Spain swept aside Serbia 3-0 and Russia required a penalty shootout to get past previously unbeaten Croatia 3-2 in the medal semifinals in the Old Harbour on Saturday night.
Overview
In the classification 1-4 semifinals, Spain had one narrow escape in the third set against Serbia , winning 3-0 and Russia won the first and third sets while Serbia claimed the fourth to go to penalties, losing the shots 2-1 and the match 3-2.
In the classification 5-8 semifinals, United States of America won the fourth period 5-3 for a 3-1 victory over Montenegro and Georgia had to do the same, winning the fourth set 4-2 for a 3-1 success.
In the classification 9-12 semifinals, Australia was pushed in the third set to win 3-0 over Hong Kong I and Malta dumped Japan 3-0.
In the classification 13-16 bracket, Lithuania downed Mongolia 3-0 and Hong Kong China II defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1.
Match Reports
Classification 1-4 Semifinals
Match 47, SPAIN 3 SERBIA 0 (4-1, 6-4, 6-5)
Spain suffered its only loss on day four and that was to Serbia 3-2 in a shootout. Today it was different with Spain rattling through the three periods to set itself up for the final. Roberto Valera began scoring on extra with Max Casabella and Aleix Herrero lifting it to a three-goal advantage. Petar Stanic responded with a five-metre shot but Albert Sabadell made it 4-1 in the same manner for the set win. Alexsandar Kovacevic scored on extra to start the second set and he added a five-metre shot for good measure. Sabadell and Filip Coric traded. Sabadell equalised on extra and Edgar Estevez pushed Spain to 4-3. Dorde Ljubenovic and Casabella exchanged goals and Casabella took the bonus penalty shot for 6-4. It was closer in the final set, with Kovacevic and Sabadell in a swap session. Three Serbian unanswered goals changed the face of the match. There was another exchange with Ljubenovic in the mix again for 5-2. At 11 seconds, Valera ripped in a double goal; Miroslav Randic had his bonus penalty shot saved at 0:08; Spain took a timeout at 0:07; Valera scored on extra at 0:02 for 5-5 and on the buzzer, Spain gained a bonus penalty goal that Casabella hammered home for the 6-5 set and the 3-0 victory. What a finish!
Match Heroes
Valera, Sabadell and Casabella fired home four each for Spain. Ljubenovic and Kovacevic scored triples for Serbia.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted four from six and Serbia three from five on extra. Spain scored one penalty goal and Serbia missed one of two. Serbia shot 26 to 24.
Match 48, CROATIA 2 RUSSIA 3 in penalty shootout. (2-3, 1-0, 4-6, 4-3. Pens. 1-2)
Croatia had not met Russia in this tournament and the encounter was devastating for the host nation. The sets were a rollercoaster ride until the shootout. Roko Pelicaric, such a revelation in Dubrovnik, began proceedings with Konstantin Sheikin replying with a five-metre shot. Nardo Dragas and Sheikin swapped and Sheikin countered at 0:49 for the set winner. Hrvoje Zvono scored on extra at 3:53 and the score held until the set’s close. Russia went six-four in the third set after leading 2-0, 4-2 and 50-3. Ivan Vukojevic converted the bonus penalty for 5-4 behind. However, Stepan Barabushka scored from a five-metre shot to gift the match to Russia. Pelicaric was in a trade to start the fourth and a 2-2 score lasted until the final minute. Roman Usov used a five-metre shot for 3-2 at 0:50 but Pelicaric did the same and the set went to golden goal. Dragas scored on extra to secure the set at 4-3 and go to penalties. Croatia started and Pelicaric scored but the next two shots hit wood. Ivan Vasilev also hit the post but Sheikin and Usov converted for 2-1 and a 3-2 victory, sending Russia to a first world final in decades — probably the World Cup in Belgrade in the early 2000s.
Match Heroes
Sheikin scored four and a triple to Usov. Goalkeeper Petr Fedotov made a useful nine saves for Russia. Pelicaric thundered home six goals for the host nation.
Stats Don’t Lie
Russia netted two from four on extra and Croatia a huge five from nine. Russia buried its sole penalty attempt and Croatia missed all three. Russia shot 37 to 33.
Classification 5-8 Semifinals
Match 45, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 3 MONTENEGRO 1 (3-2, 5-2, 2-3, 5-3)
USA lost to Croatia twice in this competition, so wanted to make sure it was going to defeat its Balkan neighbour today. It needed a fourth set to be secure but started well with the first two sets, dropped the third by one goal and wrapped it up in four. Montenegro took the lead twice and stayed on top until the final second when Marko Vavic broke the deadlock for a 3-2 win. USA was well in control of the second set at 5-1 with Vuk Radovic bringing one back , 17 seconds from the buzzer. Montenegro took the advantage at 1:25 in the third through Danilo Radovic with a five-metre shot. AJ Rossman countered for 2-2 at 0:412 but the bonus penalty goal killed it for USA with Tadija Matijasevic converting for a 3-2 set win. Radovic and Marko Vavic traded at the start of the fourth. Stefan Vavic at centre and Marko Vavic on counter drifted USA to 3-1. Radovic replied on counter and action for 3-3. Marko Vavic had his say again at 1:55 and Stefan Vavic put the final nail in the coffin with five seconds left. A late timeout did not help the ball across the line for Montenegro. It was noticed that Max Irving was absent from the pool again.
