Hungary overcame Australia 9-7 in regular time for the three points necessary to gain second place in the group after a three-way tie that included reigning champion Greece. The Greeks, sadly, will not contest the World Cup Finals in Sydney this July despite closing their campaign with a 22-16 victory over also unqualified Japan.
Overview
Hungary did what it needed in the most important match of the year and that was to beat Australia in regular time to gain the eighth and last berth for the Sydney Finals in July. It needed the three points to force a three-way tie with the Aussie Stingers and reigning champion Greece. Goal differential among the three teams decided the final positions as Australia was plus nine, Hungary minus three and Greece minus six, following a withering loss to Australia the previous day. Greece beat Hungary on day four but…
This means that Greece will lose one of its two world crowns after winning both the World and World Cups last year. A new champion will be crowned and there are many pretenders to the throne.
In the other Group B match, Greece defeated a plucky Japan 22-16, but the result would not come into the reckoning for the Finals berth. Thus, Greece and Japan are the losers from this tournament, both missing the chance to play in the Southern Hemisphere.
What happened in the Group 1-4? United States of America confirmed top position and the No 1 Ranking in Sydney with a 13-3 jaunt over Italy who crashes to fourth spot with no wins and Netherlands toppled Spain 8-7 for second position following its 10-goal annihilation of Italy the day before.
Rankings are everything here. It means that USA will clash with China in the Sydney quarterfinals; Netherlands will face Russia; Spain will play Hungary and Italy will play host Australia.
Final Rankings
1. United States of America
2. Netherlands
3. Spain
4. Italy
5. Australia
6. Hungary
7. Greece
8. Japan
Awards
Most Valuable Player:
Ryann Neushul (USA)
Best Goalkeeper:
Martina Terre (ESP)
Best Young Player:
Olimpia Sesena (ITA)
Highest Goal-Scorer:
Kata Hajdu (HUN) — 18 goals
Match Reports
Match 21. Classification 5-8, Second Round.
HUNGARY 9 AUSTRALIA 7 (3-4, 4-1, 0-1, 2-1)
Hungary had more to lose than Australia in this encounter and showed its true spirit under assistant coach Zoltan David, filling in for Sandor Cseh, who was serving a suspension for his outburst the day before. Hungary had the fire and pressed every opportunity and especially so on man-down defence, where the match was won. Australia was equal to the challenge, knew that losing would eliminate Greece and knew more concernedly, that Hungary needed to get the three points for the final berth. Australia reflected on its game and had control at the quarter 4-3 with Abby Andrews netting twice. Hungary made the running three times but Australia kept replying and Abby Andrews lob from deep right gave her team the edge at 0:27. Vanda Valyi scored the first two goals for Hungary, the first on extra and the second on counter.
Hungary turned the score to its advantage and Abby Andrews made it three for her on counter up the right side of the pool. Valyi converted extra from the top and Dora Leimeter cross-caged a shot for 7-5 at 0:15. Hungary was looking good for Sydney. The third period was one of attrition as the bodies tired with no rest after goals. Hungary called a timeout at 1:26 for no result on the board and it was not until 0:42 that Alice Williams nonchalantly fired in a lob from deep left after Sienna Green passed up an excellent shooting opportunity. It was the only goal of the period and left the teams at 7-6 in Hungary’s favour.
Kamilla Farago and Danijela Jackovich swapped extra-player goals with the latter an excellent air ball from Williams to Jackovich who took the ball cleanly, spun and shot for 8-7 at 1:45. The killer punch was delivered by Hungarian skipper Krisztina Garda from the top right at the eight-metre line for an unassailable two-goal lead. The Aussies took a timeout at 1:20 and one shot was swatted across the back line and the other at point blank, booking the airline tickets for Hungary. The Hungarians looked subdued despite the immensity of the situation, contemplating a hard week and yet to realise the true nature of the victory.
Match Heroes
Player of the match Valyi with three for Hungary and Abby Andrews — who played her 100th match this week — with three for Australia.
Turning Point
The second quarter where Hungary turned the match from 4-3 down to 7-5 up.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary virtually controlled the extra-player situations, who hugely decided the result of the match. It scored three from seven and stopped an amazing seven from eight. The Aussies stole the ball three to none and shot 28-23.
Match 22. Classification 5-8, Second Round.
JAPAN 16 GREECE 22 (5-2, 2-8, 4-5, 5-6)
Greece had to overcome the devastating news of the previous match, which saw it eliminated from the Sydney Finals and then produce play that be worthy of the team that won World and World Cup crowns in 2025. Greece again played without the Plevritou sisters — captain Eleftheria Plevritou with her injury sustained against Netherlands on day two and returned to her base in Hungary and Vasiliki Plevritou who was carrying a pre-tournament injury and pulled out of the team two days ago.
This was going to be a tough match as Japan had yet to win a match and was desperate to show it was worthy of this current status in the top eight. Eruna Ura started the scoring with Christina Siouti replying on penalty. Japan threw the next three goals with Maho Kobayashi netting twice — all on action. Siouti struck back; earlier scorer Fuka Nishiyama missed her penalty attempt and goals were traded with Nishiyama scoring on extra for the quarter-time score of 5-3 in Japan’s favour. Greece bounced back with a fervour, determined to put the non-qualification behind it and rammed home the next seven goals, including three penalty strikes. Stefania Santa gained a hat-trick and Siouti added to her count. Kobayashi and Ura replied with Greek captain Eleni Xenaki making it 11-7 at halftime.
