Greece will play Hungary for the gold medal of the women’s water polo competition on Wednesday following semifinal matches at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on Monday. Greece beat outgoing champion United States of America 14-10 and Hungary pushed aside Olympic champion Spain 15-9 after leading 11-4 at halftime.
Day 13 Schedule
Classification 7-8
Match 45. 16:00. Japan v Italy
Classification 3-4
Match 47. 17:35. United States of America v Spain
Classification 5-6
Match 46. 20:00. Australia v Netherlands
Classification 1-2
Match 48. 21:35. Greece v Hungary
Overview
In the first medal semifinal, World Cup champion Greece dethroned world champion United States of America 14-9 in a close match in which Greece swam away with the final quarter 5-2. In the second semifinal, Hungary swam roughshod over Olympic champion Spain, winning 15-9.
In the semifinals for classification 5-9, Australia overcame Japan 21-17 in a haphazard match where 23 goals came in the first half. Netherlands then survived a violence foul to defeat Italy 16-13.
In classification matches, China reversed the result of last year's Doha 9th-10th play-off, beating New Zealand 10-6. Great Britain defeated France for the second time after day-one round play, to take out 11th position.
Match Reports
Classification 1-4 Semifinals
Match 44, HUNGARY 15 SPAIN 9 (6-2, 5-2, 3-2, 1-3)
Hungary totally stunned the Olympic champion Spanish team in every corner of the pool, especially in the first half as the quarter scores attest. Spain was left floundering after scoring the opening goal and then getting the second at the end of the period when already 6-1 behind. The best goal of the night was when Dorottya Szilagyi lit up the night, grabbing a loose ball way inside her half and, sitting up, she launched a long shot into the Spanish goal with the goalkeeper flailing backwards. It wasn’t much better for Spain in the second quarter as the same scenario unfolded. Paula Crespi started for 6-3 on extra then four Hungarian goals excited the crowd, followed by Elena Ruiz from the top and a reply from Hungarian skipper Rita Keszthelyi 10 seconds from time for 11-4.
Hungary hammered the nails into the coffin in the third period with Vanda Valyi, Keszthelyi and Valyi again lifting the score to 14-5 with the only joy for Spain being captain Bea Ortiz’s delicate lob from top left into the Hungarian goal. Paula Prats closed the third period for Spain, but with one quarter left, eight goals was a long way to come back from.
Ortiz made the first goal, only for Szilagyi to counter for 15-7 with just over five minutes remaining. Elena Ruiz threw her third and Hungary went to a timeout but the shot was soft. It was more about slowing the match and start relaxing with thoughts now turning to the gold-medal match. A win here secures a medal of one of two colours. The final goal went to Paula Camus at centre forward for 15-9, not enough to have a chance for the ultimate prize. It will mean resetting for the bronze-medal clash with USA.
Match Heroes
Szilagyi and Keszthelyi headed the scorers with three each for Hungary. Goalkeeper Boglarka Neszmely was best in pool with 14 saves. For Spain Elena Ruiz scored a hat-trick and Ortiz two.
Turning Point
The only one worth mentioning is Hungary coming from one down to hitting the stratosphere.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary won this match on extra, converting wight from 11 and then crushing Spain by defending 11 of 13. Hungary scored the only penalty goal, lost the steals 7-3 to Spain and the shots — 38-33.
Bottom Line
There was one hungry team out there, one that had done its homework and one that implemented the game plan with aplomb. It was Hungary.
What They Said
Boglarka NESZMELY (HUN) — Player of the Match
On the result:
“I feel amazing, and I want to say thank you to my team-mates and my coach, because we played really good. We prepared really good, because we know that the Spanish team are a really, really good. We gave our 100 percent every second of this game.
“It was a perfect win from us. Our team, we played really, really good water polo. We did what the coach said, so thanks to my team-mates, thanks to my coach and to everybody who helped us. I’m so blessed to be a part of this team because it’s a huge thing for us, reaching the final. Our team is basically a new team and we have a lot of young players, including me, so it’s a huge thing for us. It means everything because Hungary is a water polo nation and I’m so thankful.”
On making so many important saves:
“Honestly, I don’t know how I did it. I prepare every single match with this warming up, with this mindset, so I don’t know. I just watched the ball every single second in the game and saved them.”
