Spain was denied its third world title since 2018 when juggernaut Australia romped home 9-5 in front of a hostile crowd interspersed with a phalanx of green and gold. United States of America collected the bronze medal after fending off Hungary 8-7.
Final Placings
1. Australia
2. Spain
3. United States of America
4. Hungary
5. Greece
6. Canada
7. Netherlands
8. China
9. Italy
10. Croatia
11. Israel
12. New Zealand
13. Germany
14. Turkiye
15. Brazil
16. Serbia
17. Colombia
18. South Africa
19. Malta
20. Zimbabwe
Awards
Most Valuable Player
Bless Daly (AUS)
Best Goalkeeper
Gianna Adams (USA)
Best Coach
Fabio Pavanello (AUS)
Highest Goal-Scorer
Bless Daly (AUS) — 42
Player of the Gold-Medal Final
Caroline Healy (AUS)
Media All Star Team
Goalkeeper
Gianna Adams (USA)
Field Players
Bless Daly (AUS)
Marina Fernandez (ESP)
Nefeli Krassa (GRE)
Marjolein de Gier (NED)
Kincso Kenez (HUN)
Charlotte Raisin (USA)
Overview
In the classification matches, Australia provided another dominating display in downing champion Spain 9-5; United States of America held out Hungary 8-7 for the bronze medal; Greece ripped up Canada 19-9 for fifth; Netherlands thumped China 16-6 for seventh; Italy severed Croatia 24-12 for ninth; Israel fended off New Zealand for 8-7 for 11th; Germany survived a shootout against Turkiye 15-13 after the match was tied at 12-12 and Brazil jumped Serbia 17-16 for 15th classification.
Classification Match Reports
Classification 1-2
Match 64. AUSTRALIA 9 SPAIN 5 (3-0, 1-2, 3-2, 2-1)
Australia plundered its first medal at an Under-18 championship and it had to be gold. Australia was the team that could take the game to Spain, a perennial medal winner at this level. Australia played with strength and vigour all week and had to come from the lower ranks, busting every team it faced, beating Greece, United States of America and now Spain all by four-goal margins, the closest any team came to it here. There was no secret about its major weapon, Bless Daly, the World Cup bronze medallist who helped scream anxiety in every team as she finished the week with a staggering 42 goals. She had plenty of support and firepower around her as seen today. She did not need be the focal point.
Australia started like bull out of a gate, slamming in three goals in quick succession and holding that advantage until nearly four minutes into the second quarter. Ali McCarthy sat up for the first two and Daly rattled in a third by 3:33. Ona Jurado broke the Spanish drought from left-hand catch and nearly four minutes later, Amelie Hoefel converted extra from the top left. Then Australia made a horrific mistake and allowed Queralt Anton a terrific scoop clearance of a water ball from five metres out with a lone second left on the clock. Australia turned leading 4-2 and Spain was ready to pounce.
Australia was denied a penalty when the VAR decision took it away on challenge. Jurado nabbed a second from the top on extra and the crowd was expecting more. However, Daly slipped a ball into Alannah Paul on the near post and she wound up like a top and spun, scooping the ball into goal for 5-3 at 3:45. Australia went to a timeout soon after and set up Sara Connors to shoot from top left. Captain Kiera Mironova was handily placed to receive the first pass on extra to score a third consecutive goal for 7-3 at 1:32. Suddenly, the face of the game had changed. Not to be outdone, Anton made it a second with a withering shot from the top on extra at 1:01. There was still life in the Spanish team, which was being spurred on by the huge home crowd. The score held until the final break. Spain went to a timeout at 5:17 in the fourth period but it was Daly who came up with a penalty goal more than two minutes later. Marina Pineda gave hope at 2:30 on extra from deep left for 8-5. And at 0:25, Australia called a timeout and a perfectly executed move had the ball in the hand of Connors for a nano-second, scoring off the left-post position from a near pass. It was 9-5 and only 13 seconds left. Australia was world champion.
Match Heroes
McCarthy, Daly and Paul claimed a pair each for Australia and goalkeeper Caroline Healy trumped them with her nine saves — a key to victory. Captain Anton and Jurado scored twice each for Spain ending up with 12 goals apiece.
Turning Point
The three goals in the first quarter that started Spain questioning its ability to overturn.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia converted six from nine on extra and shut out eight from 11. Australia scored the only penalty goal, lost the steals 11-seven but won the shooting percentage by a huge margin — 40.9 to 18.5. The best stat for Australia was its scoring — 132 goals for and 42 against.
