The four teams from the top-tier groups made it through the crossovers tonight by beating the leadings four teams from the lower groupings, meaning no change from 2023. Montenegro had the toughest encounter, shrugging off Germany 11-10 in the dying minutes while United States of America bundled out Iran 23-5, Greece was untroubled against China 27-6 and Italy put paid to Australia’s hopes 17-6.
Overview
The winners from Wednesday will now play the first and second teams from the top two groups to see who goes through to the medal round on Friday. This sees Hungary take on Italy, Spain against Montenegro, Croatia playing Greece and Serbia facing USA.
The losers of Wednesday’s matches will have a rest day and play their classification 9-12 semifinals on Friday.
In Groups G and H, where teams are battling for classifications 13-20, they have their final round matches on Thursday. The bottom two teams in each group will contest the classifications 17-20 on Friday while the top teams will play off for classifications 13-16 on Saturday.
Round 1-2 Crossovers
Match 35, IRAN 5 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 23 (1-7, 1-5, 0-3, 3-8)
USA wasted no time in preparing for the quarterfinals with a sudden rush of goals early and competency, control and composure throughout for an illustrious 18-goal margin. It all began with a six-goal stroll through the park that became 10-1 and 12-2 by halftime. It was all downhill from there for Iran as it could not find answers to arrest the roll. Olympian Ryder Dodd scored three of the first six USA goals, including the first two on counter. Fellow senior international Ryan Ohl also scored a pair on counter. Ali Shabanian tipped in a pass to centre forward for 6-1 at 0:15. Kiefer Black made it 7-1 from very deep right on the buzzer. Corbin Stanley converted extra as USA sent in the first three of the second quarter with Mohammadmehdi Jafari slotting one from the top left. Stanley and Black contributed another one each before halftime.
Stanley opened the second half, dragging down a pass to the right post with Ryan Ohl and Max Zelikov taking it to 15-2 before an Iranian timeout. USA had a penalty attempt saved and it was time for the final quarter or “coup de gras”. Connor Ohl stepped up in the final quarter with three goals while Stanley added a fourth to his tally to snare player of the match. Mohammadtaha Samaei and Arshia Abdollahifar were the Iranian scorers in the final period.
Match Heroes
Stanley took his tourney tally to five with four goals today. Ryan Ohl, Connor Ohl, Zelikov, Dodd and Black scored three apiece. Dodd’s total is now 13 in a team where everyone scores. Goalkeeper Baxter Chelsom impressed with 14 saves.
Turning Point
The 6-0 opening quarter that became 10-1 midway through the second quarter, giving USA the match early.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA converted four from five on extra and denied Iran a goal from its two attempts. On penalties, USA sent in three from four and Iran one from one. USA made nine steals to five and shot one less that Iran — 32-33.
Bottom Line
USA was always going to make it through to the quarterfinal no matter the opponent. Now it has the hard task of taking on Serbia for a medal-round berth.
Match 36, CHINA 6 GREECE 27 (2-5, 0-8, 2-6, 2-8)
Greece hammered China into submission with the second quarter where the match was truly decided. Despite a stutter at the penalty line, Greece went 5-0 up with Ilias Angelopoulos producing two goals from two metres. He finished off the scoring in the second quarter as Greece went eight straight with Apostolos Georgaras netting twice and Spyridon Lykoudis gaining a second. China collected the last two goals of the first quarter on penalty, needing a challenge to secure the first opportunity.
China came back with a pair of goals in the third period thanks to Li Chang who found himself free at centre forward and Liu Jinyi on counter. Meanwhile, Greece was on the prowl with Semir Spachits, Nikolaos Giannatos and Ioannis Tottis all gaining their second goals. Angelopoulos converted a penalty for 19-4 and China’s penalty chance was stopped. Five more Greek goals came in three and a half minutes — three on counter. Li Diheng also countered for 24-5 and China netted another while Greece scored the last two via Lykoudis and Angelopoulos who picked up a loose ball to nab his sixth with six seconds left on the clock. Tottis was still upset after the final buzzer because he thought he should have gained the penalty. However, the referee played the advantage and Angelopoulos took the kudos.
Match Heroes
Greece’s Angelopoulos finished with six goals; Lykoudis and Chatzis scored four each. Lazaros Vekris made 12 stops in goal. For China, goalkeeper Hua Zhonghao made nine saves.
Turning Point
The starting whistle.
Stats Don’t Lie
Grece nailed all four extra-man attempts and stopped China on all nine occasions. Both missed a penalty attempt with China converting three and Greece two. Greece stole and incredible 24 to seven and outshot China 48-28.