On playing Greece in the final:
“It will be a tough game, as it was in the group stage, because Greece is a really good team. We prepared really well in the group matches, so we will be focused. Tonight, we rest and tomorrow we prepare.”
Anni ESPAR (ESP) — Captain
On what went wrong:
“I think especially the start of the game wasn’t great, and we weren’t able to come back. I think things weren’t working in offence, but then one of the things, one of the strengths of this team is the defence, and it wasn’t our day either.
“We need to start stronger, especially in a semifinal game. If you’re not connected since the first minute, it’s very hard to win a game.”
On Spain’s next match:
“Obviously, now we need to learn from the mistakes and focus on the next game. We’re still fighting for a medal, so we’re gonna give our best and keep learning, keep growing as a team.”
Match 43, GREECE 14 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 10 (2-2, 4-3, 3-3, 5-2)
World Cup champion Greece had too much firepower and experience for world champion United States of America even though the young North Americans played an expansive and consistent game. Greece was sharper and its combinations have been honed over many years while USA is just starting its LA 2028 campaign with a new look. To be playing for bronze will be a just reward for this team. For Greece, it is confirmation of its World Cup win in April and who knows what what colour of medal it will gain on Wednesday night — gold or silver?
There was a high-energy start to the match with Emma Lineback squeezing in the first goal from deep right at 6:43. The scene was set for a cracker of a match and both teams struggled to score again in the next five minutes or so and multiple flying substitutions had to be made. The dam was broken when Eleftheria Plevritou, the Greek captain, smashed one in from the top at 0:07. However, USA head coach Adam Krikorian quietly dropped the green challenge flag into the pool. VAR was consulted and it seemed a penalty should have been awarded at 1:02. So it was. The goal was scratched and the clock rewound. Jenna Flynn took the penalty and scored for 2-0 instead of the 1-1 score. However, Greece was unperturbed and Stefania Santa rifled one in from the top right and at 0:11, Eleftheria Plevritou advanced down the right, received the ball from the right and converted for 2-2.
Emily Ausmus opened for USA in the second quarter, bouncing the ball down the left. Vasiliki Plevritou replied on extra from the left post and on the next attack, Eleni Xenaki slid to her left at centre forward, turned and lobbed over the advancing goalkeeper for 4-3. Foteini Tricha accepted a long cross pass to the bottom left and bounced the ball into goal for 5-3. Three goals in two minutes! USA gained a penalty foul and Ryann Neushul converted. Greece called for a challenge on an earlier incident for no joy. Greece scored on counter with a long cross pass to Xenaki at the left post for 6-4. USA challenged an earlier non-call and lost. Ava Stryker converted a penalty for USA to narrow the score at 0:49. Greek head coach Haris Pavlidis was yellow-carded before the shot. No further goals came before halftime.
Ausmus and Neushul tipped the balance in USA’s favour with the opening goals of the third period. Maria Myriokefalitaki with a superb centre-forward turn when heavily guarded, levelled at seven. Jewel Roemer scored from deep left on extra for 8-7. Maria Patra countered at 4:09 and Santa did the same at 2:29, goals which took Greece to 9-8.
Greece stretched its lead to two through Santa on extra — cross cage from the right — but on the next attack, Lineback pierced the bottom right from deep right for 10-9. A USA timeout ended up with a blocked shot. Xenaki produced another gem from centre forward on backhand with the ball arriving precisely at her favoured left hand. Vasiliki Plevritou made it 12-9 from the deep right at 2:35; 13-9 from right-hand-catch at 1:38 and from the deep left again at 0:46 when all the focus was on the other side of the pool, taking her rto four goal. It was 14-9 in Greece’s favour and USA closed all scoring through Roemer from the top right at 0:26 for what was the final score of 14-10.
Match Heroes
Vasiliki Plevritou with her four goals and triple in the last quarter. Santa and Xenaki had three each for Greece. Ioanna Stamatopoulou dragged in 12 saves with most of those when it really mattered when the match was close.
Turning Point
Greece stealing the lead in the second quarter; USA taking it back in the third and giving it back from which Greece did not relinquish.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece made three from 10 on extra and USA one from five. USA put away its three penalty chances. Greece made six steals to one and shot 39 to 31.
