United States of America defeated champion Hungary 11-10 in their first group-stage encounter while Greece held off Italy 13-11 in the other Group B match. In Group A, the other top-tier quartet, Spain came from 4-2 behind to down Netherlands 13-7 and New Zealand did the same to best Israel 12-11.
Overview
In Group A, Spain came from 4-2 behind to down Netherlands 13-7 and New Zealand did the same to best Israel 12-11.
In Group B, USA had the better of champion Hungary in the last quarter, winning it 5-2 to upset Hungary 11-10. Greece also had to come from behind to beat Italy 13-11.
In Group C, Argentina defeated Mexico 16-7 and Croatia downed Brazil 18-9 with all its goals coming from senior internationals.
In Group D, China had the better of Canada 12-8 and Australia swam over South Africa 17-4.
Match Reports
Match 8, Group B, GREECE 13 ITALY 11 (4-2, 4-5, 1-1, 4-3)
What a see-sawing match this was and so many chances to gain victory. The fact that Greece won by two goals was amazing considering the precarious positions it found itself in time and again. Greece looked comfortable at 4-2 by the first break but Italy snatched the lead with four straight goals, including a pair from first-quarter scorer Beatrice Cassara. Nefeli Krassa and Ariadni Karampetsou, her second, regained equilibrium before a trade and then a Krassa killer blow put Greece ahead 8-7 at the turn.
Senior Italian star Foteini Tricha opened the third period and no more goals came until Cristina Malluzzo chimed in at the last minute for 9-8. Bianca Rosta and Eleonora Bianco on penalty once again gave Italy the edge. Krassa and Paola di Maria at centre forward traded, maintaining Italy’s slim dominance. Karampetsou and Krassa regained the Greek lead and with just 14 seconds on the clock, Krassa nailed her fifth goal, on extra for the 13-11 final score. Italy sent its whole team on attack and goalkeeper Olimpia Sesena was given the honour of shooting, hitting the upright.
Match Heroes
Krassa bagged five goals and Karampetsou three for Greece. Cassara claimed three for Italy and Sesena took 11 saves.
Turning Point
Italy’s four goals that took it to 6-4 and then the 5-1 segment that gave Greece the impetus for 9-7. Italy then shot three for the 11-10 lead and Greece turned again for 13-11. Anyone’s match there for the taking.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece scored one from three of extra and stopped eight from 10. Italy converted the only penalty chance; Greece snatched the steals 5-0 and Italy shot 34-28.
Bottom Line
Greece contains a classy team of senior internationals and promising youngsters. Italy still has time to find winning form.
Match 7, Group B, HUNGARY 10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 (4-2, 3-2, 1-2, 2-5)
USA won the second half one better than Hungary won the first half. It was a match of two halves as these results show. Defending champion Hungary led by three goals three times in the second quarter, only to see that lead whittled away by the tireless North Americans.
Hungary scored twice to start and held off USA. Eszter Macsai picked up a rebound and shot on the buzzer, seemingly still in the hand. However, VAR confirmed it had left her hand for the 4-2 advantage. Goals were traded in the second quarter with Hungary gaining one better for 7-4 at halftime. Kamryn Barone scored her second for USA with three different and new scorers for Hungary.
Come the third period, Rosalie Hassett carried on where she left off in the second, blasting one in from the top. A USA timeout led to nothing and Zoe Lendvay gained her second for 8-5. Hassett fired in another missile for 8-6 at 2:28 with no more goals coming before the final break. Senior international Julia Bonaguidi converted extra for 8-7 and captain Emily Ausmus, a member of the Media All Star team at last month’s senior worlds in Singapore, found the net with her third attempt from the top for 8-8. Lendvay grabbed back the Hungarian lead while Bonaguidi on extra and Barone from the top left gave USA a 10-9 boost. Dominika Kardos drew blood for the second time with a sharp drive down the right to score the leveller at 3:17. USA called a timeout at 0:40, gained an exclusion and Captain Reliable (Ausmus) stood up to score the winner at 0:18. Hungary went to a timeout and missed at least one good chance to score, deciding to have a shot at the death, bouncing it over the bar, gifting USA the honours.
