World champion United States of America will go head to head with Olympic champion Spain in Sunday’s gold-medal final at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre after semifinal victories on Friday night.
Overview
In the classification 1-4 semifinals, United States of America was the first to cruise into the final with a solid 10-6 margin over host Australia. The Aussie Stingers were kept scoreless in the first and fourth periods. Spain needed a penalty shootout to break a 10-10 deadlock with Russia in the other semifinal, winning the penalties 5-3 for a touch-and-go 15-13 victory.
In the semifinals for the 5-8 classifications, Italy held out China 11-10 with the deciding goal coming at 5:13 in the fourth. Netherlands needed a sudden-death penalty shootout to best Hungary 16-15 after the match was tied at 11-11 and 15-15 after the first rotation.
Day 4 Schedule
Classification 7-8
11:30, China v Hungary
Classification 5-6
13:15, Italy v Netherlands
Match Reports
Classification 1-4 Semifinals
Match 5. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 10 AUSTRALIA 6 (2-0, 3-4, 4-2, 1-0)
USA won in the lions’ den. In this case the Stingers’ claws were not enough to halt the triple Olympic champion team. With two shutout quarters, USA had the control and took the shots that count. USA shut out Australia in the first quarter with two goals in the last 70 seconds. A penalty attempt went wide at the top of the second quarter. Sienna Hearn from the top right lit up the house and Ryann Neushul responded fore 3-1. Strike force Emily Ausmus made the pain even greater for the 2000-plus home crowd. Aussie Stingers captain Bronte Halligan, playing her 201st international, and Hearn scored consecutive extra-player goals for 4-3 behind. Jewel Roemer netted her second on extra and Hayley Ballesty lobbed for 5-4 by the halftime break.
USA’s Jordan Raney, who sprayed the earlier penalty attempt, made sure with the second-half start and Paige Hauschild joined her from the top. Halligan backhanded an easy centre-forward goal because of the excellent pass. Jenna Flynn and Emma Lineback inflicted more Aussie pai for 9-5. Alexie Lambert arrested the slide on penalty at 2:01, the last score of the period. — 9-6. The final quarter was tight but Australia could not find any chink in the Aussie armour. Hauschild scored on a cross-pass at 4:13, the only goal of the period. The crowd was more subdued as USA stood up and the Stingers tried with no success.
Match Heroes
USA captain Amanda Longan made 10 saves in goal and was named best in pool. Hauschild and Roemer netted two each. Halligan and Hearns were the Aussies’ best shooters with two each.
Turning Point
The first period where the Stingers were kept scoreless and that confidence-swelling third period won 4-2 by USA.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA converted three form seven on extra and Australia two from four so this is not where USA won. USA missed one of three penalty attempts and Australia converted its one. USA made four steals to one while the shots were 29 each. But where it was won was USA’s 34 per cent to 20 per cent conversion rate.
What They Said
Adam Krikorian (USA) — Head Coach
On being a World Cup finalist:
“Yeah, it sounds great, but honestly, nothing sounds great until you get to the very end, right? Just one more game and whether it's Russia or Spain, it's going to be tough. So, we're going to enjoy this victory for a couple more minutes.
On what he said at halftime:
“I think sometimes it's overplayed and overdone what the coach does, you know, in the quarter breaks. It's about the athletes and their ability to be able to execute and perform and we just came out, got on a little run there and that third, and that opened it up and it wasn't anything I said.”
Rebecca Rippon (AUS) — Head Coach
On the loss:
“We obviously want to win every game that we play. The USA were really tough defensively tonight. I thought we also defended well and stuck to our game plan tonight but in attack we weren’t as threatening as we wanted to be. We probably missed a few opportunities out there, which you can’t do against quality team like the USA. The score is what it is, but we felt like it was never really over and we never gave up.”
Match 6. RUSSIA 13 SPAIN 15 in penalty shootout. FT: 10-10. Pens: 3-5. (3-3, 1-3, 2-2, 4-2)
A nervous-looking Spain managed to clinch a gold-medal berth but by the skinniest margin. Spain led much of the match but the gutsy Russians fought back and forced a shootout, which it lost with one saved shot. Spain will need to lift its game before taking on the hot USA combination in Sunday’s final. Nothing could separate the teams in the first quarter with a trade in progress with Elena Ruiz starting the procession on penalty. Mariia Makarova sent in a beautiful lookaway shot; Paula Leiton showed why she is one of the best centre forwards in the world; Daria Kliueva found shooting from the top on extra does bring results; Ariadna Ruiz drilled from the top right and Bella Markoch scored on extra off the left-post position. It was tougher for Russia and its huge supporter base in the second quarter with just the one goal to Daria Savchenko off a cross pass while Paula Crespi at centre forward, Nona Perez at centre forward off a cross pass and Elena Ruiz from the top, giving Spain a 6-4 advantage at the turn.