Match Heroes
Marko Vavic smashed home seven goals and Stefan Vavic three while goalkeeper Christopher Whitelegge made 11 saves for USA. Radovic claimed five goals for Montenegro.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA went two from three on extra and stopped all four Montenegrin chances. USA sent in two from four on penalty and Montenegro missed all three attempts. On shooting, USA was on top 30-28.
Match 46, GEORGIA 3 BULGARIA 1 (4-2, 3-2, 1-2, 4-2)
Bulgaria won this encounter 3-0 on day two but today it was Georgia who learned from that result. Georgia led twice in the first set and went 3-2 ahead thanks to a Davit Chkheidze extra goal. Luka Georgadze made it 4-2 just inside the last minute. Aleksandar Velkov opened the second set for Bulgaria and captain Pavel Pelov lifted it to 2-1. However, Saba Matchavariani equalised at 0:20, which forced golden goal. Giorgadze used a bonus penalty shot to decide the set at 3-2 for Georgia. The next set was scoreless until well inside the final minute when Bulgaria’s Vladimir Dimitrov scored on action followed by Giorgi Meshki 18 seconds later. It forced another golden goal period and Vladimir Dimitrov came good with the winner for Bulgaria. In the fourth set, Meshki and Matchavariani had Georgia up 2-1 followed by Giogadze’s strike at 1:33. Matchavariani converted a penalty foul for 4-2, which Bulgaria could not bridge despite Velkov’s failed penalty attempt.
Match Heroes
Matchavariani, Giorgadze and Meshki made triples for Georgia and goalkeeper Beka Kapaanadze dragged down 12 saves. Four Montenegrins scored twice.
Stats Don’t Lie
Georgia converted three from four on extra to Bulgaria’s four from eight. On penalties, Georgia scored two from three and Bulgaria missed both chances. Bulgaria shot more at 32-26.
Classification 9-12 Semifinals
Match 43, HONG KONG CHINA 1 0 AUSTRALIA 3 (3-5, 2-4, 4-5)
Australia raced into the play-off for ninth with a three-set victory over an almost equally strong Hong Kong. Patrick Dart began the scoring for the Aussies with Hei Man Cheng scoring from a five-metre shot. Griffin Woodhouse put away a penalty shot with Gilman Choi responding for 2-2. Woodhouse converted extra and Joey Gallagher nailed the bonus penalty shot. Koby Gilchrist countered for 5-2. Tsz Ching took a five-metre shot for 5-3 and the bonus penalty attempt by Hong Kong was saved inside the final 20 seconds. In the second set, Australia shot out to 4-0 with action, extra, five-metre and penalty-shot scores. Tsz Zhang converted extra at 1:16 and Choi finished extra at 0:38. Both teams took five-metre shots to no avail. Come the third set, Mitch Robinson converted extra from deep right and Ching responded from deep left. Zhang fired from the top for a 2-1 Hong Kong advantage. Woodhouse hit wood on the bonus penalty foul shot, retrieved and gained a penalty foul, which Gilchrist converted for 2-2 at 2:02. Zhang converted extra at 1:42 for the go-ahead goal. Thomas Ophir equalised with a five-metre shot. Ching converted on penalty inside the last minute. Robinson made good from five metres at 0:40 for 4-4. Australia went to a timeout after Hong Kong speared the ball right of the goal. Robinson scored from six metres with 10 seconds left on the clock and Hong Kong’s last chance was blocked, leaving Australia the victor at 5-4 and 3-0.
Match Heroes
Robinson scored four and Gilchrist three. Tian Markart made 10 saves in the Aussie goal. Ching and Zhang netted three each for Hong Kong.
Match 44, MALTA 3 JAPAN 0 (7-2, 3-1, 9-1)
Malta romped into the ninth-place play-off, leaving Japan in its wake. Shotaro Yamada had Japan 2-1 ahead early but a Maltese quad changed the face of the match. This became 6-2 on the bonus penalty shot and 7-2 as Liam Galea closed the period at 0:12. Yamada opened the second set and more than a minute later Stevie Camilleri retrieved a loose ball to score the equaliser. Camilleri scored from wide left for 2-1 and Alec Fenech walked in to two metres for 3-1, the final score. Julian Valletta scored twice as Malta took a 3-0 lead in the third set. Yamada replied but Malta was on a quest and Camilleri scored three and Valletta one as the score rocketed to 7-1. Galea made it 8-1 and Malta went to a timeout at 1:06 with the match in the bag. B scored on action at 0:58 for 9-1 and as the eight-goal threshold had been achieved, the mercy rule closed down the match with Malta a healthy winner.