Match Heroes
Barone and Hassett scored three each for the USA. Lendvay scored three for Hungary and goalkeeper Luca Torma, who played the senior worlds last month, made 12 saves.
Turning Point
That final quarter where USA moved from 8-7 down to 10-9 ahead. Ausmus did the job for USA, 18 seconds from time.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA was meagre on the stats at one from four on extra and stopping six from eight, It missed the only penalty attempt of the match, lost the steals 4-1 but did shoot 30 to 27.
Bottom Line
USA wanted it more in the final quarter, it seemed.
Match 6, Group C, BRAZIL 9 CROATIA 18 (3-5, 2-2, 2-5, 2-6)
Croatia showed its might with its raft of senior internationals fresh from competing in Singapore last month. That experience showed through in this encounter against the host nation. Brazil was up against it from the start but claimed the lead at 3-2 thanks to two Leticia Lorieto goals. Ria Glas, Nina Medic and Nina Jazvin for her third, gave Croatia a 5-3 margin at the first break. Captain Maiah Nascimento, who scored Brazil’s first goal, opened the second quarter on penalty and Lorieto swum away on counter for 5-5.Big hitter Neli Jankovic from the top and Jelena Butic on counter boosted the halftime score to 7-5 for Croatia.
Brazil was still on site early in the third period, going 2-1 to trail 8-7 with Nascimento scoring from wide left after a long cross pass. Iva Rozic started the ball rolling for Croatia with another three goals coming by the last break. The first three goals of the fourth period with Glas on penalty and Jankovic scoring twice, including a penalty, had Croatia out to 15-7. Karen da Silva gained her second goal with Rozic netting twice and the last two goals coming from Lorieto and Jankovic for 18-9.
Match Heroes
Jankovic with six, Rozic scoring four and three to Jazvin paved the way for the Croatian victory. Lorieto snared four goals for the Brazilians and Nascimento three. Goalkeeper Sarah Bedani dragged down 10 saves.
Turning Point
Croatia turning the 3-2 deficit to 5-3 ahead by quarter time. The 7-0 squirt with either side of the third-quarter break set the seal on the match.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia converted four from 10 on extra to Brazil’s more economic three from six. Croatia made all four penalty attempts, led the steals three to one and shot 35 to 26.
Bottom Line
When all the Croatian goals came from senior internationals, the writing was on the wall for the heroic Brazilians.
Match 5, Group A, NEW ZEALAND 12 ISRAEL 11 (3-3, 1-4, 3-2, 5-2)
New Zealand snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, trailling by three goals on four occasions in the middle of the match to level three minutes into the fourth and eventually win. The match was even in the first three numbers with Israel making it 3-3 at 2:25 in the first quarter. Three unanswered goals in the second quarter gave Israel a commanding buffer. Katie Marshall responded for New Zealand on counter and senior international Carmel Rahum gained her second goal of the period to get Israel to 7-4 by halftime.
Georgia Daly gained her second with a centre-forward backhander on the first attack of the third period for the Kiwis. Miya Tirosh replied with her third goal from deep left on extra. Holly Dunn and Tirosh traded goals with Marshall scoring from deep right at 0:25 for a two-goal deficit. Emison Styris from the top and Riaan Bryant on extra brought up the equaliser. Bryant converted a penalty on the next Kiwi attack and the match had turned on its head. Yuval Raz replied on extra before Marshall and then Bryant also converting extra for a 12-10 advantage at 1:18. An Israeli timeout plotted the next goal to Tirosh after two passes and there was still 47 seconds remaining. New Zealand used its time and pressed Israel into shooting unsuccessfully from halfway to wrap up the victory.
Match Heroes
Marshall and Bryant scored three each for the Kiwis while Tirosh finished with five and Rahum three for Israel.