Bottom Line
Greece was always heading to the quarterfinals. China is not at this level yet.
Match 37, GERMANY 10 MONTENEGRO 11 (2-3, 4-4, 1-2, 3-2)
Germany came close but not close enough as Montenegro maintains its top-eight position and medal hopes are still alive. Montenegro was never headed but did allow Germany to level twice in the second period. Montenegro scored twice to start the encounter on a positive note. Goals were swapped then Germany’s Luk Jaschke screamed in a six-metre-free-throw shot that took the left post, banged into the back of the goalkeeper’s head and into goal for 3-2, the quarter-time score. Tim Perov scored his second to start the next period with the see-sawing effect coming to 5-4 and then 5-5 as Till Hofmann grabbed a double for Germany, equalising the match at five and six. Srdan Janovic scored from six metres to give Montenegro the halftime edge.
Milan Nikaljevic started the third as he began the first, this time from nine metres out. Germany barred out on a penalty attempt and midway through the quarter, Nikola Petrovic scored from centre forward, for 9-6. Finn Taubert pulled one back a minute from the final break. Lennox Metten scored twice catching up Montenegrin goals in the fourth and then twin brother Elias Metten made it 11-10 — just one goal behind. Germany took a timeout at 1:02 and had an excellent shot saved. Montenegro went to a timeout at 0:14 and the shot was saved. The ball was sent upfield, stolen and shot against Germany, to no avail. Montenegro had the match by a goal.
Match Heroes
Montenegro’s Matijasevic and Nikaljevic and Perov scored two each for Montenegro. Goalkeeper Danilo Rajevic pulled in 11 saves. Simic and Lennox Metten with two each. Max Spittank made 12 saves in goal.
Turning Point
Montenegro going three up twice in the final quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Montenegro scored three from seven on extra and stopped five of nine German attempts. Germany scored one of two on penalty; Montenegro edged the steal could at 6-5 and similarly with the total shots — 33-32.
Bottom Line
Germany was trying to break through from the lower tier but it was not to be as Montenegro held sway in the final quarter and maintained its top-eight ranking.
Match 38, AUSTRALIA 6 ITALY 17 (1-3, 3-4, 1-6, 1-4)
Italy collected its first victory in Zagreb, the one that was needed most to make sure it had a quarterfinal ticket. Italy was tidy throughout and made the shots that counted — fast shots, quickly taken to upset to catch the defence unawares. Jake Martin opened for Australia but by quarter time Italy was 3-1 up and both teams missed a penalty chance. Emanuele Marini’s first goal of the second period needed VAR and then Tommaso Cora netted his second on penalty. Goals were traded to halftime with Giorgio Giacomone scoring twice, the second with a centre-forward backhand. The margin was three in favour of Italy.
Marini led a three-goal spurt at the top of the third period before Australia took a timeout to slow the onslaught. However, Alessandro Gullotta scored for Italy, followed by Harry Tucker with his second for the Aussies. The last two goals came up Italy’s way and the margin had burgeoned to eight on the buzzer. Daniel Magasanik scored for his 13th goal and Thomas Lo Re slammed in his third on extra at 5:21 for 14-6. Cora, Lo Re and Giacomone scored the last three Italian goals while the Aussies missed a further two penalty attempts inside the last 90 seconds.
Match Heroes
Giacomone and Lo Re — his first goals of the week — finished with four apiece. Cora snapped in another three for Italy to lift him to 10. Australia’s Tucker was the only double scorer while Oliver Purcell took in nine saves before being switched inside the final quarter.
Turning Point
Italy building a 5-1 advantage that set it up for future quarters.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy was the all-round champ, nailing six from 11 on extra to the Aussies’ three from 15; converting one from two on penalty to Australia’s one from four; 10 steals to five and 42 shots to 35.
Bottom Line
Italy deserves to be in the top eight and showed that today. After all, it only lost to Greece by one, three to Spain and two to Serbia. Today’s success earns a shot at world champion Hungary on Thursday.
Group G Second Round
Match 31, ARGENTINA 8 BRAZIL 14 (3-6, 9-0, 0-3, 5-5)
Brazil won the South American derby by six goals in a match which produced a zero-score quarter, such was the closeness of the teams, fighting for pride and superiority. Alejo Teijeiro opened for Argentina but Brazil banged in the next three goals. Adriana Mazzoni interrupted the Brazilian flow from the deep right just when everyone thought he was going to pass and then Brazil thundered in three more with Andre Freitas and Henrico Martins gaining their second goals. Mazzoni closed the scoring to leave Brazil 6-3 ahead. There were 12 shots in the second quarter without reward with a challenge won and lost by Brazil. Argentinian captain Tobias Deluca was red-carded for a violent action at 6:14, sending him from the pool deck.
