The cream has risen to the top as Russia, China, Croatia and Canada were successful in their quarterfinal clashes in day-four action. Russia will play Canada and China clashes with Croatia in the semifinals with the winners guaranteed berths in the Sydney World Cup Finals this July.
Overview
The top four teams easily made it through to the medal semifinals with Russia beating Brazil 22-5, China downing Turkiye 18-5, Croatia sending off Portugal 18-7 and Canada besting Great Britain 14-9.
The winners of the 1-4 semifinals qualify for the World Cup Finals in Sydney in July, joining the top five from Division I and host Australia.
In the classification 9-16 quarterfinals, Argentina downed Singapore 20-6, Germany dispensed with Slovakia 17-7 and Malta set aside South Africa 14-8 while Kazakhstan had a lay down, advancing directly to the semifinals as there are only 15 teams in Malta.
Match Reports
Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 29. RUSSIA 22 BRAZIL 5 (3-0, 7-3, 4-2, 8-0)
Russia dominated in all areas of the pool and the spectacular shooting numbers overpowered Brazil. Russia drew the penalty fouls at will and sent in many shots from the right side of the pool with simple passing moves. The shots were like bullets and accurately finding the target. Bella Markoch was the star of the show with seven goals, whether it be on counter, from the right side of the pool or on extra. She even missed a penalty shot only to gain the rebound. Olga Lupinogina was again in fine shooting form, snaring six with two coming from penalties. Her first goal was a lob and her first penalty attempt seemed to lob unsuccessfully. Russia had Brazil scoreless until 7-1 when Yandra Ramos drilled from the top on extra. Two more Brazilian goals came as the score moved to 10-3 at the turn. The third period was tighter with Brazilian Leticia Belorio gaining her second, from penalty as Russian captain Ekaterina Prokofyeva, who sat out Thursday’s match, lobbed on counter for her second strike. Lupinogina needed VAR to confirm her first goal of the fourth period and she made no mistake with two penalty goals as Russia closed at 22-5.
Match Heroes
Markoch with her seven strikes and Lupinogina with six for Russia. Belorio hit two for Brazil and the goalkeepers combined for 11 saves.
Turning Point
Russia hitting the water.
Stats Don’t Lie
The biggest stat is the shooting where Russia fired in 47 attempts to Brazil’s meagre 17 — five less than Russia’s goal total. Russia claimed three from five on extra and Brazil two from three. On penalties, Russia struggled, converting five from eight and Brazil one from one. Russia made eight steals to three and converted four from five counter attempts.
Match 30. CHINA 18 TURKIYE 5 (7-0, 2-1, 4-1, 5-3)
Turkiye made inroads on China, narrowing the gap after losing 17-6 on day one. It was a minor step, but progress all the same. This was the only match of the day where teams had met before in Malta. China was impressive throughout and definitely in line for a finals berth. The opening period was a Chines long march and it was not until 2:35 in the second quarter that the defence was breached when Dilara Burali scored on extra off the left-post position. Wang Xuan scored from the top on extra to close the half at 9-1 where only one player scored twice — Nong Sanfeng with two outside shots. Wang Xuan scored from the top and penalty for the first two goals of the second half with another couple making it 13-1, including Huang Zerui’s beautiful twist at centre forward. Kubra Kus lobbed from a six-metre, free-throw play for 13-2, still 2:24 from the final break. Elizaveta Ivanova opened the fourth for Turkiye. Wang Shiyun and Yan Siya pushed it to 15-3. Elvira Yermakova scored from deep left and Nong countered for 18-4, followed by a Defne Keremoglu shot off a rebound in the last second.
Match Heroes
Wang Xuan with four goals and Nong with three were the best Chinese scorers. Du Xinyue made nine saves for her 20-minute spell in goal. Elif Aydinlik made eight saves for Turkiye.
Turning Point
At 8-0, it was no contest.
Stats Don’t Lie
China converted six from 10 on extra and Turkiye two from five. China scored only one of the four penalty shots awarded. Turkiye stole the ball seven to three but trailed on shots 30-26. China made four from five on counter.