Goals were swapped twice with Kako Kawaguchi gaining two at the start of the third period. Ai Sunabe converted a penalty foul for double figures; there was another trade before Maria Myriokefalitaki scored off extra and Xenaki took it to 16-11 at the final break. Nishiyama and Nina Lowrey pulled it to within three early in the fourth with another two trades making it 18-15 at 4:56. Siouti scored on extra, Myriokefalitaki sent in two more and a late trade gave the match to Greece 22-16. This was the fifth time Japan reached double figures with 59 goals for the week.
Match Heroes
Siouti with five goals, Myriokefalitaki scoring four and three to Santa were the best for Greece. Ura nailed four and Nishiyama and Kobayashi three each for Japan.
Turning Point
Greece overcoming the malaise of 4-2 down to 10-5 up late in the second quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece had the better of the stats, converting three from four on extra and defending seven from 12; making all seven penalty shots to Japan’s one from two; the steals at five-two and the shots at 32-30.
Match 23. Classification 1-4, Second Round.
SPAIN 7 NETHERLANDS 8 (1-2, 4-2, 1-1, 1-3)
European champion Netherlands came home against Olympic champion Spain in a thrillingly close match where both teams had chances and both led for periods of time. It was a case who had the most left in the tank after a tough five days where Spain was beaten for the first time the day before — 7-5 by USA — and the Dutch had lost to Italy and USA. No one was going home with a clean sheet. Netherlands had the best start but missed a penalty attempt. Bea Ortiz responded with Fleurien Bosveld, for her second, converting extra from the top left for 2-1 at quarter time. Paula Crespi levelled on extra in the first half-minute of the second period with Netherlands stretching it to 4-2 and Spain levelling at 2:35. Nona Perez, who scored the leveller on counter, scored from deep right for 6-5 just before halftime.
It was tight defence in the third period with Maartje Keuning scoring from deep right at 7:09 and Irene Gonzalez re-taking the lead on extra at 5:15. It was not until 5:54 in the fourth period that the next goal came through Kittylynn Joustra who was found free at four metres, popping up to receive the pass and score on extra for 6-6. Ortiz and Lieke Rogge traded goals by 3:53. Spanish assistant coach Mario Garcia received a red card as Netherlands was awarded a penalty shot. Marit van der Weijden obliged for 8-7 at 2:24. Spain had a shot blocked, took a timeout on the next attack and had that blocked and after the Dutch wasted the ball, Spain called another timeout at 0:17 and Paula Leiton’s shot was blocked on the buzzer, giving Netherlands the victory and second ranking going into the Sydney Finals.
Match Heroes
Bosveld with two goals for Netherlands while Ortiz and Perez also scored twice for Spain.
Turning Point
Netherlands going 4-2 and Spain turning for 5-4 up. The real breakthrough was the final goal.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted four from eight on extra and Spain three from seven. Netherlands missed one of two penalty attempts and Spain scored once. Netherlands made one steal and Spain shot 23-20.
Match 24. Classification 1-4, Second Round.
ITALY 3 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 13 (0-3, 2-3, 0-4, 1-3)
Triple Olympian and dual gold medallist Rachel Fattal was the undoubted star for USA as it sent off Italy in spectacular fashion. Fattal never appears to lift high out of the water, using her superior shoulder strength to whip in goals at will. She claimed four today — one in each period — as she and her team-mates combined brilliantly. Captain Jewel Roemer lobbed for the opening goal with Fattal and tournament most valuable player Ryann Neushul receiving the ball on her hand at two metres after a short drive. Jenna Flynn joined the party for USA’s fourth goal at the top of the second quarter, followed by Fattal after a day off with her second. Sofia Giustini and Dafne Bettini grabbed Italy’s first goals from the top but a little more than four minutes later, Roemer scored from top right for 6-2 at the long break.
Italy was kept away from the goal in the third period as Jovana Sekulic from top left, Emily Ausmus on extra, Fattal from the top left and Ava Stryker on penalty lifted the score to 10-2, still at 3:47. Roemer opened the fourth quarter with another lob; Chiara Ranalli gained her 10th goal of the week, on penalty, and Fattal from the top again and Rachel Gazzaniga from the other side completed all scoring. USA had secured top ranking from Rotterdam, setting itself up nicely for the quarterfinals in Sydney two months from now. Italy finished fourth and will play host Australia.
Match Heroes
Fattal with four goals for USA and Roemer with three. Goalkeeper Amanda Longan made 12 saves. For Italy, goalkeeper Olimpia Sesena was best with a magnificent 13 saves.
Turning Point
The 5-0 start said it all.
Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams had excellent player-down defence with USA converting the only goal from six attempts and Italy none from six. Both teams scored from the penalty line; USA made three steals and shot 33-25.
Final Points
Classification 1-4: USA 9, Netherlands 6, Spain 3, Italy 0,
Classification 5-8: Australia 6, Hungary 6, Greece 6, Japan 0.