Host nation Brazil scored the last three goals to beat New Zealand and make it into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015. Hungary, Italy and Croatia will join Brazil in the last eight and go up against the four group winners on Thursday.
Day 5 Schedule
Group E
Match 31. 09:00. Argentina v Mexico
Match 32. 10:30. Canada v South Africa
Classification 9-12 Semifinals
Match 33. 12:00. Israel v China
Match 34. 13:30. Australia v New Zealand
Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 35. 16:00. United States of America v Croatia
Match 36. 17:30. Spain v Hungary
Match 37. 19:00. Greece v Brazil
Match 38. 20:30. Netherlands v Italy
Overview
In the crossovers, Croatia was the first team through with a thrilling 14-13 win over a late-finishing Israel where Miya Tirosh did her best to get Israel into the quarterfinals with seven goals. Hungary finally came through with a victory, downing Australia 17-12; Italy held out China for its second win and host nation Brazil has plenty to celebrate, defeating New Zealand 10-9 with the last three goals.
In Group E, Argentina bettered South Africa 15-10 and Canada was far too good for Mexico, finishing 19-8, coming from behind to clinch the match with a minute to spare.
The group winners all sat out the day, waiting to find out their opponents in the quarterfinals.
Match Reports
Crossovers
Match 30, NEW ZEALAND 9 BRAZIL 10 (2-4, 5-1, 1-2, 1-3)
Brazil started with three goals and ended with three goals Six of its 10 goals were scored in seven minutes. It was enough for victory. New Zealand won 25 minutes of the match but could not find the winner when needed. Brazil started with a hiss and a roar — the hiss of sizzling water and the roar of the partizan crowd. Karen da Silva scored twice and Ana Neves once before the Kiwis struck back twice through captain Holly Dunn, a senior international. Neves closed the period with her second. New Zealand dominated the second quarter 5-1 with a variety of goals spread among the team. Lidia Rocha was the sole Brazilian to break through, from deep right at 5-4 ahead.
Captain Maiah Nascimento and Emison Styris converted penalty goals inside three minutes of the third quarter. More than two minutes passed before Neves drilled one from the top for 8-7. A Kiwi timeout could yield no goal. Come the last quarter, the quarterfinal berth was on the line and New Zealand took advantage with its first extra-player goal, thanks to Bryant for a 9-7 buffer. At 3:27, Stefany Azevedo calmly slotted an extra goal from deep left for 9-8. New Zealand had the ball stolen at the other end and Brazil came up with another extra opportunity, which Nascimento converted for 9-9, sending the grandstand spectators into hysterics. New Zealand timed out on its attack and soon after Brazil went to a timeout and gained an exclusion foul, finishing at the top with Neves bouncing in for 10-9 at 1:07. New Zealand had a lob shot saved and Brazil attacked, gained a rebound and played out all but the last two seconds for the victory. The long Kiwi shot fell short and Brazil had snatched an improbable victory.
Match Heroes
Neves with her four goals was best in pool, especially for that winner. Sarah Bedani made nine saves in goal for Brazil. Dunn finished with three and Bryant two for the dejected Kiwis.
Turning Point
The last three goals that destroyed New Zealand.
Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil nailed four from 10 on extra and New Zealand one from seven. New Zealand converted both penalty shots and Brazil one. The steals went the way of Brazil 8-3 and overall shots favoured Brazil 31-23.
Bottom Line
“It aint over until the final whistle.” In this case, Brazil, urged on by the capacity crowd, wanted it more and played controlled water polo on the last three extra chances.
Kiwi coach Facundo Policarpo, an Argentinian, gained a yellow card at 2:33 in the fourth quarter and after the match was awarded a red card, which may see him miss a match or more.
Match 29, ITALY 15 CHINA 12 (3-1, 4-5, 3-3, 5-3)
Italy made good after a shaky tournament that now sees it with two wins and a shot at the medals. China will have make a name for itself in the classification round 9-12. The match was tied at 1-1 but Italy had the quarter-time lead by two This became three in the second quarter as goals were traded after two Wang Beiyi goals. The incredible left-hander slammed in five goals in the period with Paola di Maria grabbing two for Italy.
Beatrice Cassara scored her third goal to begin proceedings in the third period and Wang’s fellow senior internationals, Zhang Jingwen twice and Zhang Yumian once, took over the Chinese scoring. Cassara, Bianca Rosta and di Maria helped keep Italy 10-9 ahead at the final break. Rosta was the first of two Italian goal-scorers with China replying with a pair for 12-11. Di Maria screamed in a centre-forward backhand for 13-11 as Italy edged out to 15-11. China took a timeout, earned a penalty, thanks to VAR, and Zhang Yumian finished the scoring at 15-12 from five metres.
Match Heroes
Di Maria scored four goals for Italy with Rosta and Cassara netting three each. For China, the star of the match, was Wang with the first six Chinese goals.
Turning Point
The 4-1 scoreline early in the second quarter was the difference. From there the match was even.
Stats Don’t Lie
Great extra-player stats with Italy converting seven from 10 and China seven from 11. Both teams scored a penalty goal, China took 6-4 on the steal count and Italy led the shooting 29-26.
Bottom Line
It was Italy’s second victory and a reset after the huge 14-6 loss to United States of America the previous night. China is now 2-2 for the tournament.
Match 28, HUNGARY 17 AUSTRALIA 12 (5-2, 6-2, 3-4, 3-4)
Hungary came up with the match that mattered. After three humiliating defeats, the reigning champion manages to cling on to hopes of back-to-back crowns. Senior international Kata Hajdu stepped up when most needed with six goals and a six-goal second-quarter burst set up the victory. Hajdu and Luca Horvath opened the scoring with Anneliese Pamp and Saskia Dunn responding. Eszter Varro on the left post, Zoe Lendvay on penalty and Hajdu with a doughnut shot on extra, had the quarter-time score at 5-2. Charley Stephens opened the second quarter for the Aussies but then six goals and a missed penalty shot had Hungary at 11-3. With five seconds remaining, Bless Daly pulled one back for Australia. Lendvay and Hajdu scored twice each in the rout.
Australia had the better of the second half and showed how good this team could be. Daly had her penalty shot saved but she scored the rebound and Stephens also had trouble getting past the keeper from five metres. Hajdu and Georgia Chapman traded extra-player goals for 14-8 at the final break. Lendvay and Dominika Kardos doubled the scoring at 16-8 with the latter a buzzer-beater from deep right. Australia then sent in four goals with Chapman from the top, Taafili Taoso from the penalty line, Sienna Owen off the left-post position on action and Layla Smith on counter by 0:59. Hajdu closed all scoring on extra from well outside for 17-12.
Match Heroes
Hajdu with six goals and Lendvay with four while probably the best in pool was Szonja Golopencza with a magnificent 15 saves in goals — a staggering 14 more than the two Australian goalkeepers combined. Dunn, Chapman, Smith and Daly scored twice each for the Aussies.
Turning Point
The six-goal break by Hungary in the second quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary scored an amazing eight from nine on extra and stopped five from eight. It scored four from five on penalty to two from four. These two stats combined made it a seven-goal differential. Hungary stole the ball six to five and only needed 29 shots to Australia’s 37.
Bottom Line
Hungary was working for this result after three devastating losses since winning the crown two years ago. It was Australia’s first loss from four matches, but the most important match.
Match 27, ISRAEL 13 CROATIA 14 (4-2, 2-8, 3-2, 4-2)
Croatia gained its fourth straight victory in Salvador and in do so, made it into the top eight. Croatia had to come from 4-2 behind to secure the win and fend off a fast-finishing Israel in the dying minutes. Croatia held a 2-1 advantage before an Israeli triple gave it a 4-2 quarter-time advantage. Four unanswered Croatian goals, including the second and third shots from Neli Jankovic, gave the Balkan team a 6-4 lead. Maya Katzir punctuated the proceedings from the top left for 6-5 but Ria Glas, Iva Rozic and Jankovic pushed the margin to 9-5. Goals were traded for 10-6 at halftime.
Two Israeli goals, including a third from Miya Tirosh, narrowed it to two. Glas then scored twice, either side of a Carmel Rahum centre-forward backhand for 12-9 at the last break. Jankovic sunk a penalty shot to start the last eight minutes and an Israel triple, including two to Tirosh, brought the margin to one at 2:37. Jelena Butic sent in her third with a lob from nine metres at 2:09 for 14-12. Tirosh replied from deep right at 0:54 for 14-13. Jankovic had her penalty rejected and in the subsequent melee another penalty was awarded and Butic had her shot smothered. Israel went on attack but its final shot was blocked and Croatia went through to the top eight.
Match Heroes
Jankovic scored five goals with Butic and Glas on three for Croatia. Israel’s Tirosh was the undoubted star of the match with seven goals while goalkeeper Roni Kakuzin made nine saves, including the last two penalty attempts.
Turning Point
Croatia coming back from 4-2 down to 6-4 ahead; Israel pulling back to 11-9 down and 13-12 behind inside the last three minutes. Israel making it a one-goal match inside the final minute.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia scored all three extra-player chances and denied Israel four of five. Croatia scored two from four on penalty and Israel one from one. Croatia made seven steals to one and Israel shot 37-34.
Bottom Line
Croatia is making waves in Salvador and by making the top eight, has showed what an improvement the country is making in women’s water polo.
Group E (Classification 13-16)
Match 26, CANADA 19 MEXICO 8 (4-0, 7-1, 2-5, 6-2)
Canada gained its second consecutive victory to push its claims for 13th position. Mexico showed what it is capable of with a fantastic 10-minute stretch that earned seven goals in the third and fourth periods. It took time for Canada to settle in with two counter-attack goals following one on extra and another off a cross pass for 4-0 by the first break. Two goals from Makayla Ulmer-Lutudromu, the second on counter, brought up the 7-0 score. Sofia Gaytan stopped the rot with a lob at 5:21 before Canadian captain Pippa Heaver scored her second and third goals on drives. Two more Canadian goals finished the half at 11-1.
Brooklyn Plomp scored her second, on penalty, to start the third period before the Mexican rage started. Vivian Rangel, Mia Brondo and Rangel again, all scored from the same position on the right side with the last a delicate lob. Isabella Mady, who netted six goals against South Africa on Tuesday, made it 13-4. Mercedes Feliciano and captain Tabata Alba both scored from the right for 13-6, the last score of the period. Feliciano opened the fourth period on penalty with Plomp replying on counter. Kimberley Jimenez scored her first of the tournament with a centre-forward lob for an incredible 14-8. Katherine Featherstone had her penalty attempt stopped by goalkeeper Alma Luna and then she stopped the rebound shot, as well. Mexico went to a timeout but the rest seemed to take the steam out of the team as Canada swam in the last five goals in three minutes with Cianne Benjamin gaining a hat-trick to go with her centre-forward backhand at 10-1. Two of her last three came on counter.
Match Heroes
Benjamin and Heaver with four goals and Plomp scoring three for Canada. Rangel and Feliciano netted twice for Mexico.
Turning Point
Canada’s 7-0 position early in the second quarter set the team up beautifully. However, from 12-1 down, Mexico revived to change the score to 14-8 — a remarkable 7-2 effort that it could not sustain, sadly.
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada converted two from four on extra and saved four from five. Canada missed one of two penalty shots and Mexico secured one. Incredible steals count at 16-11 to Canada and overall shots at 34-17. Both teams had scoring percentages around the 50 per cent mark.
Bottom Line
Canada is the more experienced nation but the fight shown from Mexico was stunning.
Match 25, ARGENTINA 15 SOUTH AFRICA 10 (5-1, 3-3, 2-1, 5-5)
Argentina struck first blood in the battle for 13th with an impressive 7-1 advantage and then the cruise to the finish. Argentina did not have it all its own way with the Africans winning the rest of the match, showing they are capable of not finishing last in this cut-throat competition of the bottom-four placings. Argentina scored twice before South Africa responded and a missed penalty chance could have levelled the match. Argentina put away the next three goals with Anahi Bacigalupo converting a penalty. Maylen Sampedro scored her second, on penalty, to start the second quarter with Bacigalupo lobbing on extra for 7-1. This seemed to awaken the South Africans as they went head to head for the remainder of the match. Caitlin McMurray started the roll on extra and Morgan Christian scored the first of her two centre forward goals. The second had her dropping the ball, but the referee allowed the advantage and she scored for 7-4. Isabella Mastronardi drilled from the top right for 8-4 before halftime.
Mastronardi scored a penalty goal to start the second half with senior international Hannah Banks replying on extra and then covered by Carolina Policastro with her second extra-player goal for 10-5 at the final break. South Africa took it to 11-8 and Bacigalupo to 12-8 with her fourth of the match. Jaime van den Bosch, who at 14-8 produced the first push-shot goal of the tournament, scored a beauty from top right. Argentina replied and van den Bosch went to the penalty line, had her shot rejected, grabbed the rebound and scored for 13-10 at 2:20. Bacigalupo netted the last two goals — on counter and extra — and a failed Argentinian penalty attempt closed the match at 15-10.
Match Heroes
Bacigalupo with her six goals and Faustina Escola’s eight saves in goal for Argentina. Van den Bosch was South Africa’s best with three goals.
Turning Point
The 7-1 by midway through the second quarter says it all. However, from there it was 9-8 to South Africa.
Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina converted an admirable six from seven on extra and South Africa and equally good three from four. Argentina went three from four on penalty and South Africa missed both its chances. South Africa had the better of the steals at 16-11 and the shots benefited Argentina 26-25.
Bottom Line
Argentina gained a second win after the first-day victory over Mexico and came through today again thanks to the efforts of captain Bacigalupo.