Spain smashed Netherlands 17-5 and Greece humbled Hungary 14-8 in decisive semifinals to set up an enticing gold-medal match on Friday.
Overview
Reigning champion Spain applied the afterburners against Netherlands, much like on day two when it won 13-5 and will go into successive tournaments in the deciding match. Greece beat Spain 8-5 on day four, so it sets up a juicy encounter. Greece was beaten into the silver medal position by Hungary in the inaugural 2022 edition, the year Spain claimed bronze.
In the five-eight semifinals, newcomer Russia had the better of 2024 bronze medallist Australia 13-10 and seventh-ranked United States of America downed New Zealand — 21st in 2024 — 15-5.
In the nine-12 semifinals, Turkiye toppled China 10-7 and Italy downed Serbia 9-4.
In lower-level matches, the closest finish was Czechia’s 11-10 win over Ukraine in the 13-16 bracket.
Semifinal Match Reports
Classification 1-4
Match 71. SPAIN 17 NETHERLANDS 5 (5-2, 3-1, 7-2, 2-0)
It looks like Spain was saving its best for the sharp end of the tournament, losing to Greece in an aberration, although it was the second encounter for these two teams, Spain finishing 13-5 ahead on day two. As on that day, Spain won every period, but today the halftime score added another goal to each. Ivet Sulla scored four goals then and six today (she scored six goals against Serbia on day one) as her tally soars. Sulla started the scoring on penalty and the Dutch were confident enough to level the match at one and two. Sulla sent in another penalty shot and Maria Abarca shot twice from outside for 5-2 at the break. Paula Pineda, who has been in the scoring mood in Zagreb, made it 6-2. Emma van Leusden converted a penalty foul but Spain scooted to 8-3 thanks to Sulla on extra. Bruna Gomila scored twice to start the second half, van Leusden nabbed another penalty goal and Sulla used a six-metre foul to score for 11-4. Sulla was in a trade for 3:07 and the next three went Spain’s way with Sulla and Abarca in the mix. Both sides shut up shop in the fourth until Pineda scored from outside and a Spanish penalty strike closing all scoring at 17-5.
Match Heroes
Sulla slammed in six goals and Abarca three for Spain. The goalkeepers made nine saves between them. Van Leusden scored twice from four attempts for Netherlands.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain was brutal on extra-man defence, stopping 10 of 12 Dutch attempts and scoring its only two chances. Spain put away all four penalty attempts as did Netherlands with two. Spain was accurate with six from seven outside shots, won the steals 12 to six and managed a tournament-high 71 per cent scoring rate.
Match 72. HUNGARY 8 GREECE 14 (3-4, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4)
Greece is here for one thing and that is to win the gold medal. The only unbeaten team in the competition, the closest it came to be troubled was Spain, whom it meets in Friday’s final. Hungary arrived at the pool unbeaten with the only scare a shootout win over Canada on day four. Now it will play Netherlands for bronze. Hungary was two ahead and 3-2 up before Eleni Elmisian and Afroditi Bitsakou scored consecutive shots from the top for 4-3 at the first break. Doniz Domsodi levelled with her second but a Greek triple with Bitsakou on penalty and Elmisian on extra, had the match firmly in Greece’s grip at 7-4 by halftime. Bitsakou scored twice more as the score marched to 10-5. Mandula Mihok converted extra for her second goal as the match went to the last period at 10-6. Elmisian went on counter for 12-6, goals were traded by 3:07 and the last trade occurred in the last 36 seconds with Mihol scoring on extra.
Match Heroes
Bitsakou netted five goals from seven attempts and Elmisian four from four. Mihok was best for Hungary with three from five.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece nailed five from seven on extra and stopped three from six. Greece missed one of three penalty chances, led the steals four-three and the overall shots 23-22. Its 61 per cent shooting rate out-starred Hungary’s 36.
Classification 5-8
Match 69. AUSTRALIA 10 RUSSIA 13 (1-3, 2-5, 3-2, 4-3)
Russia won this match with a fantastic 7-1 start that had Australia on the backfoot, and despite a huge comeback, was too far away to dream of a fifth win in Zagreb. Both teams came off a shattering loss after four successful days and now Russia advances to the fifth-place play-off against United States of America and Australia to seventh against trans-Tasman neighbour New Zealand, down from bronze two years ago. Russian captain Arina Boiarova started the ball rolling with Australia responding on extra soon after. From there it was a Russian steamroller as it shot to 7-1. Sophie Zampech arrested the team falling into the abyss with a score from the top and one on extra at 8-3 by halftime. Goals were traded at the top of the third quarter with Elizaveta Nikiforova scoring from centre forward after a Jade Visch Aussie goal. An Australia pair reduced the margin to three before Boiarova countered for 10-6 at the final break. Goals were traded three times for 13-9 — two to Aussie Lily Emu —with Australia countering for the final goal at 1:31.