Match 31. CROATIA 18 PORTUGAL 7 (5-3, 3-2, 4-1, 6-1)
Croatia continued its fine run in a quest for the Southern Hemisphere trip, earning a match-up against the equally tall Chinese team in the semifinals. Croatia used that superior size today and had Portugal on the run at 7-3 in the second quarter. Ria Glas scored three consecutive goals and Roza Pesic two. Portugal scored the next two, using five different players to date before Pesic netted her third from the top for 8-5 at the long break. Neli Jankovic book-ended a Maria Machado score (her second), then Glas and Pesic put away the last two for 12-6 at the final intermission. Iva Rozic hit the left post on penalty with Glas and Jankovic lifting the score to 14-6 by 5:45 in the fourth quarter. Machado converted extra and Nina Jazvin scored two superb centre-forward goals as the score hit 17-7. Rozic was denied a second penalty attempt and Glas finished counter for 18-7 at 0:36.
Match Heroes
Glas with a double hat-trick, Pesic and Jankovic with four each were Croatia’s best. Sara Frketic made 10 saves in goal. For Portugal, Machado scored three and goalkeeper Maria Santos claimed nine saves.
Turning Point
From 3-3 to 7-3 was where the steamroller came into effect.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia buried four from six on extra and saved five from seven. Croatia failed with both penalty attempts to Portugal’s two from two. Croatia won the steals 8-6 and the shots 34-31.
Match 32. CANADA 14 GREAT BRITAIN 9 (3-1, 4-0, 6-2, 1-6)
Canada is well and truly in the mix for a finals berth but now has to overcome Russia for the trip Down Under. Great Britain appeared lacklustre after a hard week after two wins and now two losses. Canada was upbeat and after Toula Falvey equalised at one, Canada went into overdrive keeping a clean sheet until 8-1 at the top of the second quarter, using seven different scorers with McKenna Pineda-McLean netting twice. Captain Kathy Rogers redressed the slide from the top on extra with Daphne Guevremont and Pineda-McLean making it 10-2. Amelie Cornell converted extra for Britain and Lujayn Abdelfattah scored twice as Canada edged to 13-3. Katy Cutler seems to have listened to the coach at the break and proceeded to ram home the next five goals — once on counter, three on extra and one from the penalty line — to give Britain some faint hope for 13-8 at 3:28. Guevremont dowsed those flames with a penalty strike and Emily Pyper closed for Britain from the top right at 14-9, still 2:08 from the final buzzer.
Match Heroes
Cutler was best in pool with five goals for Great Britain while her goalkeepers made 12 saves. For victor Canada, Guivremont and Pineda-McLean scored three each and the goalkeepers pulled own nine balls.
Turning Point
At 13-3 after three periods the match was over as a contest.
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada made two from four on extra and Great Britain five from seven. Canada put away two penalty goals and Britain one. Canada led the steals 5-3 and the shots 33-29.
Classification 9-16 Quarterfinals
Match 27. ARGENTINA 20 SINGAPORE 6 (8-1, 4-1, 3-2, 5-2)
Argentina is gunning for ninth position and today’s effort set it on the right track. Argentina spent a lot of energy in the first half and slowed down in the second while Singapore was trying everything to shut down the South Americans’ potent attack. Argentina exposed seven players to the scoresheet in the first nine as it took an 8-0 into the final second of the first quarter before giving up a penalty goal to Charlene Tio. Heather Lee had her penalty attempt stopped at the start of the second quarter and Isabella Mastronardi made it 9-1 on counter and Bianca Perasso struck twice mid-period while Carla Comba converted extra for 12-1. Tio also missed a penalty attempt but 41 seconds later turned for a score at two metres for 12-2 at 0:05. Argentina won the third period 3-2 in which the last four goals came in the last four minutes with Nicole Lim converting extra for 15-4 at the final break. Comba netted her third with a nifty score off the right-post position from a near pass for 16-4 at the top of the final quarter. Julieta Auliel and Perasso scored either side of a Kayla Yeo counter-attack score for 18-5. From there the match went to 20-6 when Maitena Romano scored her first goal with a bouncer on the deep left, just two seconds from the final buzzer.