Match Heroes
Camilleri nabbed six, Valletta four and triples to Galea and Sam Gialanze for Malta. Yamada scored four goals Japan.
Stats Don’t Lie
Malta made two from three on extra and Japan three from five. Malta put away four from five on penalty and Japan one. The shots favoured Malta 27-18.
Classification 13-16 Semifinals
Match 41, MONGOLIA 0 LITHUANIA 3 (1-9, 0-8, 2-10)
Lithuania made short shrift of Mongolia with the mercy rule coming in at 0:31 in the first set, 1:40 in the second and then just on full time in the third. Mongolia tried to keep its head above the water after its 12-goal haul the day before but Lithuania was too strong with five goals on the board before Mongolia struck from in front that to Ulziituguldur Chuluunbaatar. It was the only Mongolian score until 2:39 of the third set when Dulguunu Ganzorig scored on action and Chuluunbaatar gaining his second at 0:25 when the score was 7-2 in Lithuania’s favour. The score moved to 10-2 as Lithuanian goalkeeper Skirmantas Motuzas shot long for a double score on the buzzer, which would have invoked the mercy rule of eight goals ahead.
Match Heroes
Gvidas Zurza topped the shooting with nine goals and Ernestas Pumputis and captain Jan Bakulo nabbed four apiece. Chuluunbaatar was the double scorer for Mongolia.
Stats Don’t Lie
Lithuania made three from three on extra, missed one of two penalty shots and achieved 36 shots to 14. Where the match was really decided was the 15 counter-attack goals for Lithuania. Mongolia’s tactic was to score while the player was returning from counter.
Match 42, SAUDI ARABIA 1 HONG KONG CHINA II 3 (1-2, 6-5, 0-1, 2-3)
Hong Kong China II gained its second win of the week but needed four sets to get across the line. Hong started the scoring on penalty at 4:51 via Cheuk Hei Cheung while Saudi Arabia opened its account from the deep left from Faisal Alhindas. Hong Kong went 2-1 up on extra with the shot from the top by Leong Chan and finished the first set in the black. Jason Ho converted a penalty foul to start the second quarter, followed by the equaliser from Bandar Alshaikhi on counter from the deep left. He added one on extra for 2-1 but Chan scored twice to regain the lead while Alshaikhi levelled on extra from the top with his left arm at 1:36. Hong Kong had a penalty rejected at 3-3. Mohammed Alshaikhi nailed the bonus penalty shot and Abbas Aljazzar made it 5-3 in the blink of an eye. Cheung levelled at 5-5 , firstly with the bonus penalty shot, then on counter for 5-5 with three seconds left on the clock. It required golden goal to decide the set and Alhindas converted extra for 6-5 to level the sets. Hong Kong won the ball and hit the wood before Saudi Arabia earned the ejection and then the goal. Chan converted extra at 3:32 in the third set, a score which amazingly stuck until the buzzer. He earned an ejection and surged toward goal, accepting the pass and scoring. Hong Kong was now 2-1 ahead. Jason Ho turned at centre forward to begin the fourth set. Malik Shrahily took a cross pass to the left to convert for 1-1 at 2:34. Goals were traded by 0:55 with the bonus penalty goal from Cheung making it 2-2. Cheung scored on extra at 0:29 with Saudi Arabia calling a timeout at 0:27. It gained an extra play and the shot was saved and the goalkeeper threw the ball on top of the Saudi net. The ball was regained but it was turned over. Hong Kong went to a timeout with five seconds remaining and held the ball until the buzzer for the victory.
Match Heroes
Cheung blasted in five for Hong Kong and Chan four. Goalkeeper Lut Chan had a torrid time, stopping 16 shots. Mohammed Alshaikhi and Bandar Alshaikhi netted twice each for Saudi Arabia.
Stats Don’t Lie
Saudi Arabia converted five from nine on extra and stopped eight from 11. Hong Kong made two from three on penalty and the shots went 32-31 to Saudi Arabia.
Day 7 Schedule
Classification 15-16
Match 49. 08:30. Mongolia v Saudi Arabia
Classification 13-14
Match 50. 09:20, Lithuania v Hong Kong China 2
Classification 11-12
Match 51. 10:10. Hong Kong China 1 v Japan
Classification 9-10
Match 52. 11:00. Australia v Malta
Classification 7-8
Match 53. 12:40. Montenegro v Bulgaria
Classification 5-6
Match 54. 14:20. United States of America v Georgia
Classification 3-4
Match 55. 16:15. Croatia v Serbia
Classification 1-2
Match 56. 18:30. Russia v Spain