Russia kept close in the third period and could have done more had Spanish goalkeeper Martina Terre not been in such fine form. At the other end, Russia stopped a penalty attempt and scored a Makarova counter. The Ruiz sisters scored a goal each with Ariadna converting extra from the deepest-right position, virtually dragging the ball around the post for 8-6 with three seconds left on the clock. The first four goals of the final period were traded with Markoch and Lupinogina adding to their tallies for Russia and Crespi netting a second, on extra for 10-8. Russia took a timeout to great effect with captain Ekaterina Prokofyeva blasting in from the top for 10-9 down at 2:07. Elena Ruiz hit the crossbar on penalty at 1:48 and with the clock ticking down, Prokofyeva struck again on extra from the top at 0:21 for 10-10. Spain went to a timeout but did not seem to know what to do and lost the ball with Russia almost in with a chance of a long shot, but the buzzer intervened and the match went to penalties. Spain was perfect with five and Russia’s fourth was blocked meaning Ariadna Ruiz’s shot, Spain’s fifth, was enough for victory.
Match Heroes
Martina Terre with her 12 saves, was Spain’s hero while Ariadna Ruiz top-scored with three. Makarova, Prokofyeva, Lupinogina and Markoch scored twice each and Diane Khamraeva made nine saves.
Turning Point
Prokofyeva’s two goals to get to the shootout.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain made two from five on extra and Russia six from 10. Spain missed two of the three penalty attempts; Russia won the steals 11-eight and the shots 33-27.
What They Said
Martina Terre (ESP) — Goalkeeper
On the win:
“I'm so grateful for the team. We were working so hard to be in that stage and to complete the achievements that we were completing today we are so happy. We need to keep working and keep growing as a team, but we are happy.”
On the shootout:
“I like penalty shootouts, so it’s a quite moment of calm for me to try to save the team. Obviously, my sister was behind me, so if I need to change, she was there, and she would probably make the save, so I was really calm.”
Classification 5-8 Semifinals
Match 5. CHINA 10 ITALY 11 (2-4, 2-4, 4-1, 2-2)
Italy gave up a 9-4 advantage for China to level at 10-10 inside the final six minutes. However, Italy held its nerve, scored at 5:13 and held off China for the remainder of the encounter. Italy started the scoring but let Yan Siya drill from the top and score on penalty for a lead swap. Dafne Bettini struck twice and Italy was back in front — her second a lob shot from wide right. Veronika Gant fired in from the top left and it was 4-2 at quarter time. Yan notched her third to start the second period. Extra-player goals were traded with Italy scoring a triple with a third for Bettini on counter, receiving a cross pass on the drive to two metres, tapping it in for 7-4. Veteran Roberta Bianconi converted extra for the 8-4 halftime advantage.
Chiara Tabani gave Italy a 9-4 edge at the top of the third quarter before Wang Shiyun converted extra and Yan sent in a rocket from the top, following up with a powerful counter goal to trim the margin to two by 3:27. A Chinese challenge was lost, giving Italy a corner throw, but the play never eventuated in a shot. Xie Liyi made sure on extra from the deep left and it was 9-8 down at 1:13. Italy lost the ball twice on separate attacks and a Chinese long shot hit the crossbar. Italy had lost impetus and China was mowing down the pool on every attack. China was equal to the task in the final quarter with Zhang Qishuo scoring either side of a Chiara Ranalli counter score — all three goals came on extra. — which levelled the match at 10. Sofia Giustini sent in a slider for the 11-10 lead, which proved to be the final score, coming at 5:13. Both teams went to a timeout with no success, China’s final shot blocked seven seconds from time.
Match Heroes
Yan was the star with five goals from eight attempts for China while goalkeeper /captain Sheng Yineng made 10 saves. However, it was Italy’s day and Bettini nailed three and goalie Olimpia Sesina also grabbed 10 saves.
Turning Point
Italy coming from 2-1 down to lead 4-2 at the first break.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy was sharp on extra, converting six from seven and halting seven from 12. China converted the only penalty foul; won the steals eight to three and the shots 28-24. Italy was more accurate.