The third period opened up for Brazil with Artur Diaz scoring twice — both from centre forward — followed by the 9-3 goal from Carlo Martinelli on penalty. Diaz’s first came off a cross pass from the right. It heated up in the fourth period as Lucas Wulfhorst brought home his second for the match and 14th goal in total. Goals were traded with Teijeiro twice in the mix either side of a Martinelli strike, rocketing in consecutive-attack goals from the top left, seemingly threading the needle. Joaquin Rosso made it 11-6 from the left post before another Brazilian pair pushed it out to 13-6, Martins claiming a penalty goal. Ivan Saavedra grabbed a couple late in the piece, the first with a shot from the top, rising high out of the water and the second two minutes later on penalty. Martinelli scored his hat-trick from the left-hand-catch position for 14-8.
Match Heroes
Martinelli and Martins scored three each with the latter reaching 10 goals for the tournament. Lucas Gomes took in 11 saves in goal to be the real star. For Argentina, Teijeiro notched three goals to take him to 15 while Mazzoni and Saavedra scored two each.
Turning Point
Going from 3-1 to 6-2, gave Brazil the impetus for victory.
Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil was denied all four attempts at extra-man attack with Argentina gaining two from two in the low-fouling match. Brazil, however, nailed all five penalty attempts with Argentina gaining one from one. On steals, Argentina led 8-6 and shots at 35-30.
Bottom Line
Brazil is the bigger powerhouse in South America and showed that today.
Match 32, SINGAPORE 13 NEW ZEALAND 12 (3-1, 1-3, 5-4, 4-4)
Singapore led from start to finish and although the match between the Commonwealth nations was level six times, Singapore did enough, scoring the winner one second from the final buzzer. Singapore was on the front foot from the start despite having the first of three penalty shots stopped by the Kiwis’ Zach Martin. The first two goals came from a six-metre shot and the penalty line before Michael Rodgers hammered in one from centre forward for 2-1 at 0:36. Javier Ng scored on extra in the dying seconds for 3-1 to Singapore at the first break. Jacob Clements and captain Cole Phillips (penalty) levelled for the first time. Goals were traded with Zach Martin stopping his second penalty shot.
Ong opened the second half and it set up a mini roll as Singapore claimed three goals for a healthy 8-5 advantage. Ong and two goals to Jaycus See had the Kiwis reeling. Clements (centre forward) and Rodgers (penalty) responded. Chow and Dodunski swapped goals with Dodunski fumbling the ball and recovering to score a second from the buzzer for 9-8 behind.
Dodunski levelled at the start of the fourth period with Matthias Goh, born 2008, converted a penalty with Dodunski replying for 10-10 from the top left. Ong and Goh scored for a two-goal lead by 2:52. New Zealand crucially lost the ball and Singapore called a timeout at 1:50, on the verge of a historic victory over New Zealand. They hardly meet internationally and this was possibly the first time with Singapore in front. Singapore used the clock. New Zealand worked the ball, gained an exclusion and Rodgers scored at 0:50. Singapore played out the time and New Zealand went to a timeout. The first pass was intercepted and Harry Lambert Irwin re-stole the ball, swam up and scored on counter at 0:16. Singapore went to a timeout and went upfield, drew an exclusion and the free-throw man, Goh, swam forward and scored with one second on the clock for 13-12. The Kiwi shot bounced over the crossbar and the younger Singaporeans were the winners.
Match Heroes
Ong with four goals and three each to Chow and Goh, the ultimate winner. For New Zealand Rodgers banged in four and Dodunski three. Zach Martin made those three penalty saves but only finished with five saves to his record.
Turning Point
By leading 2-0, Singapore maintained the urgency and did not get flustered, even when New Zealand levelled six times.
Stats Don’t Lie
New Zealand nearly controlled the statistics, yet lost. It converted four from six on extra to Singapore’s five from six. New Zealand converted both penalty goals and Singapore two from five. The Kiwis won the steals 13-10 and the shots 30-24.
Bottom Line
Singapore wanted it more and the younger players were fast and sure, especially when it came to shooting. Accuracy outdid quantity with that statistic.