Bottom Line
Greece has the form with this team. USA will have the form with this team in the not-too-distant future.
What They Said
Eleftheria PLEVRITOU (GRE) — Captain
On the match:
“It was amazing today. We played really good. My team is ready for the final, ready for the gold. At the beginning, it was just the attack that we were stuck a little bit. We couldn’t score. That’s why, I think the score was close. Until the third quarter, it was close. After that we woke up in the scoring, because we have really good shooters. We played amazing in the last minutes. We controlled the game with the time. We were in front by three goals, and we also raised that to four goals. I'm proud of my team, and we are ready for the gold.”
On making the final:
“I think it was like a curse, if I can say that. We had a great team, great players throughout the years, but I think what was missing was that we didn’t believe in ourselves. We didn’t have the confidence that we needed. After the gold medal in the World Cup a few months ago in China, I think we gained that confidence that helped us to come here more strong, with a clear mind, that we know that we can do and I think we did it. Of course, we have one more game, the most important, but I’m really proud of my team. I’m sure that we will fight for the gold until the last seconds.”
On Greece’s approach for the final:
“Yeah, it will be a really tough game. Of course, both of them are great teams. I don’t like to choose any of the teams. I don’t care, because it’s all about my team, how we will perform. We’ll see who is going to be our opponent, but we focus more on our performance, what we do, what we do wrong, what we do correct, to do it again. I think this is the key for my team, that we always do our best, because it has to do with our performance, how we will play in every game.”
Eirini NINOU (GRE) — Athlete
On Greece’s first World Championship final since 2011:
“We were really excited about this game and we’re really satisfied with this game, because we played really good and we’re really happy for that. We’re really proud also that it’s our first final since 2011 and we’re really looking forward to go and win the gold medal. That was our target from the beginning of this tournament, but we were just going step by step. We’re really proud, and we hope we do the same or have a better game in the final.”
On the match:
“America is a really good team. They’re almost always in the final four in every World Championship. We knew that we were playing against a team that is really experienced and is playing really hard, good shots, really fast. We practised for that because we knew we were going to play with the United States, and our defence was the star of the game.”
On Greece’s defence:
“I feel like we were unstoppable. Our blocks, how we were playing with each other, we're trying to help each other. I think that was the key. But I can also say that our offence made us play that good defence.”
On the team’s attitude:
“From the beginning, we were trying to be as concentrated as possible, because it’s a really difficult game. There were many people, it was really noisy, so we have to stay concentrated and focused on our game. But we came here and we said we’re gonna win. Today, we’re not gonna lose this match.”
On consistency this season:
“This is what we want. We didn’t want to win a World Cup and then just go down. We’re really happy that we keep going, and we’re going higher and higher, because last year, the World Championship in Doha finished with some really bad emotions that we didn't want to feel again (Lost 10-9 to Spain in the bronze match). We're really proud for us.”
Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) — Head Coach
On the team’s performance:
“I’m proud of the effort. We gave it everything we had today. At the end of the day, the Greek team were just incredible. They’re much better than we are right now, I think that’s clear. Our inexperience and inability to handle some physicality and disorganisation offensively that led to some easy goals for them – that’s their strength, their ability to use their speed and score on the counter-attack.”
Amanda LONGAN (USA) — Captain and Goalkeeper
On the match:
“We started the game well. Defensively, we’re getting a lot of field blocks; we were funnelling the ball where we wanted to. But as the game wore on, Greece played different styles of defence. Offensively, we weren’t attacking quite like we wanted to, which hurt us in transition. There’s a lot of areas for improvement. (There were) definitely little wins in the moments, being able to come back from being down at times, but we just have to regroup, reset and think about what we can do better next time.
“You can look at some good opportunities that we created that we missed, but the opponents did play well. They beat us in areas where we didn’t see and you have to give it to them.”
On the last quarter:
“We were eager to get back into it. It was a one-goal margin, so we were eager to get back and play some offence. But we just needed to be smart about what we were doing with the ball and protecting the goal a little bit more. We were almost a little too excited, if you will. I admire my team’s fight the whole way through the match. I can’t say they ever fell asleep by any means. I thought we all fought and fought hard. We just needed to put some more puzzle pieces together.”