Match Heroes
Player-of-the-match Perasso with four goals while Auliel, Comba and Anahi Bacigalupo scored three each for Argentina. Tio and Lim scored twice for Singapore and the goalkeepers combined for 11 saves.
Turning Point
An 8-0 start says it all.
Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina converted four of seven on extra and Singapore two of six. Argentina converted three from four on penalty to Singapore’s one from three. The steals went Argentina’s way 6-3 and the shots a huge 40-20. Once again, a team takes as many shots as the other team scores.
Match 28. GERMANY 17 SLOVAKIA 7 (4-2, 4-1, 4-4, 5-0)
Germany registered its first win in Malta and can be pleased with its effort, having total control and now heads to the semifinals. At 4-1, Germany was in control of the match even though Slovakia opened the scoring through Anita Vitaliano on extra. Four different Germans scored and with a second remaining, Dina Telypko converted extra for Slovakia for 4-2. Four different players scored to lift Germany to 8-2 with Elena Ludwig becoming the only double scorer after her first-quarter cross-pass conversion. Telypko joined her, as she converted a penalty two seconds from the halftime buzzer. It was even in the third period with goals traded to 10-5 and then Marijke Kijlstra gaining her second, on counter and Emiliia Khmil missing her penalty attempt but converting the rebound for her third and 12-5. Slovakian skipper Monika Sedlakova and Barbora Baranovicova scored consecutive goals for 12-7 at the final break. Belen Vosseberg scored on penalty and counter, thanks to a sweet cross pass, to start the fourth quarter and give her three goals for the match. Two more goals and a third for player-of-the-match Gesa Deike pushed it out to 16-7. Khmil finished the scoring from the top at 0:23 for the 17-7 finish.
Match Heroes
Khmil scored four goals with captain Gesa Deike and Vosseberg netting three apiece for Germany. Baranovicova and Telypko scored twice each and the goalkeepers combined for 13 saves.
Turning Point
Going 4-1 and then 8-2 was enough to maintain Germany’s dominance.
Stats Don’t Lie
Germany converted one of two extra-player situations and Slovakia three of six. Germany missed two of four penalty chances and Slovakia made the most of its one. Germany stole the ball seven times to one and outshot Slovakia by a huge margin — 42-23.
Match 26. MALTA 14 SOUTH AFRICA 8 (5-3, 3-2, 2-1, 4-2)
Malta won its first match and pleased the home crowd, doing it in style. South Africa started boldly with the first two goals and led 3-2 inside the first four minutes. However, Malta replied in spades, closing the quarter at 5-3 and going to 7-3 thanks to Elena Borg goals either side of the break, giving her four after the opening pair. Hannah Banks scored from the top and on the right-post position for 7-5 but Marierose Tully gained her second from the top to close the first-half scoring at 8-5. Chloe Amato sent one in from the carpark to start the second half with Martha Perici Ferrante doing the same for 10-6. Shakira January converted her second penalty and Banks opened the fourth for 10-7, still in with a chance. However, a Maltese pair, including another Chloe Amato score, pushed it out to five. South Africa responded but two Ella Miceli blasts — one from 10m at the end of possession‚ finished all scoring at 2:28.
Match Heroes
Borg scored four and Chloe Amato three while Maltese goalkeeper Bennett Bugelli pulled in 11 saves. Banks was best for South Africa with four goals.
Turning Point
From 3-2 down to 7-3 ahead put Malta on the right track.
Stats Don’t Lie
The player-up situation was hard to navigate with Malta astray with six of seven and South Africa missing its one chance. Malta scored twice on penalty and South Africa thrice. The steals went to Malta 12-6 and the shots 34-25.
Day 5 Schedule
Classification 13-16
10:00, South Africa v Singapore
Classification 9-12 Semifinal
11:30, Kazakhstan v Germany
Classification 5-8 Semifinals
13:00, Brazil v Great Britain
15:00, Turkiye v Portugal
Classification 1-4 Semifinals
16:30, Russia v Canada
18:00, China v Croatia
Classification 9-12 Semifinal
19:30, Malta v Argentina