Match Heroes
Boiarova and Nikiforova netted three each for Russia and the goalkeepers combined for seven save. For Australia, Emu and Zampech scored twice each.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia converted four from seven on extra and Russia made one from two. Russia scored the only penalty goal; the steals were tied at four, as were the shots at 26.
Match 70. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15 NEW ZEALAND 5 (4-0, 4-1, 2-3, 5-1)
New Zealand suffered the same fate as Australia by being so far down at the start, making a successful comeback nigh on impossible. At 7-0, USA was already thinking of the fifth-play play-off. Paige Segesman and Kate Bambury had two each before New Zealand gained its first goal through Emily Rope late in the second quarter. She scored again for 8-2 well into the third. Louise Walls scored twice for USA as the score moved to 10-4 at the last break. Bambury twice and Segesman once featured as the score advanced to 14-4 at 1:17. Rope was in a trade in the last half minute with her penalty shot.
Match Heroes
Bambury had four, Segesman and Walls three each for USA. The goalies made eight saves between them. Rope scored three for the Kiwis.
Stats Don’t Lie
New Zealand converted three from eight on extra while USA was perfect with one. USA was potent from the top with six outside shots to none. The steals favoured USA nine to seven and the shots were even. USA converted two penalty fouls and New Zealand one.
Classification 9-12
Match 67. CHINA 7 TURKIYE 10 (0-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-3)
Turkiye built its victory on the first half where Mina Bozkurt scored twice and captain Eda Moroglu thrice. Chinese star shooter and captain Zhu Yinqi scored off her first attempt at 3:43 in the third period on extra. Her second and third came before the final break, both on extra. Guo Rongrong scored two counter-attack goals to bring it to 7-6 down at 4:25, but a Turkish timeout redressed the situation and two Bozkurt goals in a triple run shifted the focus to 10-6. A late six-metre, free throw goal by China narrowed the margin to three. It was Turkiye’s fourth victory and will now play for ninth. Remember that Turkiye took Spain to a 9-8 decision on day three, probably its best achievement with Spain in the final.
Match Heroes
Bozkurt netted four and Moroglu three for Turkiye. Zhu was best for China with three goals and Li Siyao made seven saves in goal.
Stats Don’t Lie
Turkiye struggled on extra with one from four while China made four from seven. Turkiye gained a penalty goal, won the steals 10-8 and shot 24 to 18.
Match 68. ITALY 9 SERBIA 4 (1-1, 3-1, 2-2, 3-0)
Italy picked up its fourth victory, earning a shot at ninth after finishing sixth two years ago. Serbia was 12 in Manisa, so this year, a play-off for 11th could be an improvement. Italy broke free of Serbia in the second quarter with three straight goals. However, Serbia had other ideas and a minute into the second quarter had equalised at 4-4. Italy buried two extra-player goals with the second to Francesca Lucignani — her second strike. She countered for her third a minute into the fourth and Marta Lorefice did the same on the next attack for 8-4. A third counter goal in the last minute set the seal on the match.
Match Heroes
Lucignani and Lorefice, with three apiece, were Italy’s best.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy was stronger on extra plays at three from six and stopping all three Serbian thrusts. Italy put away two penalty shots, lost the steals four to five but had the overall shots at 21 to 17.
Classification 13-16
Match 65. UKRAINE 10 CZECHIA 11 (1-2, 5-3, 2-5, 2-1)
The lead was shared but Czechia took over the reins in the third period and held out as Ukraine fired back, landing the last goal 90 seconds from the final buzzer. The match was level at one and two with Czechia seizing the moment and going ahead 5-2. Mariia Tsyhankova netted two of the next three Ukrainian goals for 5-5 and then went ahead through a Yelizaveta Tereshchenko counter-attack goal just before halftime. She struck again for 7-5 and Viktoriia Rudnyk made it a three-goal margin. Lucie Bakalova scored three times and Lucie Koubova once as the match switched back to Czechia with a further counter goal for 10-8 at the last break. Bakalova countered for 11-8. The final say went to Tsyhankova with a pair by 1:30, but it was not enough for victory.
Match Heroes
Bakalova scored seven goals for Czechia. Tsyhankova was Ukraine’s best with four strikes while agile goalkeeper Anna Chentsova pulled in and incredible 14 saves.
Stats Don’t Lie
The only stat that separated these teams was overall shots — 33-22 — but that showed Ukraine was more accurate with a 45-percentage compared to 33.
Match 66. ISRAEL 4 CANADA 7 (0-0, 1-4, 1-1, 2-2)
Both teams now have two wins in Zagreb with Canada moving to 13-14 play-off and Israel to 15-16. Canada was 11th in Manisa, Turkiye two years ago while Israel was absent after finishing 10th in 2022. After a slow start, Dylan Martens opened with a penalty goal at 3:34 in the second period. Jennika Linthicum scored the third and fourth goals before halftime and the fifth goal early in the third period before Israel awoke with a penalty goal. Martens netted her second on penalty at the top of the fourth quarter with Galia Wureit responding from an outside shot for 6-3. A trade in the last two minutes closed the scoring.
