United States of America steamed home to a fantastic 14-12 victory over triple Olympic and European champion Serbia in the quest for the final berth to the Sydney finals from the round of 5-8. Serbia looks out of the picture and Friday’s USA-Croatia clash should determine the fifth qualifier depending on Saturday results.
Overview
In the battle for the top four placings, Italy overcame Greece and Spain bounced Hungary 13-9 as they seek final classifications ahead of the draw for Sydney.
In the group five-eight, USA’s huge win — the first of the tournament — against Serbia puts it in a magnificent situation when playing Croatia on Friday. Croatia eased into this match by downing winless Netherlands 12-8.
Match Reports
Match 9. Round 5-8. SERBIA 12 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 14 (3-1, 1-5, 4-4, 4-4)
USA pulled off an historic victory over triple Olympic champion and 2026 European champion Serbia, but USA head coach Dejan Udovicic said it was good to win but he is already looking to Friday’s match against Croatia. USA lost its three group matches and has been building steadily. Today it put itself in contention and the clash with Croatia could the decider of who will travel to the Sydney finals. USA began slowly as Serbia, once again without regular head coach Uros Stevanovic who is out on suspension — Serbia has lost consecutive matches without his guidance — shot out to 4-1 two minutes into the second quarter. Captain Nikola Jaksic missed a penalty attempt as Serbia looked the dominant team. Tell that to the North Americans! Six different players then made the scoresheet — Hannes Daube from nine metres; Dom Brown with a slick centre-forward turn; Ryder Dodd from deep left on extra; Nicolas Saveljic from the penalty line; Bode Brinkema on counter after one pass from the goalie; and Chase Dodd from deep left for 7-4 at 6:14 in the second period.
Serbia then scored either side of Daube for 8-6 but USA slammed in two more with Marko Vavic from seven metres and Ryder Dodd with a six-metre, free-throw shot. It was an incredible 10-6 advantage. Luka Gladovic scored twice for Serbia to close the third period and Ryder Dodd scored twice to open the fourth. Goals were traded until 14-10 when Ryder Dodd smashed in a downtowner (12m). Strahinja Krstic pulled one back with 2:31 left on the clock but the USA defence was strong, letting in one Vasilije Martinovic shot on extra at 1:09 for the final score of 14-12. USA had four players ejected on three fouls with the first, Daube, at 1:40 in the third period.
Match Heroes
USA’s Ryder Dodd was best in pool with his five goals and goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg made 11 saves. For Serbia, Gladovic and Martinovic claimed three apiece and goalie Milan Glusac made 10 saves in three quarters.
Turning Point
USA’s six-goal ride in the second and third periods was a massive, match-winning turnaround.
Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams hit 50 per cent in extra-man scoring but USA only had six chances while Serbia made eight from 16. Serbia missed one of three penalty chances and USA converted one. Serbia headed the steals 8-7 while both teams shot 31 times.
Bottom Line
Serbia is now in a precarious position of not qualifying as Croatia and now USA have the upper hand when it comes to dishing out tickets to Sydney.
Match 10. Round 5-8 .CROATIA 12 NETHERLANDS 8 (3-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-3)
Croatia moved one step closer to gaining a Sydney ticket with a solid outing against Netherlands, still looking for its first win here. The victory was established through three positive quarters and the expert goalkeeping skills of Mauro Cubranic, who swatted aside an amazing 16 balls. Croatia went 4-1 early in the second quarter through Tin Brubnjak with his second, from the top on extra. At 4-2, Zvonimir Butic sent his penalty attempt skyward but Croatia claimed 5-2 before finishing the half at 5-3. Loren Fatovic picked up consecutive goals to go with his first-quarter strike for 7-4 late in the third period, that ended 8-5 in Croatia’s favour. Goals were traded in the fourth and Marko Zuvela scored either side of a Bilal Gbadamassi missile from outside. Fabio Jukic made it 11-8 for Netherlands with Brubnjak easing his deep-right shot over the goal-line on the final buzzer for 12-8.
Match Heroes
Cubranic made a tournament-high 16 saves for Croatia while Fatovic and Brubnjak netted three each. Gbadamassi, Snel and ten Broek scored twice each for Netherlands and goalkeeper Jelto Spijker stopped nine shots.
Turning Point
The 3-0 start and the 5-2 surge across the third and fourth periods were the killer punches.
Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams struggled on extra with Croatia finished with three from nine and Netherlands slightly better at five from 11. Croatia missed the only penalty shot. The Dutch took the steals 7-3 and Croatia the shots at 35-32.
Bottom Line
Croatia is gunning for fifth spot and qualification. The Dutch have played brilliantly at this level but, sadly, next year it may be back to Division II.
Match 11. Round 1-4. HUNGARY 9 SPAIN 13 (3-3, 3-7, 1-1, 2-2)
Hungary suffered its first loss of the tournament and now joins Spain with one loss. However, this loss hurts as it goes to the final rankings ahead of the Sydney draw. Hungary made the play up until 4-3 early in the second quarter before Spain rattled in five goals to one to lead 8-5 ahead of a missed Hungarian penalty attempt. Bernat Sanahuja, named player of the match, scored his second goal from the top for 9-5. Adam Nagy converted a Hungarian penalty and Spaniard Pol Daura scored his second extra-man goal, gladly snapping up a rebound and just sending it across the line, needing VAR to confirm. Spain had the 10-6 halftime lead. There was just a goal apiece in the third with Fran Valera’s effort needing VAR, as well. Nagy drilled his from the top on extra. Daura was red-carded for over-vigorous play in the hole two minutes into the final period. Hungary scored and Sanahuja replied with a pair. Vendel Vigvari backhanded at centre forward at 1:34 and, despite each side talking a timeout, there were no further goals.
Match Heroes
Sanahuja was the highest scorer with four goals for Spain with goalkeeper Eduardo Lorrio nabbing nine saves. Nagy and Vince Varga scored twice for Hungary.
Turning Point
Spain breaking away from 5-5 to 9-5 in the second quarter, maintaining an arm’s length for the rest of the match.
Stats Don’t Lie
This is where Hungary lost the encounter — two from 11 on extra while Spain speared in six from 12. Missing one of two penalties also did not help Hungary. The steals were 5-5 and the shots 27-33, another lagging stat for Hungary.
Bottom Line
It wasn’t Hungary’s day, but it’s a ranking match and not too much can be read into it. Spain, however, as the reigning champion, would be most happy with the result.
Match 12. Round 1-4. ITALY 16 GREECE 14 (6-4, 3-6, 2-2, 5-2)
There was no fairytale finish for Greece today like there was on Tuesday against Serbia when it came from seven down to win by a goal. The situation was there for the taking going from 6-3 behind to 10-7 ahead against Italy, taking a 10-9 halftime advantage to 12-10 in the third and 12-11 at the final break after a missed penalty attempt. Matteo Iocchi Gratta came to the fore with consecutive goals, the first finishing off a counter and the second after gaining a free throw at his 5m line and throwing the length of the field into an empty net, catching the goalkeeper unawares. This was the third such goal of the tournament. It pushed Italy one goal ahead, succumbing the packed house. Efstathios Kalogeropoulos converted his second penalty in four goals at 4:31 to bring the crowd alight. Greece’s shooting prowess faltered in the dying minutes as Jacopo Alesiani scored twice — the second a helicopter backhand on a six-metre free throw. Italy was two goals up with 58 seconds to play. Greece was in all sorts of bother as Filippo Ferrero (ITA) gained his third at centre forward and Dimitrios Chatzis (GRE) scored from deep on the buzzer after a timeout. Too little, too late.
Match Heroes
Ferrero, Iocchi Gratta and Carnesecchi scored three each for Italy. Kalogeropoulos netted four and Nikolaidis three for Greece. Goalkeeper Panagiotis Tzortzatos made an incredible 13 saves, not coming into the match until late in the first period.
Turning Point
Greece taking the match by the scruff, coming from 6-4 to 9-6 ahead. The final quarter was where Italy made the difference, that and punishing Greece when a man down.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy converted five from nine and defended seven of 11. Greece missed one of six penalty attempts and Italy made one from one. Greece took the steal 5-3 but trailed in shots 37-34.
Bottom Line
If Argyropoulos hadn’t hit the post three times, if Greece could have done better on extra-man attack, if, if, if. Italy was composed enough to wait until the final quarter to pounce.
Progress Points
Group 1-4: Spain 3, Italy 3, Greece 0, Hungary 0.
Group 5-8: Croatia 3, United States of America 3, Serbia 0, Netherlands 0.
Day 4 Schedule
13:30, Round 5-8, Croatia v United States of America
15:30. Round 5-8, Serbia v Netherlands
17:30. Round 1-4, Hungary v Greece
19:45, Round 1-4, Italy v Spain