Spain needed a 9-3 second half to blow off United States of America and Greece sent off Italy 21-11 in key victories while Hungary and China made the winners’ circle in the leading groups.
Overview
In Group A, Hungary made it two close wins, downing Netherlands 13-10 and Greece pummelled Italy 21-11 with a big first quarter.
In Group B, China defeated Croatia 16-10 with three positive quarters while host nation and defending champion Spain had the wood over United States of America 16-11.
In Group C, Turkiye ran away with the match in the second half to defeat Colombia 19-14 after being one down at halftime.
In Group D, Canada held off Germany 11-10 with the Germans set to pounce in the dying seconds but unable to get a shot away to force a shootout.
In Group E, Israel was too strong for Zimbabwe, winning 19-5 after a 3-1 opening quarter.
In Group F, Serbia held out Brazil 12-11 with the only quarter of separation being the 7-6 second-period.
Match Reports
Match 19 Group D. CANADA 11 GERMANY 10 (2-2, 3-3, 4-3, 2-2)
Canada held off a defiant Germany with heavy pressure in the dying seconds that stopped Germany from equalising and forcing a shootout. After a drawn first quarter, Germany put the foot on the accelerator and sent in three straight at the start of the second quarter. Nele Politze added a second with a missile from about 10m; Lucy Schussler went on counter and Emma Fehmel converted extra from top left. Canada pulled out all stops and converted a penalty through McKenna Pineda-McLean and two more action goals to bring up 5-5 by halftime. Pineda-McLean started the second half and Adelyn Kyfiuk, who collected both Canadian goals in the first quarter, jumped on a rebound at centre forward to net Canada’s seventh goal. Politze replied on penalty before Kyfiuk scored from deep right and Pineda-McLean put away another penalty goal. Germany bounced back with a penalty goal and Schussler finished counter on the cross pass for 9-8 at 1:52, which turned out to be the score at the last break. Fehmel levelled on extra at 3:43 in the final period. Canada went to a timeout and soon after gained a penalty foul, which Pineda-McLean converted — her third. Clara Milleker Shyiak turned at deep left to score for 11-9 at 1:02. Bianca Mitterbauer, who made the 7-7 penalty score for Germany, slotted a goal from deep right at 0:44 for 11-10. Time ran out for Canada and Germany had possession for the last 15 seconds. A timeout was called at 0:09, but the resulting passes forgot to shoot and the buzzer sounded, Canada winning the match.
Match Heroes
Canadian captain Pineda-McLean topped the scoring with four goals. Germany’s Politze nailed three and goalkeeper Maria Sekulic stopped 12 shots.
Turning Point
Canada moving from 5-2 down to 7-5 ahead and then to 9-6. It was enough to make Germany work hard.
Stats Don’t Lie
Canada converted two from four on extra and Germany two from six. Both teams sent in three penalty goals. Canada took the steals at seven-four and the shots at 33-24.
Match 10. Group E, ISRAEL 19 ZIMBABWE 5 (3-1, 7-3, 4-0, 5-1)
Israel entered the competition with a big win while Zimbabwe drops to bottom of the group with two losses. Emily Lutz began the scoring for Zimbabwe with an unusual goal, on counter with the goalkeeper coming out to contest. She turned the goalie and swam into goal, scoring unopposed, but Israel needed nearly five minutes to warm to the match, scoring three goals before the first break. With Gili Borenstein gathering her second, Israel shot out to 5-1 before Lutz struck again. Borenstein gained her third as Israel moved to 9-2. A mini revival for Israel garnered two goals through Natasha Chaniwa on extra and Tariro Muhomba from the field. Avia Gudes stopped the scoring 14 seconds from time and a 10-4 halftime advantage. Borenstein scored twice more in the third, Teva Dorfman added a third to start the final period with Dorfman and a Gudes pair followed by another Borenstein strike for 19-4 at 2:46. Muhomba scored again at 1:59, which proved to be the final score.
Match Heroes
Borenstein slammed in six goals for Israel and Dorfman three while goalkeeper Maya Leib dragged in nine saves. Muhomba scored twice for Zimbabwe.
Turning Point
Israel coming from one down to 5-1 ahead.
Stats Don’t Lie
Israel converted four from eight on extra and stopped four from five. Israel won the steals nine to four and the shooting at 39-20.