Classification 3-4
Match 61. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 8 HUNGARY 7 (2-3, 3-2, 0-1, 3-1)
USA has a bronze medal to go with its two titles (2014 and 2022) after coming from 3-1 down in the first quarter and 6-5 down at the last break, taking a two-goal margin into the last five minutes. USA survived Hungary’s close attentions until the final buzzer, and beyond. USA opened but Hungary made a huge play with three straight goals. USA missed a penalty attempt but Charlotte Raisin sent one in from the top for 3-2 down at the first break. Raisin scored a six-metre shot to equalise and Emerson Mulvey took USA ahead on extra from very deep left. Hungary challenged for a potential penalty foul, succeeded and Kincso Kenez scored her second goal (12 in all) after her six-metre effort in the first quarter. Raisin stood up again from top right and Mandula Mihok scored an exceptional centre-forward backhand with a baulk for 5-5 at 0:18. Goals were hard to come by in the third period as both teams’ defences were rock solid. It took until 1:21 before Kinga Alaksza found a gap down the left from the top for the go-ahead 6-5 goal.
Kirra Pantaleon wasted no time in receiving and scoring into the bottom left for her 16th goal of the week. A similar goal was fashioned by Raisin in the same position on the next attack. Pantaleon added a third straight goal from top left. Something the coach said at the break must have worked. Hanga Szalkai slid a ball in from the top at 3:04 for 8-7 down. Both teams went to a timeout for no success, although Hungary thought it had. Mihok tackled the goalkeeper, the whistle went and she took the ball and fired it into goal. She was excluded with 22 seconds remaining. USA held on to the ball and started to celebrate until Hungary challenged the decision. It was lost and USA had the bronze medal.
Match Heroes
Raisin was the star for USA with four goals, lifting her to 15 for the tournament. Pantaleon scored twice and totalled 16 with four penalty goals in the mix. Gianna Adams made seven saves in goal. For Hungary, captain Kenez scored twice for 13 and Alaksza also scored a couple. Orsolya Horvath was Hungary’s star with 11 goalkeeper saves.
Turning Point
USA from 3-1 down to 5-4 ahead; Hungary retaking the lead in a one-goal third period and the USA triple in the last that turned the result.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA made three from seven on extra and Hungary none from two. USA missed its penalty attempt and Hungary was perfect with two. USA took the steals and had 36 shots to 24.
Classification 5-6
Match 60. GREECE 19 CANADA 9 (7-3, 5-1, 3-2, 4-3)
Greece wanted to be in the top four so this was some consolation after being runner-up in the last two editions and the bronze medallist before that. The 2012 champion had to settle for something less. For Canada, silver in 2014 is still the highlight with 12th place last time now a distant memory. Greece was always going to win this encounter and the first quarter showed what it could do. Nefeli Krassa was the only double scorer of the first period as Greece took the 3-2 scoreline to 6-2 and eventually 7-3. Greece scored from the deep, hit the bar on penalty and watched as Clara Milliker Shyiak cross-caged a shot on extra for 8-4. This set the ball in motion and Greece speared in the next four with Androniki Karagianni netting twice with the second on penalty, lifting her match tally to three. Greece turned at 12-4. Greece started the third period with a hat-trick while Canada struck back through McKenna Pineda-McLean from the top left and Ava Kyfiuk — equalling her twin sister Adelyn Kyfiuk who scored the first goal of the match. Milleker Shyiak started he fourth from centre forward with Karagianni countering the length of the pool and lobbing for 16-7. Ava Kyfiuk made it two goals on counter after a superb long goalie pass. Greece replied twice and goals were traded in the last two minutes for the sensational Greek victory.
Match Heroes
Karagianni with four goals, lifting her to 11 while captain Krassa nailed two goals for a team-high 15. Ava Kyfiuk scored twice for Canada to go to eight and Milleker Shyiak also scored twice. Captain Pineda-McLean scored once for the team-best 16 goals.
Turning Point
The moment Greece took the water.
Stats Don’t Lie
Greece scored one from two on extra and shut down six of eight. Greece missed one of three penalty throws and Canada made sure of one. Greece stole the steals at 14 to six and the overall shooting at 59.4 to 31 per cent.
Classification 7-8
Match 59. NETHERLANDS 16 CHINA 6 (6-1, 0-2, 6-1, 4-2)
Netherlands retained its seventh ranking of the last two tournaments while China had no answer to Netherlands’ superior play and had to be happy with eighth position, two notches up the ladder. Netherlands whipped into the match with a high heart rate it seemed and started smashing goals left, right and centre. Six came before China could sneak one across the line and at the forefront of the assault was Marjolein de Gier with four goals. She entered this last match with 17 goals and already has 21 as her team’s leading scorer. It was a different matter in the second quarter as China dominated with two goals, the first on centre-forward lob from Chen Shangyu with her second of the week and 13 seconds from time by captain Zhang Jingwen on extra from top left for her 23rd goal. Myrthe Broekmate at centre forward, receiving the ball in the air while holding off a defender to score, started the third period. De Gier chimed in from the top and then two Chinese penalty attempts went awry. Zhang Jingwen had her shot hit the left post and when she went to retrieve gained another penalty foul. Yu Anran had her shot slapped away. Broekmate lobbed from centre forward and Yi Xiyao converted extra for 9-4 down. A triple, with de Gier from the top, moved the score to 12-4 at the final talk. Goals were traded in the first minute and Leyla Hiati netted Netherlands’ 14-5 goal from the top. Both teams took a timeout with the Dutch successful on extra through Lin Godefrooij with her third strike. Another trade finished the scoring at 16-6 in favour of the Dutch.
Match Heroes
Netherlands’ De Gier finished with six goals and 23 for the tournament. Godefrooij shot three goals for 15 in total. For China, Zhang Jingwen was one of six scorers and ended her week with 23 goals.
Turning Point
Netherlands starting with a juggernaut six goals.
Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted four from seven on extra and China an equally stunning five from seven. China missed two penalty chances; Netherlands won the steals at 15-12 and the shooting at 55.2 to 27.3 per cent.
Classification 9-10
Match 58. CROATIA 12 ITALY 24 (3-8, 4-6, 2-6, 3-4)
Italy took it out on Croatia for failing to make the top eight. Goals were raining everywhere and there was no doubt Italy was the better team. Italy is a silver and bronze medallist at this event and last time was sixth and fourth two years before that. Croatia was ninth two years ago. Both teams were interested in amassing goals in their final outing and Italy was a standout with the first three goals in an exhausting first period of 11 goals. At 8-3, Italy was in control of the match early. Malika Bovo was a triple scorer and Matilde Gallettini hit the net twice. Neli Jankovic made two for Croatia. Margherita Minuto scored twice to add to her first-quarter goal as the Italian train left the station at speed. The score went to 14-4 before Mara Jadresic on extra and Jankovic with two outside rockets on extra trimmed the margin to seven at the halftime chat. Minuto and Gallettini were in the mix in the third period which ballooned to 20-9. Lara Srhoj scored a hat-trick in the fourth and finished with three penalty goals as Gallettini masterly scored another three for 24-12.
Match Heroes
Gallettini scored seven goals for a tally of 11. Bovo netted four as the team’s highest scorer with 20. Minuto also scored four to finish on 15. For Croatia, captain Jankovic fired in five goals to tally 16 and Srhoj scored three penalty goals for seven and one field goal to top her team with 17 overall.
Turning Point
The first-quarter advantage proved too much for Croatia.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy managed just two from six on extra and Croatia four from seven. Croatia scored three from penalty and Italy two. Italy took the steals at 10 to four and the shots 64.9 to 34.3 per cent.
Classification 11-12
Match 57. NEW ZEALAND 7 ISRAEL 8 (3-1, 1-2, 0-3, 3-2)
Israel survived a final onslaught by New Zealand to wrap up 11th position and a third victory in Puerta de la Cruz. New Zealand began strongly with an excellent first quarter with the stars stepping up. India-Rose Scholes scored the first with a bounce shot on extra and the third on counter for her 21st. Isabella Lambie grabbed her 16th goal with a six-metre, free throw. Teva Dorfman brought up 18 on penalty at 1-1. Dorfman was in front again, on extra from top left for 3-2 and Arbelle Bousnach Frank converted her third penalty foul of the week for the 3-3 equaliser. Ruby Bech finished counter off a cross pass for 4-3 at the first break. Israeli captain Shiri Wissmann scored her ninth from centre forward on extra and Dorfman took the lead from deep left. An Israeli timeout yielded no goal but Einar Amor blasted one in from bottom right at 0:07 for a comfortable 6-4 advantage at the final intermission. Dorfman on extra and Libby Gur-Koren, with her ninth of the week, scored from deep left for 8-4 at 5:37. New Zealand staged a comeback with Bech from deep right, Zoe Knight from top right and Lambie from right-hand-catch. However, Lambie missed her penalty attempt before scoring her 17th. That miss at 1:10 could have been vital as the Kiwis could not cross the line again and Israel called a timeout at 0:18 to protect the ball and the victory. Israel finished in the same position two years ago, its only other visit to the U18 event. New Zealand slipped from eighth last time out.
Match Heroes
Dorfman scored four to finish with a team-high 21 and goalie Maya Leib stopped seven shots. Scholes, Lambie and Bech made a brace each for the Kiwis.
Turning Point
Israel moving from 4-3 down to 8-4 ahead by early in the fourth period.
Stats Don’t Lie
Israel finished the better on extra at four from eight while stopping four from six. Israel nailed two penalty goals, the Kiwis missing one. The steals went to New Zealand at 13-10 but the shooting favoured Israel at 33.3 to 24.1 per cent.
