In the classification five-eight semifinals, Italy edged China 11-10 and Netherlands needed a sudden-death penalty shootout to hold off Hungary 16-15. The medal semifinals will be played this evening.
Overview
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.
Match Reports
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.