Classification 5-8 Semifinals
Match 42, ITALY 13 NETHERLANDS 16 (2-6, 4-2, 3-5, 4-3)
Netherlands survived a violence foul in the third period to beat Italy by three goals. Before the foul, the Dutch were six and then four goals ahead. During the penalty and four minutes of suspension time, the Dutch heroically levelled the scoring at 2-2 and even gained four exclusions. Italy was resilient and dug deep to bring the match to within one goal with four minutes remaining but could not force a shootout.
The Dutch fired in the first three goals, allowed two Italian incursions and slotted three more and missed a penalty attempt. It was an excellent start for the Dutch at 6-2 with Lieke Rogge scoring twice. Kittlylynn Joustra went on counter to start the second period and it was looking good for the Dutch at 7-2. Italy awoke from its slumber with Gaia Gagliardi with a centre-forward backhand, Chiara Ranalli from penalty and Lucrezia Cergol on extra made huge inroads to the deficit. Vivian Sevenich and Sofia Giustini traded goals for an 8-7 Dutch lead at halftime.
Netherlands smashed in four goals to elevate the score to 12-6 before Italy called a timeout to arrest the slide. Captain Agnese Cocchiere scored from two metres and Dafne Bettini lobbed from the top right for 12-8. Ranalli then took an elbow to the head and VAR addressed the situation and Simone van de Kraats was excluded from the match on a violence foul that gave Italy a penalty attempt and four minutes with a player up. This did not go as planned for Italy, converting the penalty by Giustini but only surviving the four minutes 2-2 (including the penalty) with the problem of four exclusions against. Sabrina Van der Sloot and Lieke Rogge scored for the Dutch and Roberta Bianconi scored for Italy on action. Italy was more devastating after the exclusion period. Cocchiere backhanded a goal at two metres immediately after the seventh player came into the pool; Moreno Leone scored on extra from deep right on extra and Bianconi lobbed from the top for 14-13 behind. Keuning scored twice for Netherlands, on the top right and then off extra, finishing a long series of passes from her right-post position. At 1:14 it was 16-13. Italy challenged something and received nothing, other than the loss to Netherlands.
Match Heroes
Keuning and Lieke Rogge scored three goals each and Marit van der Weijden, van de Kraats and van der Sloot all collected two. For Italy, Cocchiere made three, Giustini and Bianconi two each with goalkeeper Giuseppina Condorelli pulling in 10 saves.
Turning Point
Before and after the suspension period Italy was dangerous but Netherlands resisted and deserved the victory.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted six from nine on extra and Italy three from 13. On penalty, the Dutch missed one of two and Italy scored both. Italy stole the ball seven to three and Netherlands shot 31-30.
Bottom Line
Netherlands won this title two years ago, was fifth in Doha last year while Italy was seventh in Doha.
What They Said
Sabrina VAN DER SLOOT (NED) — Captain
On the match:
“We did well. We had a setback when we lost Simone (van de KRAATS on suspension) and we got the four minutes of man down, but we showed that we are so much better than Italy. It’s always hard to perform in these games and we did well. We kept on playing and kept the control of the game and did not do stupid things. We just stayed focused and calm.”
On whether the quarterfinal loss made Netherlands more motivated:
“No, I don’t think that it gives extra motivation. It’s just you know that there are more upcoming tournaments, and in our sport, you always have to be ready the next day. We try to improve ourselves every day and this is our motivation for the upcoming games and this is what we tried to do today.”
On the final match against Australia on Wednesday:
“We always aim to win the games. In two days, we will aim to win Australia and it’s going to be a hard game, but it’s always better to end the tournament winning than losing.”
Simone VAN DE KRAATS (NED) — Suspended Player
On the red card:
“It’s really difficult. I can tell it from my perspective and that is the opponent of Italy tried to turn underwater and the only thing I wanted was just to swim, and that’s what I did. You can also see it on the screens, so I’m not happy about it, of course, and I didn't want it to happen for either of us. That was my only intention – just to swim.
“After that, the team still did really well. They played with one man less in the water but they still managed to get two exclusions in almost every attack, so I’m really proud of them.”
