Overview<\/p>\n
Spain romped home 26-10 against Japan, elevated to the top tier last year. United States of America produced what could be called an upset over Hungary 12-8; Netherlands came from two down against Australia to win 14-8 and reigning champion Greece went 15-11 against Italy.<\/p>\n
Match Reports
\nMatch 1. Group A.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 12 HUNGARY 8 (3-1, 02, 6-2, 3-3)<\/p>\n
Image Source: Ryann Neushul (USA\/:Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n
USA had to overcome four minutes a player down after a red card was dished out to captain Rachel Gazzaniga<\/a> for allegedly kicking a Hungarian opponent. This came when USA was 3-1 ahead after the quarter break, giving Kamilla Farago<\/a> the penalty goal. However, in the four minutes when a player down, Hungary could only breach the defence once for 3-3 at 5:02, the last scoring of the first half. Emily Ausmus<\/a> opened the second half on penalty and Vanda Valyi<\/a>, the Hungarian speedster, netted twice from deep left to give Hungary its only advantage. A minute and a half later, Ryann Neushul<\/a> and Jewel Roemer<\/a> had USA in the lead. Neushul, Emma Lineback<\/a> and Roemer made that 9-5 by the close of the period. Zoe Lendvay<\/a> bookended a Tara Prentice<\/a> extra goal for 10-6 two minutes into the final quarter. However, Roemer and Ausmus combined for 12-7 at 3:42, leaving Krisztina Garda<\/a> to convert extra at 1:35 for the final goal and 12-8. Hungary not being able to convert extra chances in the penalty zone was crucial as the extra-player statistics show.<\/p>\n Image Source: Amanda Longan (USA)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Match Heroes Turning Point Image Source: Kamilla Farago (HUN)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Stats Don\u2019t Lie Match 2. Group A. Image Source: Bea Ortiz (ESP) under pressure from Hinano Miyagawa (JPN)\/Aniko-Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Olympic champion Spain had all the arsenal to defeat Japan, putting away 19 action goals and nine from centre forward, some when the Japanese goalkeeper came out to attack the ball. It was a veritable feast for Spain while Japan had to work hard all match for goals. Youngster Nina Lowrey<\/a> made her international debut on this stage with three goals, just 22 days short of her 17th birthday. The match was about using Spain\u2019s strong centre forwards with Paula Camus<\/a> and Paula Crespi<\/a> amassing nine goals between them as Japan struggled to contain their strength. The match started with opposing penalty goals but a Paula Prats<\/a> double set the ball rolling. She chipped in the fifth goal as well with Elena Ruiz<\/a> accepting a long cross pass from sister Ariadna Ruiz<\/a> to close the period at 7-1. Japanese captain Yumi Arima<\/a> on extra and Kako Kawaguchi<\/a> from the penalty line, had the score at 8-3 and after the Ruiz sisters combined again, Lowrey and Camus traded double goals for 11-5 at the long break.<\/p>\n Image Source: Paula Crespi (ESP)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Spain did two three-goal surges before Lowrey gained her hat-trick at 17-7. It was 19-7 at the break and Kawaguchi pulled it back to 20-9 before a Spanish penalty attempt was thwarted. Spanish captain Bea Ortiz<\/a> claimed her second when the goalkeeper came out; Arima\u2019s penalty-shot attempt was saved; Camus and Crespi twice had the score at 25-9. Ai Sunabe<\/a> converted a penalty and Camus swam on to a loose ball when the goalkeeper was out of goal to score the winner for 26-10 at 1:14.<\/p>\n Match Heroes Image Source: Ella Jimenez (ESP)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Turning Point Stats Don\u2019t Lie Match 3. Group B. Image Source: Lieke Rogge (NED) and Bronte Halligan (AUS)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Netherlands pleased a packed home crowd after losing the first nine minutes 5-3 to come back and turn at 7-5 ahead, never relinquishing the lead and, in fact, having a seven-goal advantage midway through the final quarter \u2014 a nine-goal turnaround. It was devastating for Olympic silver medallist Australia after a commanding start. Netherlands, however, took the opportunities, found the gaps and made sure of the shots. Netherlands had the edge with the extra plays and Australia had only itself to blame with the post-hitting penalty shooting. The Aussie Stingers had the advantage at all the numbers to five and was 4-2 up at one stage. When Nina ten Broek<\/a> from the top and Simone van de Kraats<\/a> from bottom right speared in extra-player goals for 5-5, the nature of the match changed.<\/p>\n Image Source: Olivia Mitchell (AUS)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Alice Williams<\/a> could have been Australia\u2019s sixth scorer but her shot found the bar on penalty. Netherlands scored the next three goals on extra for 8-5 half a minute into the third period. Williams replied on extra but three more Dutch goals closed the period at a tremendous 11-6 advantage. This was where the match was won. Two more came at the top of the fourth before Charlize Andrews<\/a> scored on extra off the right-post position for 13-7. Goals were traded for 14-8 by 1:42 and with 11 seconds remaining, Abby Andrews<\/a> bounced the ball into the crossbar on penalty and could not retrieve the ball.<\/p>\n Match Heroes Image Source: Simone van de Kraats (NED)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Turning Point Stats Don\u2019t Lie Match 4. Group B. Image Source: Eleni Xenaki (GRE)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Greece came home with the last three goals to secure what was a flattering victory after Italy went 4-1 earlier in the final period. Greece was the better team, but the tenacity of the Italians shone through in the final quarter. It needed a three-goal haul from player-of-the-match Stefania Santa<\/a> in the final six minutes to make sure the reigning champion started with a victory. Greece 9-5 and 10-6 in the third period, so perhaps the accelerator was released a little by the Greeks. Greece started the scoring with goals traded to 3-3. Greek captain Eleftheria Plevritou<\/a> had two goals. Maria Myriokefalitaki<\/a> closed the quarter scoring on extra from deep left for 4-3. Maria Patra<\/a> from the top right and Vasiliki Plevritou<\/a> on counter pushed it out to 6-4. Goals were swapped before halftime.<\/p>\n Image Source: Chiara Ranalli (ITA)\/Aniko Kovacs\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n Myriokefalitaki started the second half on extra with 36-year-old Roberta Bianconi<\/a> tipping in off the left-post position with her left hand. Goals were traded again with Patra converting a penalty for 10-6 by the close. Then Italy awoke with the next three goals from newcomers \u2014 Giorgia Klatowski twice from deep left and Gaia Gagliardi<\/a> with a backhand from centre. Bianconi chimed in on extra and the match was suddenly 12-11 at 5:06. Goals were traded again and close at 12-11 by 4:02. