Hungary suffered its second one-goal loss in two days, this time to Italy who scored a goal on the buzzer to win 9-8 after early holding a four-goal advantage, which Hungary whittled away to equalise with eight seconds remaining. In the other Group B clash, United States of America needed a sudden-death penalty shootout to down Greece 15-14 after the match was tied at 10-10. In Group A, Netherlands rumbled Israel 19-5 and Spain defeated New Zealand 17-6.
Overview
In Group A, Netherlands was untroubled against Israel, turning a 7-2 halftime lead into a 19-5 rout. Spain finished the day’s proceedings with a 17-6 victory over first-day winner New Zealand
In Group B, this was the real action was with Italy giving up a four-goal lead only for Hungary to level at 0:08 and then gain the winner on the buzzer for 9-8 and deliver Hungary its second loss in two days. USA needed sudden death after Greece levelled inside the final two minutes for 10-10 to force the shootout. It was tied at 14-14 after the rotation and it was only the fourth shot of sudden death that yielded the winning goal to USA.
In Group C, Croatia made sure of victory over Mexico 19-5 and Brazil dispensed with Argentina 16-9.
In Group D, China downed South Africa 16-4 and Australia also gained a second win, defeating Canada 9-4.
Match Reports
Match 16, Group A, SPAIN 17 NEW ZEALAND 6 (7-3, 1-1, 5-1, 4-1)
Spearheaded by Olympic gold medallist Isabel Piralkova, Spain was a real handful for New Zealand to contain. Piralkova netted four straight in the first quarter where the match was established and the victory plotted. Holly Dunn was a thorn in Spain’s side and she replied twice early in the first before Piralkova went on her thunderous ride. Dunn finished the first-quarter scoring at 7-3 as Alba Munoz scored a pair for the Spaniards. The second quarter was more sedate with the Kiwis working out their defence while struggling to get effective shots away. Queralt Anton scored her second for Spain and Dunn nailed her fourth.
Itziar Almeda scored twice as Spain shot to 11-4. Riaan Bryant was the sole Kiwi deliverer, on extra for 11-5 while another pair had Spain at 13-5 by the final break. Dunn converted a penalty to start the fourth quarter and four more Spanish goals made sure of a second victory while New Zealand now has one loss in the top-tier groupings.
Match Heroes
Piralkova with five goals from nine attempts for Spain with Anton and Munoz grabbing three each for Spain. Dunn was New Zealand’s best with five strikes from seven attempts
Turning Point
The opening quarter says it all.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted six from 10 on extra and New Zealand three from five. Both teams converted a penalty foul; Spain made 11 steals to six and shot 31 to 17, showing how tight the defence was.
Bottom Line
Spain is full of stars and stars in the making while Dunn, who played the recent senior World Championships, was a shining light.
Match 15, Group B, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15 GREECE 14 in sudden-death penalty shootout. FT: 10-10. Pens: 5-4. (2-4, 2-2, 3-2, 3-2)
Greece blew an 8-5 advantage and let USA sneak home to win almost in regular time. However, Greece denied USA the three points and forced the shootout, which it lost in sudden death. Greece was on top in the early stages, rushing to 3-1 and 5-2 early in the second quarter. Leading senior international stars Foteini Tricha — a World Championship and World Cup champion — and USA’s Emily Ausmus, both captaining their teams in Salvador, opened the scoring and both had two goals by the 5-2 scoreline. The second quarter was even with Greece taking the two-goal differential to the second half.
Ausmus narrowed the margin from the top early in the third period with a pair of Greek goals, including a third to Tricha, this time on extra. With a minute remaining, USA was stung into action with Allison Cohen from about six metres and Rosalie Hassett, for her second, on extra, making it 8-7, three seconds from the buzzer.
Charlotte Raisin flipped one in from centre forward and Ausmus converted a penalty to give USA the lead at 5:29 remaining in the match. Rafaela Saltimanika buried a six-metre shot on extra for 9-9 at 2:48. Ausmus quickly responded for 10-9 on extra. Greece called a timeout at 2:03 and the resulting play led to a cross pass to Tricha who bounced the ball into goal for 10-10 at 1:48. Despite a USA timeout at 0:46, no more goals came before the final buzzer, sending the match to a shootout.
Greece started and the first eight shots found their mark. The last two shots were saved by the goalkeepers, sending the match to sudden death. Tricha and Ausmus inexplicably had their shots saved as was Nefeli Krassa’s attempt. This sent Hassett to the line to convert to give USA victory.
Match Heroes
Ausmus with five goals and Hassett with two for USA. Christine Carpenter made 12 saves in goal. Tricha was best for Greece with four goals. Karampetsou scored twice. Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou pulled down 11 saves in goal.
Turning Point
The four-goal surge by USA either side of the final break. From three down, USA went one ahead and then 10-9 before Greece’s last comeback.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA converted three from six on extra and Greece five from nine. Both teams put away their penalty chances; Greece made five steals to four and USA shot 33 to 28 overall.
Bottom Line
Greece had the better team on paper, but USA did not read that chapter.
Editor’s Note
One of the match referees was Australia’s Nicola Johnson, a long-term international official who has controlled major finals as well as Olympic Games. She is the mother of Australian player Chelsea Johnson. We cannot recall this happening at junior level before but there have been instances of mother referee and daughter playing at senior level (Marie-Claude Deslieres and Axelle Crevier) and at Singapore last month a Hungarian player (Dorottya Szilagyi) had her husband officiating (Tamas Kovacs-Csatlos).
Match 14, Group C, ARGENTINA 9 BRAZIL 16 (1-6, 3-4, 2-3, 3-3)
Brazil gained its first win built heavily on the first quarter and a run of five unanswered goals. Karen da Silva and captain Maiah Nascimento were the two-goal heroes of the first period with four goals coming on action and two on extra. Maylen Sampedro tried to redress the imbalance at the start of the second quarter with a pair of goals from the left side of the pool. Dandara Sampaio responded on counter and Isabella Mastronardi brought it to 7-4. However, Nascimento and Sampaio made it 9-4 before Ana de Barros turned and scored at centre forward for the 10-4 halftime margin.
Leticia Lorieto opened the second half for Brazil on extra and Argentina needed a coach challenge to gain a penalty shot, which Mastronardi converted. Goals were traded with Brazil finishing the quarter 13-6 ahead. Sampaio opened the fourth off a cross pass to the deep left. Argentina scored twice through Juana Masini and Sampedro, on penalty, for 14-8. Goals were traded to the end with da Silva having the last say for 16-9 at 2:09.
Match Heroes
Nascimento with four goals while Sampaio and da Silva slotted three apiece for Brazil. Sarah Bedani repeated her hard work of the day before, saving 11 shots in her time in goal. Sampedro fired in three for Argentina.
Turning Point
Shooting out to 6-1 was where this match was won.
Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil won this match on extra, claiming five from six and shutting out Argentina five times. Argentina made the most of its three penalty attempts while both teams made four steals and Brazil had the better of the shots 34-31.
Bottom Line
Brazil turned it on for the home crowd and will be happy beating its neighbour for local bragging rights and gaining its first win.
Match 13, Group A, ISRAEL 5 NETHERLANDS 19 (1-3, 1-4, 2-8, 1-4)
Netherlands came up with its first win after a losing start against Spain on day one. The goals rained into the Israeli goal with regular frequency. The match was dominated by Amy Kleinlugtebeld with her seven goals from all parts of the pool. It was three action goals by the Dutch and one on extra for Israel in the first quarter. Israel had a penalty attempt thwarted while the Dutch eased out to 7-1. Maya Katzir scored her second goal with a lob to bring up the 7-2 halftime scoreline.
Kleinlugtebeld scored four more goals in the third period, two from centre forward and two from the outside. Miya Tirosh from the top left and Yuval Raz from deep on extra were the Israeli responders as the Dutch surged to 15-4 at the final break. Mika Koren backhanded from centre forward for Israel at the 16-5 mark after Kleinlugtebeld netted her seventh. Israel missed another penalty attempt and Kiara Heerink converted two extra-player goals, the last with a second left on the clock.
Match Heroes
Kleinlugtebeld hammered home seven goals with van der Meer chiming in with three. Caitlin van Leeuwen made nine saves in her three periods in goal.
Turning Point
None as Netherlands was in control from the opening whistle.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted three from five on extra and denied Israel five from seven. Netherlands put away its one penalty chance and Israel missed both. The Dutch went 7-3 on steals and 34-27 on shots.
Bottom Line
Netherlands is the more accomplished and experienced team.
Match 12, Group B, ITALY 9 HUNGARY 8
When it comes to heroes, sometimes they do the remarkable and that was the case in this enthralling encounter between two powerhouse nations. Beatrice Cassara produced the magic with a buzzer-beating goal to secure the 9-8 victory. It was her third and most important goal and gained her player of the match. This was a match of many parts, with Hungary leading by two, trailing by four, equalising with eight seconds remaining and then losing on the buzzer. Hungary won the first quarter 2-1 with both teams missing a penalty chance — Cassara hitting the crossbar and Margherita Minuto having hers swatted away.
Natasa Lendvai converted extra to open the second quarter and Kata Hajdu, who tasted gold at this event two years ago and gone on to the senior national team, had her penalty attempt saved. Minuto and opening goal-scorer Laura Kardos traded goals for 4-2 at 1:18. Eleonora Bianco scored from deep right on extra for 4-3 at halftime.
Lavinia Papi scored from two metres off a rebound and Cristina Malluzzo sent in a slider from top left to gain the lead for Italy at 4:13 in the third period. At 1:35, Minuto converted extra for 6-4. Cassara made it 7-4 at the top of the fourth period and in a bold move, Hungary sent all seven players on attack. Sadly, the ball was stolen by Papi and she unleashed a missile into the far, undefended goal as the Hungarian goalkeeper was holding down the right-post position at the other end. It was a move that proved crucial to the outcome. Hajdu scored for Hungary after more than 13 minutes scoreless, making the most of a turnover foul. Kardos followed off a cross pass at centre forward and Hungary was back in the reckoning. Both teams called a timeout with no scoring successes, but at 0:59, Hungary gained a penalty foul and Eszter Macsai converted. Hungary went to another timeout and Emese Batizi could not believe her luck when a cross pass to centre forward found no one and the ball fell to the water in front of her at the left-post position. She scooped it is for 8-8 with eight seconds left on the clock. At the restart, Cassara held the ball, moved upfield a few metres and three the ball high just before the buzzer and the ball sailed into the top right for the victory. It was her magical show.
Match Heroes
Cassara gained her second three-goal haul here for Italy with goalkeeper Olimpia Sesena making nine saves. Kardos scored twice for Hungary.
Turning Point
Hungary losing its 3-1 advantage as Italy scorched to 8-4. Hungary coming back with four goals to level at the death, only to lose on the buzzer.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy made four from seven on extra to Hungary’s two from six. Italy missed both penalty chances and Hungary one of two. Italy made six steals to one and was out-shot by Hungary 32-30.
Bottom Line
It’s not over until the final buzzer. Italy showed steel and strength when needed and Hungary was dominant for two periods of play but not on the middle sectors where the match was won.
Match 11, Group C, CROATIA 19 MEXICO 5 (5-2, 4-3, 6-0, 4-0)
Croatia won its second match in Salvador and is well set for the upcoming encounters. The win was gained through the powerful arm of Iva Rozic with seven goals and a team brimming full of talent. Mexico never really had a chance. The win was established on a solid opening quarter in which Rozic scored twice with the second on counter. Mexico scored identical goals through Sofia Gaytan from the left-post position off a near pass. Gaytan scored a third in the second quarter from the top left for 6-4, which proved a promising moment for Mexico. It followed her team-mate, Victoria Feliciano, who was guarded by a defender and the goalkeeper at centre forward before scoring. Neli Jankovic lobbed on counter for Croatia and Mia Brondo countered for Mexico for 7-5. Rozic fired in the last two goals of the period.
Croatia raced away with the final two periods in top gear, giving up few opportunities for Mexico. Dora Kangler added two more goals to her tally, as did Jankovic. Rozic scored twice in the final quarter with Ria Glas netting twice, as well, the second off a rebound from her missed penalty attempt for 19-5 at 0:35.
Match Heroes
Rozic with her seven goals makes it 11 in two matches. Glas, Jankovic and Kangler netted three each. For Mexico, goalkeeper Alma Luna made nine saves.
Turning Point
Croatia slipping to 6-2; Mexico coming back to 7-5 down and then Croatia swimming away with the match.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia converted its one extra-man chance and denied Mexico three of its four. Croatia nailed four from five on penalty, made 13 steals to three and dominated shooting at 32-15.
Bottom Line
Croatia had recent senior world-championship experience so it was always going to be hard work for Mexico.
Match 10, Group D, AUSTRALIA 9 CANADA 4 (3-0, 1-0, 1-2, 4-2)
Australia collected its second victory and the margin appears close while in reality the Aussie players were dominant throughout. Australia may have taken the foot off the accelerator for a period either side of the final break but that was testament to Canada’s resolve to get into the match. Both teams missed a penalty chance in the first quarter as Australia went to 3-0, including a Bless Daly counter-attack goal. She scored again from the top on extra two minutes into the second period, which was the only goal as Canada played excellent defence as well.
Australian captain Tayla Dawkins opened the third-period scoring midway through from centre forward while heavily guarded. Canada’s resurgence came after a timeout, Sydney Krushen scoring the extra-player goal quickly. Two minutes later it had another extra goal thanks to Natalia Blazevic for 5-2 at the last break. Anneliese Pamp (AUS) and Katherine Featherstone (CAN) traded goals early in the fourth with the 6-4 margin giving Canada hope. At 4:03, Ebony Nash added to her team’s first goal, snapping in a rebound from two metres. Another Canadian timeout yielded nothing and Australia scored the last three goals through Nash, Dawkins (into an empty goal) and Sienna Owen on extra from deep right at 0:11.
Match Heroes
Dawkins, Daly and Nash with two goals each for the Aussies. Alexandra Stoddard made 11 saves for Canada.
Turning Point
The complete dominance of the first 22 minutes.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia converted all three extra-player chances and Canada three from five. Both missed a penalty chance while Australia made seven steals to three and took 35 shots to 20.
Bottom Line
Australia had the better defence and was given far too much space to shoot.
Match 9, Group D, CHINA 16 SOUTH AFRICA 4 (4-3, 5-0, 4-0, 3-1)
China had to overcome 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to grab the quarter-time lead six seconds from the buzzer and go onward to victory. Zou Yuhe was the star for China, scoring those four goals She scored a fifth in the second quarter as the score rose to 9-3 when Zhang Yumian converted extra a second from halftime. Hannah Banks, who played in Singapore last month, scored an excellent centre-forward goal, kicking the ball to herself before turning and scoring at centre forward for the 2-1 score.
China kept a clean sheet in the third period with Zou adding another from deep left and two more goals on extra. Georgia Eccles went on counter and broke the South African drought for 13-4 at 5:37 in the last quarter. The last three Chinese goals came from centre forward with Xie Linshan making two of them.
Match Heroes
Zou banged in six goals and Li Xingmeng three. The two South African goalkeepers made 11 saves between them.
Turning Point
China coming from 3-2 behind and progress the score to 13-3.
Stats Don’t Lie
China converted seven from 13 attempts on extra and stopped both African attempts. South Africa scored the only penalty goal; China made the only steal but where it hurt for the Africans was in the overall shooting — 34-17.
Bottom Line
China had more players of senior international calibre and it showed.
Progress Points
Group A: Spain 6, Netherlands 3, New Zealand 3, Israel 0
Group B: United States of America 5, Greece 4, Italy 3, Hungary 0
Group C: Croatia 6, Brazil 3, Argentina 3, Mexico 0
Group D: Australia 6, China 6, Canada 0, South Africa 0
Day 3 Schedule
Match 17. 09:00. Group C, Argentina v Croatia
Match 18. 10:30. Group D, Canada v South Africa
Match 19. 12:00. Group D, China v Australia
Match 20. 13:30. Group A, Netherlands v New Zealand
Match 21. 16:00. Group A, Spain v Israel
Match 22. 17:30. Group C, Mexico v Brazil
Match 23. 19:00. Group B, Hungary v Greece
Match 24. 20:30. Group B, United States of America v Italy