On the match:
“I’m really happy that after a tough game against Spain, which we lost on penalties, we reset as a team. We enjoy playing together and the most important thing is that we improved. Mentally, we took another step together and we won, so we can battle for fifth place.”
On how the team improved:
“Against Spain, we started badly with a lot of goals against us. For us, this game had two goals: One that our defence and our counter-defence was more stable and we managed to do that well; next is in attack, we just played without thinking too much, without being nervous.”
On the final match against Australia:
“In the end, the most important thing is that we are training for Los Angeles 2028 right now and we want to win medals for sure. But for now, for the process of the team, the most important thing is to continue with the game we’re playing and continue playing together. That means winning the game against Australia, so we are taking it really seriously.”
Match 41, AUSTRALIA 21 JAPAN 17 (7-6, 6-4, 2-3, 6-4)
Olympic silver medallist Australia struggled against a determined and agile Japanese team which was relentless, jumped in every loose ball and made the most of every opportunity. Australia provided plenty and made entry to its goal much easier than needed. Australia had the size and strength and could command it over Japan but was sloppy on shooting and gave up too many turnovers. Many excellent shooting chances went astray for a variety of reasons. Australia was falling into Japan’s web.
In the first half, the Japanese gained four counter-attack goals and at other times, Yumi Arima was allowed plenty of space to shoot. The Stingers were great at steals, making 10 to two in the first half, setting up many opportunities. Australia might have put away 13 goals, but had a handful of turnovers and missed shots while Manami Noda made four saves in the Japanese goal. Australia made no saves as Japan rattled in 10 goals. The chats at halftime must have been very interesting.
The third period was the antipathy of the first two with no goals coming until the second half of the period. Australia was trying too hard and Japan was ready to capitalise on the many errors. Arima had her penalty shot stopped by Genevieve Longman, who came into the pool three minutes from the long break. The next stage of the match, Sienna Hearn scored on counter with Kako Kawaguchi on extra; Shoka Fukuda from deep left; Danijela Jackovich on the right post off a cross pass where she shot, regathered and scored. Japan took a timeout and Arima scored a tip-in on the bottom right on extra to keep within two of the Stingers at 15-13.
The final quarter saw a change in the Stingers, although still not at their best. Alice Williams converted a penalty and Japan pulled it back to one with goals from Ai Sunabe and Kawaguchi, also on penalty. This seemed to shock the Aussies as they put together their second three-goal burst through Kearns, Hearn and Jackovich. Kawaguchi punctuated the run with a penalty goal but Charlize Andrews and Jackovich, both on extra, lifted Australia to 21-16 at 2:31. Arima scored from deep left to close the match at 21-17 with a minute to spare. Australia goes to the play-off for fifth but will need to settle the nerves before then.
Match Heroes
Kearns and Jackovich with their five goals for the Stingers. Hearn chipped in with four and Genevieve Longman made seven saves in two and a bit quarters. For Japan, Arima was her usual brilliant self with five goals, followed by Kobayashi with four and Kawaguchi with three. The two goalkeepers made 10 saves between them.
Turning Point
Australia taking a 4-3 lead in the first period and never giving it up.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia scored five from nine on extra and Japan five from eight. The Aussies put away the two penalty chances and stopped one of Japan’s four. Australia stole the ball 15 to six and shot 35-27.
Bottom Line
Australia may have won the match but both teams took the honours.
What She Said
Tilly KEARNS (AUS) — Player of the Match
On how close the match was:
“It was a great game, a lot of things happened. We fought, and that’s what we’re so good at, grinding it out. We’ve got plenty to play, and if we just play the game that we know we’re so good at, we know it’s going to be a very exciting one to play.
“From a disappointing quarterfinal, it’s always hard to get up and play another game when it’s not for a medal and it’s not for the result that you want. But we’re a team that always gets around each other and we love each other a lot, so we wanted to play for each other. It was a messy game, some things or a lot of things, were out of our control, but we still had fun while we played. It was closer than we would have liked, but we got away with the win and we’re happy with that.
“We grinded them down slowly. We knew how Japan played, we watched a lot of footage and prepared really well. Maybe our strength and our size got the edge on them today because we were able to get a lot of inside turns and our centre forwards were able to do their jobs. We had two centres who scored a lot of goals and earned a lot of things, so maybe it’s just our size and strength that helped us get that edge.”