Turning Point
New Zealand coming from behind to lead at 3-2; Israel shooting to 6-3 and 8-5. New Zealand taking the lead out to 12-10 with just over a minute remaining.
Stats Don’t Lie
It was a low-stats affair with New Zealand converting both extra chances and shutting down Israel’s one; scoring the only penalty goal while losing the steals 3-2 and the shots 33-30.
Bottom Line
New Zealand played until the end while the senior-international players stood up for Israel.
Match 4, Group A, NETHERLANDS 7 SPAIN 13 (3-1, 2-4, 1-5, 1-3)
Spain has the team to go far in Salvador and not just outside the complex on to the beach. Spain found itself trailing 3-1 after scoring the opening goal but played consistent water polo to level the match at four and five by halftime. Ariadna Temprano scored two outside shots and Olympic gold medallist Isabel Piralkova converted a penalty foul as two Pien Gorter goals kept Netherlands in the picture. Gorter, who contested the senior worlds last month, had earlier scored the 2-1 go-ahead goal.
Three Spanish goals, including a second Piralkova penalty strike, changed the face of the match. Tess van der Meer grabbed her second goal for Netherlands but Carlota Penalver and Piralkova sent the score to 10-6. Gorter failed in her penalty attempt just before the final break. Spain shot out to 13-7 with another Dutch penalty attempt failing to go in and Piralkova converting extra for that 13th goal at 1:15. A Dutch timeout yielded nothing and Spain had completed the last three quarters 12-4.
Match Heroes
Piralkova finished with four goals and Spanish goalkeeper Blanca Colominas made nine saves. Gorter made a hat-trick for the Netherlands
Turning Point
Netherlands took away the early advantage from Spain but Spain was in control by the end of the third period.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain struggled on extra with one from seven while Netherlands converted four from 10. Spain made all four penalty attempts to Netherlands’ one from three. The Spaniards plundered 10 steals to three and shot 32-27.
Bottom Line
Spain had tried and tested players at the higher level against a Dutch team containing players from last year’s U18 world championships.
Match 3, Group D, SOUTH AFRICA 4 AUSTRALIA 17 (0-5, 1-5, 2-2, 1-5)
Australia signalled its intentions to head into the top grouping with a strong start to the tournament, turning the 5-0 opening quarter into 10-1 at halftime. Taafili Taoso scored from centre forward and on counter en route to being named player of the match. Anneliese Pamp scored from deep right to close the first-quarter scoring and scored off a cross pass for 9-1. She could have had three if her penalty attempt had no creased the bar and gone over the top. Tayla Dawkins scored on counter on the next attack for her second and the 10-1 scoreline.
The second quarter started well for South Africa with Bella Imbriolo and Mia Loizides scoring and two more Aussie goals had the scoreboard at 12-3 with Pamp netting her third on counter. Three more Aussie goals started the fourth quarter with Bless Daly leading the way with her third. Jaime van den Bosch scooped in the ball from centre forward for 15-4 with Australia finishing with two penalty goals and one to Taoso.
Match Heroes
Pamp, Taoso and Daly all scored three goals for the Aussies.
Turning Point
Australia showed its intent from the start and never lifted the foot off the throat.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia scored just one from four on extra but denied South Africa all six chances; buried three from four on penalty; made seven steals to four and outshot South Africa 31-24.
Bottom Line
Australia has a balanced team with plenty of junior experience.
Match 2, Group D, CANADA 8 CHINA 12 (2-3, 1-2, 2-4, 3-3)
Two goals in the last six seconds was exciting enough in a match where China held sway despite the constant attentions of the Canadians. Jaya Basu scored the two opening goals for Canada with the second on penalty after a long break for a technical issue. China responded with the next three goals before the first break and extended the lead to 4-2 in the second quarter, but not until 2:51 when Huang Zerui converted her second extra-player goal. Goals were traded in the final minute with Katherine Featherstone and senior international Zhang Yumian making it 5-3.
Zou Yuhe took it out to 6-3 on extra before Featherstone on extra and Sydney Krushen from a six-metre-foul shot narrowed the score to 6-5. Zou, Zhang Yumian and Shi Yitong from the deep right gave China an excellent 9-5 margin by the final break. Natalia Blazevic gave Canada hope early in the fourth on extra. Both teams took a timeout as the match closed to well inside the final three minutes. Zhang Jingwen, another senior international, converted extra from the deep left and Melania Segulja drilled from the top for 10-7. Krushen had her penalty attempt saved and Zhang Yumian scored at the other end at 0:54. Canada sent up seven field players, lost the ball, China shot and the ball stopped short of the line; two players chased and the Canadian was ejected. The ball came to the attacker who scored into an unguarded goal. With six seconds left on the clock, Canada restarted and Blazevic sent in a missile that was deflected by a defender, beating the goalkeeper for 12-8 on the buzzer. Splendid finish.
Match Heroes
Zhang Yumian netted four goals and Yan Xintong pulled in nine saves for China. Blazevic, Featherstone and Basu scored two each for Canada.
Turning Point
China coming from two down to two ahead by midway through the second period and throwing in a three-goal spurt in the third quarter for a four-goal advantage.
Stats Don’t Lie
China was excellent on extra plays, converting six from eight while Canada planted four from six. Canada missed one of two penalty chances; China made eight steals to six and needed only 24 shots to 27 for the victory.
Bottom Line
China has a handful of senior internationals, which will put it in good stead for upcoming matches.
Match 1, Group C, MEXICO 7 ARGENTINA 16 (1-4, 2-5, 2-2, 2-5)
Mexico may have started the scoring but Argentina quickly regained the initiative and bounced out to a 4-1 lead through four different players a full two minutes from quarter time. Anahi Bacigalupo, fresh from the Singaporean World Championships, scored off her left arm from a rebound at centre forward for 5-1 at the top of the second quarter and her second goal. She scored her third from penalty as Mexico stayed in touch, but by the end of the half, Argentina was 9-3 up thanks to Bacigalupo scoring from a six-metre foul with 33 seconds remaining.
The third period was even with Mercedes Feliciano scoring her second for Mexico with a backhand shot off counter for 11-5 at the final break. Bianca Perasso nailed her fourth and Maylen Sampedro her third — the first of three penalty goals with team-mate Juana Masini grabbing her second goal and Vivian Rangel her second for Mexico. Masini made it 15-6 from the top on extra and Felciano threw the last goal from centre forward for 16-7 at 1:20.
Match Heroes
Perasso and Bacigalupo scored four each and Sampedro and Masini netted three apiece for Argentina. Feliciano scored three goals and goalkeeper Alma Luna made 13 saves for Mexico.
Turning Point
The 5-1 advantage early in the second quarter had the match in the bag for Argentina.
Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina proved it superiority on shooting with 36 to 15, secured four from four on penalty while giving up three, made 10 steals to one and converted the sole extra chance while denying Mexico its two attempts.
Bottom Line
Argentina has senior world championship-honed players and this proved the difference today.
Progress Points
Group A: Spain 3, New Zealand 3, Israel 0, Netherlands 0
Group B: Greece 3, United States of America 3, Hungary 0, Italy 0
Group C: Croatia 3, Argentina 3, Brazil 0, Mexico 0
Group D: Australia 3, China 3, Canada 0, South Africa 0
Day 2 Schedule
Match 09. 09:00. Group D, China v South Africa
Match 10. 10:30. Group D, Australia v Canada
Match 11. 12:00. Group C, Croatia v Mexico
Match 12. 13:30. Group B, Italy v Hungary
Match 13. 16:00. Group A, Israel v Netherlands
Match 14. 17:30. Group C, Argentina v Brazil
Match 15. 19:00. Group B, United States of America v Greece
Match 16. 20:30. Group A, Spain v New Zealand