Day 10 Schedule

Classification 15-16
Match 31. 09:00. South Africa v Singapore

Classification 13-14
Match 32. 10:35. Australia v China

Classification 9-12 Semifinals
Match 33. 12:10.
Match 34. 13:45.

Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 35. 16:00.
Match 36. 17:35.
Match 37. 19:10.
Match 38. 20:45.

Match Reports

Classification 13-15 Semifinals

Match 26, SINGAPORE 8 CHINA 21 (1-6, 3-6, 1-5, 3-4)

China proved it was much better than this grouping and it should be a classic match against Australia for 13th on Sunday. China shot out to 6-1 at the quarter and doubled that score at halftime. Singapore played hard in the final quarter after being well covered in the third. Singapore converted a penalty in the first quarter but, to its credit, scored three action goals in the second quarter. China was sharper on ball movement and finishing and looked the far more polished team. Five different scorers were used in the first quarter with captain Chen Zhongxian scoring three in the second and two more scorers adding to the tally. Four different scorers made the sheet for Singapore with Shaunn Lok driving in and lobbing for 7-3 down and Wai Chun Fong scoring from two metres. Peng Jiahao netted his second off a centre-forward redirect to close the scoring at 0:38.

Early in the third period, China lost a challenge on penalty but stopped the shot anyway. Chen Zhongxian added two more to his tally and Chen Yimin sent in his second before Jayden See converted extra for Singapore. Wang shovelled in a loose ball at centre forward and Liu Zhilong scored from deep left at 0:43 for 17-5 in what was a quieter third period. In the fourth, Lok scored on counter and Ryan Yap turned outside the right side of the goal to score cross cage for 17-7. Chen Zongxian and a pair to Wen Zijun lifted China to 20-7 by 1:48. Wen Zhe Goh went on counter for Singapore for 20-8 and Liu finished the scoring for China at 21-8 to edge Singapore 4-3 in the last period.

Match Heroes
Chen Zongxian with six goals for China while six others scored two each. Goalkeepers Lee Lee made nine saves and Ken Chou four for Singapore and Lok was the double scorer.

Turning Point
The opening quarter set it up for China.

Stats Don’t Lie
China showed its dominance with 45 shots to 23; 12-3 on steals; three from three and one from two on penalty while converting four from six on extra to Singapore’s two from three.

Bottom Line
China was pressed hard by Singapore and will need to be much more assertive against Australia in the last match. Singapore earned kudos with the eight goals.

What They Said

Match 25, SOUTH AFRICA 4 AUSTRALIA 27 (1-5, 1-10, 2-9, 0-3)

The Aussie Sharks found themselves in uncharted territory when playing for the bottom four. It had not happened since the inaugural World Championships in 1973 when it finished 14th. Coming from such a tough group where it lost to Hungary, Spain and Japan, Australia had a point to prove and after a relatively sluggish start, shot away with the match with that 10-1 margin in the second quarter showing just how good this team can be.

Matthew Byrnes had two goals from the first quarter and scored another two in the second as he became the only player to score twice of the 10 goals. A total of 10 players had scored by halftime with Jacob Mercep joining captain Nathan Power as double scorers. South Africa’s Matthew Neser converted a penalty for 2-1 and captain Dylan Watts sent one down the line from top right for 6-2.

Tristan Glanznig became the 11th different scorer when he scored consecutive goals from the deep-left position to start the third period. Nearly two minutes later he scored from the top on extra for 18-2. Marcus Berehulak scored either side of Matthew Byrnes’ third goal for South Africa. Luka Krstic on penalty and Power from deep left pushed it out to 22-3 with Nathan Ward converting a penalty for the Africans; Power on extra and Nangle on counter finishing the period at 24-4. There was less intensity in the final quarter with some tired passes being intercepted at both ends. Glanznig put away a penalty for his fourth goal and Tim Putt scored from centre forward for his second. A South African timeout yielded a stolen ball and two minutes later Krstic made it three from three from the deep left, for the final score of 27-4.

Match Heroes
Laurence Barker made 10 saves for the Sharks with Power, Byrnes and Glanznig on four goals and Krstic and Berehulak three each. The South African goalkeepers, Matthew Smith (7) and Luka Rajak (4) reaped 11 saves between them.

Turning Point
From 2-1 to 19-2, the Sharks were just too good for this level of competition.

Stats Don’t Lie
Australia was hard pressed on extra, gaining just three from eight with South Africa scoring one from two. Australia gained three and South Africa two penalty goals. The Aussies made 14 steals to six and shot 46 to 25.

Bottom Line
Australia is unlucky to be in the bottom group and shows the chasm between the top 12 and the bottom four.

What They Said