European champion Netherlands beat Italy 12-5 to take out fifth classification while Hungary held out China 12-8 for seventh ranking at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Saturday. The women’s medal finals will be played on Sunday.
Overview
In the classification 5-6 match, European champion Netherlands had the better of Italy, who appeared flat, turning the 6-3 advantage into a solid 12-5 victory with Lola Moolhuijzen scoring five goals from five attempts.
In the classification match 7-8, Hungary was more polished in winning 12-8 over China gaining the best separation at 7-4 by halftime.
Match Reports
Classification 5-6
Match 10. ITALY NETHERLANDS (2-4, 1-2, 1-4, 1-2)
Netherlands proved too strong for Italy and took home the cash and fifth place. Now for the long trip back to Europe. Agnese Cocchiere scored Italy’s first two goals, straddling a Dutch pair from Kittylynn Joustra and Lola Moolhuijzen, both on extra. Moolhuijzen scored again, on action, and Maxine Schaap crushed one home from deep left for 4-2 by the first break. It was much closer in the second quarter, but it still favoured Netherlands with Joustra netting her second on a cross pass at two metres. Dafne Bettini struck out of the blue from the top right more than three minutes later and a minute after that Nina ten Broek lifted the Dutch to 6-3. An Italian appeal failed and the goal stood, becoming the halftime mark.
Netherlands was rarely threatened in the third period after Bettini grabbed her second at 5:25 for 6-4 down. Moolhuijzen put away two more; Vivian Sevenich finished the counter and Marit van der Weijden made sure of a penalty comet for 10-4 at 1:06, the score at the last break. Moolhuijzen scored from deep right just before the buzzer and Chiara Ranalli replied after what seemed a dozen passes for 11-5. Both teams went to a timeout with no joy on the scoreboard. It was not until 1:06 that Schaap landed her second from the top for 12-5, wrapping up their Sydney campaigns.
Match Heroes
Moolhuijzen with five from five for Netherlands and Sarah Buis dragged down nine saves in goal. Bettini and Cocchiere scored twice for Italy and the goalkeepers nabbed nine saves.
Turning Point
Netherlands breaking away from 2-2 to 6-3 at halftime. Then the juggernaut was unleashed.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands led in all stats with five from nine on extra and stopping all six of Italy’s attempts. The Dutch scored twice from the penalty line; made nine steals to four and shot 29 times to 23.
What They Said
Classification 7-8
Match 9. CHINA 8 HUNGARY 12 (2-4, 2-3, 3-3, 1-2)
Hungary’s superior defence and individual positioning made sure of heading home with seventh classification. China started strongly at 2-1 ahead but then Hungary pressed, stole the ball and went on two counters, scoring off one through Vanda Valyi and ending up with a penalty goal and a Rita Keszthelyi cannon from the top. Yan Siya set the ball rolling on extra and Zhang Qishuo followed up from deep right. However, the half-court Hungarian press upset China’s rhythm. Kamilla Farago from the top on extra and Hajdu with a brilliant, last-gasp shot at the end of possession from the left side of the pool, found the smallest of entry points bottom left through the scrambling hands of Shen Yineng, taking Hungary to 6-2 by 6:34 in the second quarter. Yan Jing and Xie Liyi, straddled Valyi’s extra-player shot. In fact, all three came from this situation. Hungary had the 7-4 halftime advantage.
Hungary’s lightning-fast defence, both individually and a team, was proving hard for China to counteract. Slow passes were caned and too often China was not allowed to get away natural shots. Hajdu on extra and Xie on counter, after gaining the steal in the back-court, made it 8-5. Eszter Varro converted extra form the top and Zsofi Horvath accepted a close pass at two metres for 10-5. China lifted its game and put away two goals before the last break with the last on extra from Wang Shiyun with just five seconds left on the clock. At 10-7 down, China was in with a slim chance. Farago scored from deep early in the fourth and four minutes transpired before China took a timeout only for VAR to discover that Keszthelyi allegedly elbowed her opponent above the water and was red-carded, meaning the time went back and China still had two timeouts. Garda sat up and smashed in an outside shot on extra for 12-7 at 1:55. Miki Oca used the first of his timeouts to good effect with Zhang Yumian drilling on extra. He took another, but too many dropped passes did not help and Hungary had seventh position.
Match Heroes
Hajdu with three for Hungary and Xie with two for China.
Turning Point
Hungary going from 2-1 down to 5-2 ahead in the second quarter.
Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary made a magnificent eight from nine on extra and shut down eight of 14. Hungary scored the one penalty goal; China took the steals seven to five and the shots were even at 25.
What They Said
Day 5 Schedule
Classification 3-4
12:45, Australia v Russia
Classification 1-2
16:15, United States of America v Spain