutes only to watch as USA put together its best run of the tournament with four straight goals in a little more than two minutes. Jovana Sekulic scored twice from two metres, turning for the first goal and then tipping in  a pass for her second. Chiara Ranalli scored her 10th goal of the week when she converted a penalty to start the second quarter in favour of Italy. Once again, USA went on a four-goal binge with Maryn Dempsey scoring twice from the deep-right-hand-catch position to give her three by halftime. Italy was out of the picture at 9-4 down.

The momentum shifted slightly in the third as Italy scored off a Morena Leone centre-forward drive and Dafne Bettini ripped one in from seven metres for 9-6 in arrears. Dempsey converted two penalty goals, the second against a field player as goalkeeper Giuseppina Condorelli refused to stay on her line and was sent back three times, earning an exclusion. Bettini and Dempsey traded goals for 12-7 at the final break. Italy had not made any inroads. Bettini scored from the penalty line to start the final quarter and head coach Carlo Silipo — a 1992 Olympic champion — successfully challenged a wrestling match which gave Italy a continuation of an earlier extra-man play. Beatrice Cassara converted and Lucrezia Cergol did the same a minute later for 12-10 behind. Bettini struck from seven metres and Agnese Cocchiere shovelled in a goal from centre forward after having to turn at least 100 degrees. Suddenly, it was 12-12 at 3:03.

USA took a timeout at 1:00 and had a shot score from the deep right at 0:44. VAR was used to see if the ball was still in hand at the zero-possession mark. It was deemed to be — but only by the barest of margins — and the goal disallowed. Italy gained an extra play and Sofia Giustini went cross cage from the right-hand-catch position at 0:17. USA had two shots, which were blocked and Italy had escaped by the skinniest of margins.

Image Source: Maryn Dempsey (USA)/Marilia Vasilkopoulou/World Aquatics

Match Heroes
Bettini
with five goals was Italy’s star. Dempsey relished the chance to shoot for six goals and captain Amanda Longan saved eight shots in goal.

Turning Point
Italy turning a five-goal deficit at the final break into a one-goal winner. Full point.

Stats Don’t Lie
Italy worked hard for six goals from an awesome 18 chances, meaning USA defended 12. USA put away four from seven. Italy scored both penalty shots and USA missed one from three. The steals went the way of Italy 5-4 and overall shots gave Italy a huge differential at 36-23.

Bottom Line
If only USA could have maintained the momentum when so far ahead. The Italian experience shone through when needed and a bigger fish to fry is Hungary in the second day of this series.

Progress Points:

Group 1: Spain 3, Netherlands 3, Greece 0, Australia 0.
Group2: Hungary 3, Italy 3, United States of America 0, Israel 0.

Day 5 Schedule

Group 2 Series (Classification 5-8)
Match 17. 15:00. United States of America v Israel
Match 18. 17:00. Hungary v Italy
Group 1 Series (Classification 1-4)
Match 19. 19:00. Greece v Australia
Match 20. 21:00. Spain v Netherlands