Match Heroes
Linthicum scored three goals and Canadian goalkeeper Alexis Rotheisler dragged in 11 saves. Maya Leib took eight saves for Israel.
Stats Don’t Lie
Neither team could convert extra with Canada missing three and Canada six. Canada made seven steals to four and both teams converted two penalty fouls.
Classification 17-20
Match 61. GERMANY 9 SOUTH AFRICA 4 (1-1, 4-0, 3-3, 1-0)
These teams arrive at the match with two-four records and it promised to be close . However, despite the closeness of the first period, Germany found the can-opener in the second with Lina Bruns scoring twice in succession as her team rushed to 5-1 like an ambulance to the hospital. Mikayla Morrison found the net on penalty two minutes into the third period, but Germany pushed the score to 7-2. Bruns was in a swap for 8-3 and Morrison converted extra for 8-4 down at the last break. Elizan Kaya netted her second on extra for 9-4 and, despite three timeouts being called inside the last three minutes, no goals could be found.
Match Heroes
Bruns scored three for Germany as Morrison did for South Africa. The African goalies made seven saves between them.
Stats Don’t Lie
Germany went four from seven on extra and South Africa one from three. Germany stumbled at the penalty line, missing two from three while South Africa made sure of two. Germany made 10 steals to three and the shots were 19-15 favouring Germany.
Match 62. CROATIA 13 PERU 6 (5-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1)
The 5-1 start was what made the day for Croatia against a team just off two victories. Croatia nudged Romania the day before and was pipped by Australia the day before that. Peru beat Germany in a shootout and Zimbabwe by two in the previous two days. Peru was shocked by the 5-0 romp and only scored on the buzzer from an extra play. A trade started the second quarter with Iva Garic and Karla Popovic closing the half on extra situations. Kiara Barrantes scored two penalty goals as Peru took hold of the third period; Popovic gaining another on counter for Croatia. Tena Sasi scored from two metres and on penalty for 12-5 and traded goals with another penalty strike for 13-6 by 2:41, the eventual score.
Match Heroes
Popovic and Sasi netted four apiece for Croatia. Barrantes was Peru’s best with three goals.
Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia scored two from three on extra and defended four from six. Penalty goals went four-two to Croatia and 11-5 on steals with the shots at 23-15.
Classification 21-24
Match 63. BRAZIL 9 MEXICO 1 (3-0, 2-0, 2-1, 4-7)
Brazil collected its first win and Mexico has yet to taste that feeling. It came after an 8-7 loss to Germany, so Brazil is building for its 21-22 play-off with Romania. Brazil kept Mexico scoreless for the first half and that was where the match was won. Brazil let down its defences once in the third period and shut up shop again for the remainder of the encounter.
Match Heroes
Maria Santos, Leonna de Castro, Rayra Gomes and Maya Moura netted two each while the goalkeepers combined for eight saves.
Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil made four from six on extra and Mexico one from four. Mexico missed a penalty attempt and Brazil won the steals five-three. Overall shots went 19-12 in Brazil’s favour.
Match 64. ROMANIA 6 ZIMBABWE 3 (3-0, 0-1, 2-0, 1-2)
Romania went out strong with a powerful opening period that set the tone for the match. From that point it was even and the statistics show how tight it was. Captain Sara Pascu netted twice in the first quarter and Zimbabwe’s response came at 0:29 of the second period through Sascha Butler on extra. A Romanian pair in quick succession lifted the difference to four, Vivien Ridzyk scoring from two metres. She gained her second at the top of the fourth quarter and Lola Accorsi made it 6-3 with consecutive shots from the top at 2:55, the final score.
Match Heroes
Ridzyk and Pascu with two each for Romania and the goalkeepers combined for seven saves. Accorsi scored twice for Zimbabwe.
Stats Don’t Lie
Romania went one from four on extra and Zimbabwe two from four. Zimbabwe won the steals four-three. Romania converted two from three on penalty and outshot Zimbabwe 22-18.
Day 7 Schedule
Classification Finals
10:00, Classification 15-16, Ukraine v Israel
10:05, Classification 23-24, Mexico v Zimbabwe
11:30, Classification 13-14, Czechia v Canada
11:35, Classification 21-22, Brazil v Romania
13:00, Classification 11-12, China v Serbia
14:30, Classification 9-10, Turkiye v Italy
16:00, Classification 7-8, Australia v New Zealand
17:30, Classification 5-6, Russia v United States of America
17:35, Classification 19-20, South Africa v Peru
19:00, Classification 3-4, Netherlands v Hungary
19:05, Classification 17-18, Germany v Croatia
20:30, Classification 1-4, Spain v Greece