Classification 13-14
Match 56. TURKIYE 13 GERMANY 15 in penalty shootout. FT: 12-12. Pens: 1-3. (3-4, 2-3, 4-3, 3-2)
Germany came good in a penalty shootout after giving up a two-goal lead, forcing the match to the extra phase. Leni Harms sandwiched Naz Ozdemir whose counter-attack goal was her 17th here. Germany went to 3-1 with Defne Keremoglu scoring her 23rd goal on extra and Mina Bozkurt her 16th for the equaliser. Bianca Mitterbauer made her 15th, seven seconds from quarter time and a 4-3 advantage. Keremoglu on penalty and Melis Basimer wrested the advantage to Turkiye but it was short-lived as Germany rammed in three straight for 7-5 at the long break. Turkiye did the same at the start of the second half for 8-7 up, Keremoglu adding two more to her burgeoning tally. Germany took a timeout, reset and grabbed three more for 10-8, thanks to two more Mitterbauer goals, one on penalty and the other on extra. Keremoglu came to the rescue on penalty in the last second. She made her 28th goal on extra at the top of the fourth with captain Lucy Schussler sending in her 11th goal. Keremoglu had her penalty attempt saved and Mitterbauer struck gold on penalty. Eda Moroglu, who had 15 goals before today, scored for 12-11 down and Bozkurt salvaged the match with an equaliser on extra for her 17th mark on the scoresheet. Germany went to a timeout with 12 seconds left and Turkiye called time in the last second to make sure no mistakes were made, forcing the shootout. Turkiye started and missed three of its four attempts while Germany was perfect with three, securing the victory. Germany was 12th back in 2016 when it last contested and Turkiye was 15th two years ago.
Match Heroes
Mitterbauer rammed in four and Harms three. Goalie Maria Sekulic stopped eight balls. Keremoglu, with six goals for Turkiye, and goalkeeper Ceren Hergul made seven saves as the team’s best players.
Turning Point
Turkiye’s two goals to go to the shootout.
Stats Don’t Lie
Germany scored four from 11 and Turkiye three from four on extra. Germany converted both penalty chances and Turkiye two from three. Turkiye won the steals at nine to eight and the shooting at 52.2 to 35.3. Great statistics for the Turks, but penalty shooting had its woes. It was the first shootout of the event.
Classification 15-16
Match 55. BRAZIL 17 SERBIA 16 (4-5, 4-3, 4-7, 5-1)
If ever a team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, Brazil did in this terrific encounter. From battling behind for most of the match, Brazil came good with a 5-1 flourish to steal the match by equalising at 2:19 and scoring the winning goal nearly two minutes later with just 24 seconds left on the clock. Serbia opened the scoring from deep right and Brazil responded with a rebound off a Maiah Nascimento penalty attempt. It was her 26th goal here. Two more Brazilian shots found their mark and Brazil was handily placed at 3-1. However, Nika Ratkovic with a six-metre rocket on extra and Masa Cuk with a centre-forward backhand shot off a rebound on extra made it 3-3. Nascimento was well placed at five metres for her next goal and two Jana Pejic strikes gave Serbia a 5-4 lead. A late trade kept Serbia in front at the first break. Elena Cuk turned beautifully at centre forward to make it a two-goal margin . A pair of Nascimento penalty conversions (six for the week) either side of a Nicolly dos Santos (14th) score from deep left, had Brazil in front. Elena Cuk drilled one from top left for 8-8 at 1:07 — her 10th goal —the halftime figures. Pejic scored another double to lift her tally to 12, sending one in from deep right and on penalty. Two exchanges boosted the score to 12-10 favouring Serbia with Masa Cuk snapping up a rebound on extra at centre forward. Nascimento scored a nine-metre shot on a six-metre free throw. An exchange happened and Jankovic lobbed from wide left and Ratkovic scored off a cross pass for 15-12 at the last break. Nascimento for her sixth of the match and 31st in all, on a short drive and Maria Moura from the top pulled it to within one. Masa Cuk converted a penalty foul for her 19th goal and 16-14 at 3:48. Maria Malardo, with a centre-forward drive, and Lyvia Vaz with her 11th strike, levelled on the second shot of the attack at 2:19. Moura sunk the killer blow from very deep left and needed VAR to confirm it had crossed the line at 0:24. Each team took a timeout, Serbia not shooting and Brazil to retain the ball in the final second. Serbia was 13th in 2022 and Brazil 14th in 2014, its last visit.
Match Heroes
Nascimento was best in water with six goals while Moura snared three for Brazil. Pejic with four goals; Masa Cuk (19) and Elena Cuk (11) with three each for Serbia.
Turning Point
That last quarter, which stunned Serbia.
Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil converted five from nine on extra and Serbia a heroic seven from 10. Brazil missed one of three on penalty and Brazil made two. The steals were level at four and Brazil came home 53.1 per cent to 43.2 on overall shooting.