On whether the quarterfinal loss gave Australia extra motivation:
“It was disappointing for sure, but we as a country, we just play with a lot of pride and we know that we need to finish this tournament to the best of our abilities. For us, that is fifth now and tomorrow, no matter who we play, is going to be a really hard game. Our goal has changed a little bit since we’re not playing for a medal, but we definitely want to come away as high as we can.”
Classification 9-10
Match 40, CHINA 10 NEW ZEALAND 6 (4-2, 2-1, 0-1, 4-2)
In Doha last year this match was also for ninth classification and the Kiwis won 16-15. Today China held sway for all of the match and finished with a flourish despite a multitude of Kiwi goals on target or hitting the frame.
China almost swam away with the match in the first quarter such was the ferocity of its attack. Yan Siya and two Zhou Shang forward goals had China at 3-0 by 4:46. It took two Morgan McDowall goals — the first off the left-post position on extra and the second on counter — and an Emily Nicholson centre-forward backhand at 3:06 to level the score, However, a VAR review showed the ball was still in hand at the buzzer and the goal disallowed. It did slow the China charge, however. With eight seconds remaining, Zhang Yumian nudged the score to 4-2. Zhang Yumian started the second quarter from the top left. Nearly three minutes later, McDowall scored off the left post on extra again for 5-3. Yan Siya hit the crossbar on penalty at 1:09 but found a gap at 0:30 for 6-3 at halftime.
A Kiwi timeout at 5:48 yielded several shots at goal with McDowall picking up the rubbish and muscling in her fourth goal. As the thunder ripped through the city and rain and intruded the media tribunes, New Zealand had a challenge disallowed. Straight after the ball was stolen and Morgan went on the charge, gaining a penalty foul. China challenged — amazing since Angie Winstanley-Smith and Miki Oca, the respective coaches, chatted in the stands for a long period before the match. The challenge was lost and Millie Quin hit the right post. Tough defence denied both teams a goal before the final break.
The last period was excellent for China sneaking in two goals before McDowall stopped the trend with her four-metre strike. Shao Yixin countered for 9-5 and Emmerson Houghton converted a penalty after a violent action was challenged as two Chinese players left the water clutching their eyes. Wang Huan sent in a slider from well outside for 10-6 at 2:15, which proved to be the winner.
Match Heroes
McDowall was the best in water by far with her dynamic play, gutsy intervention and power shooting, netting her five of the Kiwis’ six goals. She finished the tournament with 19 goals. Emmerson Houghton, who scored the penalty was second with 14. For China, Zhang Yumian, Zhou Shang, Wang Huan and Yan Siya scored twice each. Yan was best for China with 15 goals and Shao Yixin, one today, took 10. Goalkeeper Shen Yineng stopped eight today and 50 for the week.
Turning Point
The opening three goals.
Stats Don’t Lie
China may have only scored one from three on extra but denied the Kiwis nine times from 11. China missed its one penalty shot and New Zealand one from two. China stole 11 to eight and shot 31 to 27.
Bottom Line
Two classy teams with a point to prove and both played strongly.
What She Said
WANG Huan (CHN) — Player of the Match
On the match:
“I’m feeling very good because we won this game. We’ve played so many games at these World Championships and went all the way against difficult teams but we didn’t give up halfway. We are also playing together and working hard together. Our defence today was very good and we worked well together. Our coach (Miguel OCA) told us to not be afraid to shoot and to defend hard.”
On the Singapore 2025 campaign:
“We are a new team and we have many young players. This is their first time playing in the World Championships. Our coach is very good and he has been with us only for seven weeks. With more time together, we can continue to grow and be better.”