Group H Second Round
Match 33, COLOMBIA 21 SOUTH AFRICA 8 (5-2, 4-4, 6-0, 6-2)
Colombia brought home the goods with a triumphant match over South Africa in the Southern Hemisphere stoush. It was tight in the first half and then Colombia found its stride, packed on the outboard and caught a wave home. Colombia made its mark in the first quarter with a three-goal differential and it could have been higher if a penalty shot had found its mark. Jean Lopez scored twice — the first with a one-two pass on extra at centre forward and the second from a six-metre-foul shot. South Africa responded at 1-1 and 3-2 with a penalty strike and a score off the right-post position. Colombia ripped in the first two goals of the second quarter for a five-goal margin. South Africa won the next stage 4-2 with Timothy Young scoring twice with big shots from outside. At 9-6, South Africa was better placed, although with plenty of work to do. The quarter was squared, South Africa holding off several shots in the dying seconds. One of the best goals came from Juan Zuluaga when he smashed the crossbar, picked up the rebound and scored at the 7-2 mark.
The second half was where Colombia excelled, keeping South Africa scoreless in the third period as six more goals were stacked on with Enrique Olano netting twice. Come the fourth period, South African captain Karabo Mamaregane blasted from the top for the first African goal 10 minutes. Five more Colombian goals assailed the South African goal with Nick Pearce (RSA) converting a penalty at 20-8 and Kevin Perez scoring his third for Colombia to close all scoring.
Match Heroes
Zuluaga and Merino scored three each with the former making it 11 in Zagreb and the latter 10. Goalkeeper James Quintero made 11 saves. For South Africa, Young, Pearce and Connor Flinn scored two each.
Turning Point
The third period. It snuffed any chances South Africa had of a tight finish.
Stats Don’t Lie
Colombia scored an amazing 11 from 13 on extra and stopped one of two South African chances. Colombia missed one of three penalty chances and both chances were scored by South Africa. Colombia led steals at 14-6 and shots at 35-26.
Bottom Line
Colombia was on a mission and proved what it is capable of on the big stage. It was a first win here and justly deserved.
Match 34, CANADA 15 KAZAKHSTAN 11 (3-2, 5-5, 4-3, 3-1)
Canada picked up its third victory in Zagreb after a good start, then a stumble and finally re-gathering to take the lead midway through the second quarter, something it never relinquished. Canada went 2-0 and 3-1 in the first quarter before Kazakhstan snared a lucky second goal when Dauren Ali jumped on a rebound in front to score with five seconds remaining. It was his first goal of the week and not his last as he scored the opener of the second quarter. Captain Nurassyl Satbergen scored from centre-forward on extra for the first Kazakhstan lead. Goals were traded to 5-5 and at 3:16, Nicholas Furneaux buried a shot on extra for the 6-5 advantage that was equalised twice before captain Leo Hachem gave Canada the 8-7 score from the top left at 0:38.
Canada sent in the first two of the third period for 10-7, a healthier margin. With goals traded to the three-quarter-time buzzer, Kazakhstan had the last laugh but was still two down. Aldiyar Akimbay, who scored twice in the second period, scored twice in the third as well. Canadian Ivan Khramtsov scored his third to start the final quarter at 5:44. It was not until 2:29 that Canada struck again, this time through Adriel Oviedo-Ladik with a right-hand slider for 14-10. Deniz Dronin (KAZ) appeared to sweep-arm a shot in from the deep right for 14-11, but at 2:09 it was late in the piece. Hachem beat the buzzer for the 15-11 score at 0:54 and that was it.
Match Heroes
Khramtsov and Hachem scored three each for Canada with Harrison Labrosse again in fine form with 13 saves. Akimbay made it four for the match and 10 for the week for Kazakhstan.
Turning Point
Breaking free from the 7-7 shackles to 10-7 over the halftime break, gave air time for Canada.
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada converted two from five on extra with Kazakhstan making one from two. Kazakhstan scored the only two penalty chances while Canada made seven steals to five and shot only 28 times to 32.
Bottom Line
Both teams came in with two wins and Canada now has three with more in the offing.
Day 6 Schedule
Group G Round 3
Match 39. 09:00. Brazil v Singapore
Match 40. 10:30. Argentina v New Zealand
Group H Round 3
Match 41. 12:00. Group H, South Africa v Canada
Match 42. 13:30. Group H, Colombia v Kazakhstan
Round 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 43. 16:00. Hungary v Italy
Match 44. 17:30. Spain v Montenegro
Match 45. 19:00. Croatia v Greece
Match 46. 20:30. Serbia v United States of America