Match 11. Group F, SERBIA 12 BRAZIL 11 (1-1, 7-6, 2-2, 2-2)
Serbia took the lead off Brazil, survived four tied results and pulled away just enough to keep the rampaging Maiah Nascimento at bay. It was Nascimento who kept her team in the match and when she produced a “helicopter” shot for 12-11 at 1:18 in the last quarter, the match was there for winning. However, she could not provide another. It was a thrilling encounter and Serbia did well to fend off Brazil who led 2-1, came back to level three, four and five before Masa Cuk started the break at 6-5 with her second goal. Nika Ratkovic grabbed a second for 7-5 and that was where Serbia took control. Serbia surged to 10-7 with a Nascimento pair narrowing it to 10-9 at the last break. Masa Cuk scored first in the final quarter and nearly five minutes later, Nascimento went to the penalty line. Her shot hit the bar and she snapped up the rebound and scored for 11-10. Just 20 seconds later, Elena Cuk scored her second with a sliding shot into the bottom left for a two-goal difference. At 1:18, Nascimento scored her “helicopter” shot (backhanding one way after seemingly going the other) off a six-metre foul. The ball hit the bar and the back of the goalkeeper to go into goal. Each side took a timeout with the shots saved.
Match Heroes
Masa Cuk scored three for Serbia and goalkeeper Lena Petkovic made seven saves. Nascimento was the highest achiever with seven goals and Ingrid Goncalves took in 12 balls at the goalmouth.
Turning Point
Serbia turning the 2-1 score against into 6-5 where Brazil could not level again.
Stats Don’t Lie
Serbia buried four from six on extra and Brazil two from five. Serbia scored both penalty attempts and Brazil missed one. Brazil took the steals six to four but Serbia was better on shots at 31-30.
Match 12. Group C. COLOMBIA 14 TURKIYE 19 (4-3, 5-5, 2-5, 3-6)
Colombia entered the competition and proved up to the task with a fantastic first three quarters. Turkiye made the plays to 3-2 with Colombia striking twice inside the last two minutes for the quarter-time advantage. At 5-3 in the second, it looked good for the newcomer. Turkiye was coming off a first-day, one-goal defeat, so was looking for something better. Nina Bozkurt provided the Turkish spark followed by two Defne Keremoglu scores — the first on penalty. It became 7-5 to Turkiye but Maria Bula and Ainhoa Velez, with her second, equalising. Bozkurt on penalty and two action goals from Salome Agudelo and Velez gave the lead back to Colombia at halftime — 9-8. Naz Ozdemir and Keremoglu regained that lead. Agudelo equalised on penalty before Ozdemir also struck from five metres. Eda Moroglu and Agudelo swapped goals as Turkiye went to the last break at 13-11. Colombia was broken when Keremoglu struck three times and Bozkurt and Moroglu once each for 18-11. Agudelo broke the rhythm and Moroglu responded. Two late Colombian goals showed there was still some energy left in the team.
Match Heroes
Keremoglu netted six to take her tally to 11; Bozkurt nailed four and Moroglu and captain Ozdemir three each for Turkiye. The goalkeepers shared 10 saves. For Colombia, Agudelo tripped in five and Velez three.
Turning Point
Colombia going 5-3 up; Turkiye going 7-5 ahead; Colombia shooting to 9-8 and in control at 10-10 before wilting badly.
Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams were perfect on their two extra plays and again perfect with penalties at three (TUR) and four (COL). Colombia took the steals at nine to five and Turkiye the shots at 31-29.Turkiye
Progress Points
Group A: Greece 6, Hungary 6, Netherlands 0, Italy 0.
Group B: Spain, 6, USA 3, China 3, Croatia 0.
Group C: New Zealand 3, Turkiye 3, Colombia 0.
Group D: Canada 3, Germany 3, Malta 0.
Group E: Israel 3, South Africa 3, Zimbabwe 0.
Group F: Australia 3, Serbia 3, Brazil 0.
Day 3 Schedule
09:00, Group E, South Africa v Israel
10:30, Group F, Australia v Serbia
12:00, Group C, New Zealand v Colombia
13:30, Group D, Malta v Canada
15:00, Group A, Hungary v Greece
16:30, Group A, Netherlands v Italy
18:00, Group A, Croatia v United States of America
19:30, Group B, China v Spain