Classification 11-12
Match 39, FRANCE 9 GREAT BRITAIN 14 (1-2, 3-4, 2-4, 3-4)
These two teams were meeting for the second time in Singapore with Great Britain having beaten France 12-9 on the first day of competition in their round clash. Today, it was a similar score at 14-9 but with a different dimension that included two French red cards. Whereas Britain was 2-1 ahead after the first period today, last week, France held the edge at 4-3. Tiziana Raspo opened for France from centre forward with Lily Turner on penalty and Katie Brown from the top deciding the period in Britain’s favour. Turner had her penalty attempt blocked at the top of the second quarter with Ema Vernoux making sure of her penalty chance at the other end. Anya Clapperton on extra from the top; Turner from the outside left and Kathy Rogers off a cross pass to the right post on extra rocketed Great Britain to 5-2. Vernoux converted another penalty foul for 5-3, much like in that first match. Valentine Heurtaux sent in France’s third penalty goal and Rogers dragged down a cross pass to the left post from the right on extra for 6-4 — the exact score as on day one. One of the keys to British supremacy was the nine saves from goalkeeper Sophie Jackson.
Toula Falvey scored on extra off the right-post position on the first British attack of the second half and Vernoux finished a clinical extra-player movement for 7-5. Brooke Tafazolli speared one down the left and Amelia Peters turned at the left post to goal at 4:33. Camille Radosavljevic pulled one back for France, although Izzy Howe finished an extra-player movement from top right on double extra at 0:23. A chance for France to narrow that margin failed when Heurtaux bounced into the crossbar on penalty, five seconds from the buzzer. At 10-6, it almost mirrored the first encounter when Britain led 11-6. Pasiphae Martineaud Peret had 11 saves for France at this stage and Jackson was on 12.
Controversy reigned in the final quarter as, after three and a half minutes when Heurtaux scored form the top, Vernoux was adjudged, with the use of VAR, to have allegedly kicked an opponent in the head in an earlier movement. Heurtaux’s effort was scratched, Vernoux sent from the pool deck (reluctantly) and Great Britain on a player up. It was Peters who scored, not on extra, for 11-7 and Radosavljevic made a penalty conversion. Soon after Arianna Banchi was red-carded (Ed: reason unknown), joining team-mate Vernoux in the “naughty box”. Another shot at extra attack yielded nothing and France called a timeout at 2:57, still in with a chance. Lou Jean-Michel converted extra for 11-8 and Turner put away another penalty shot. Britain called a timeout and Brown converted double extra. Emma Duflos did not wish to leave Singapore without a goal, so scored from centre forward at 0:52. Captain Rogers shovelled in a rebound off the second British shot at 0:14 and Britain had grasped 11th place.
Match Heroes
Britain’s Turner (18 in total) and Rogers (8) scored three each. Falvey scored once today for 10. Goalkeeper Jackson made 12 saves for 38 in Singapore. France’s Vernoux scored three for 15 and Radosavljevic three. Heurtaux, who scored one from nine today, was second best with 10 goals. Martineaud Peret also made 12 saves for 49 in all.
Turning Point
Britain coming from one down to 6-4 ahead at halftime and then 10-6 at the last break.
Stats Don’t Lie
Britain scored eight from 15 on extra and stopped five of seven. On penalties, France went four from five and Britain two from three. On steals, Britain made nine to eight and shot 37-34.
Bottom Line
Great Britain, with three wins here, was 11th in 2024 and France 14th, so one team advanced its position.
What She Said
Kathy ROGERS (GBR) — Captain and Player of the Match
On today’s match:
“The team came out super strong. We stuck to our plan and I’m really proud of all the girls. It’s such an amazing way to finish the tournament – stronger than we started. We had some real highs and lows here, so it’s incredible to finish like that.
“We know France pretty well. We also did two preparation camps with them before the draw came out. We just knew that we had to go out there and play our game. We knew how they played, so we just had to stick to our game plan. Today, we did the little things better, like we got the ball a bit deeper, we set our wings deeper, the centre forward did the extra spin, we took the extra seconds on man up. It was just the little things that we had worked on throughout preparation and throughout this tournament that we did to get there.”
On Britain’s Singapore 2025 campaign and the future:
“We came in, we met our goal. We really wanted to be in the top 12 at least and meet the level we did last time. Every player has grown, which is another goal of ours. It was important for us to come back from the Japan game strong because that was a really hard loss to take and we did that so I’m really proud of the team.
“There’s going to be a really good future. It’s going to be really big. We’re getting more support from Swim England and Aquatics GB, so it’s a really exciting time. We have only two-and-a-half years’ worth of a programme so we’re going to get better and better.”