What They Said
Maurizio Mirarchi (ITA) — Head Coach
On the match:
“For us, this game was important. We started the game very well. The first and second period was very good. Then after (half-ime), China improved, which for us caused many problems. Over the game, it was good, and I am very satisfied with this score, and I hope that tomorrow is another big game.”
On having the Italian consulate and crowd in attendance:
“The Italian consulate is a big man. He always stayed near the team. For us, it was important to win for him and for the Italian people that stayed here.”
Match 6. NETHERLANDS HUNGARY (3-3, 5-2, 2-2, 1-4)
Netherlands came up with the goods in a sudden-death penalty shootout where the match was tied at 11-11, went 4-4 on the first rotation and then 1-0 in the sudden-death section. The Dutch deserved the victory, even though Hungary fought back to equalise 11 seconds from time. Zoe Lendvay set the pace for Hungary from the deep left but it was Netherlands who took the match by the scruff of the neck, slamming in three goals — two on lob from Pien Gorter and Lieke Rogge — with Noa de Vries converting extra from the left-post position. Hungary called a timeout. It brought the defences up for Hungary and nearly four minutes later, Vanda Valyi went on counter after a Dutch goal was waived and Eszter Varro rocketed in a shot from the top with 16 seconds left on the clock for the equaliser. Netherlands had the better of the second quarter and went to the long break with a three-goal advantage. Hungary had plenty of chances but they were thwarted by the tight Dutch defence. Nina ten Broek and Varro exchanged goals early in the second period with the latter backhanding a shot from centre forward. De Vries off the right post and Vivian Sevenich on a short drive moved Netherlands to 6-4. Krisztina Garda converted extra; Maxine Schaap responded from the deep left and Rogge netted her second on penalty, which was unsuccessfully disputed by Hungarian head coach Sandor Cseh.
The three-goal margin was maintained in the third period with Kata Hajdu and Kittylynn Joustra trading goals early on, the latter steering in a cross pass in front of goal. Hungarian captain Rita Keszthelyi converting extra on the second attempt for the team and soon after Garda had her second goal turned over thanks to VAR. Gorter produced a buzzer-beater from the top for 10-7 at 0:23. Hungary decided to apply the afterburners in the final quarter with a Garda triple levelling at 10. Joustra dribbled in a centre-forward shot at 1:56 and Panna Tiba drifted into five metres and scored on extra at 0:11 to set up the shootout. Hungary went first and the third shot was blocked while Netherlands’ fourth suffered the same fate. It became 15-15 after the rotation. Garda, sadly, suffered the miss and Schaap made sure of the win.
Match Heroes
Garda top-scored for Hungary with four goals while de Vries, Joustra, Rogge and Gorter scored a pair each for Netherlands. Laura Aarts made nine saves, leading her team to victory.
Turning Point
Hungary winning the final quarter 4-1 to set up the shootout.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands went four from eight on extra and defended nine of 14. Both teams scored on penalty; Netherlands made seven steals to one and Hungary shot 29-27.
What They Said
Evangelos Doudesis (NED) — Head coach
On the win:
“We are satisfied, not only for the win, but for our performance for the biggest part of the game.”
On preparing to face Italy:
“We are very focused; we know why we are here in Sydne. Playing this kind of tournament for us is a very good chance to experience all different situations. This is also the situation, we play now; we play tomorrow, so they are focused. I don’t need to do a lot.”
On preparing for penalty shootouts:
“Both teams — the Hungarian team and our team — we don’t have any secrets anymore. We have played now since after the Olympics in Paris, I think, let’s say like seven competitive games, very important games, so we know each other, we prepare, but there are no secrets between the two teams.”
Vivian Sevenich (NED) —Captain
On the match:
“I’m very proud of the team effort because obviously after the tough loss in the quarterfinals (11-6 to Russia) it’s never easy to keep playing even though it’s for fifth place and not the podium, as we wanted. This tournament may be over for us ,but there’s a whole future ahead. We are looking ahead to next year towards the next world champs in Budapest and LA (Olympics) after, so we are thinking about this process and I think this is a good first step after losing the quarterfinals two days ago.”
On Saturday’s match against Italy for fifth place:
“It’s never easy playing day after day, but I think we always work hard. We have a good group; together all the girls can play, so I think we will be ready to fight one more time this season.”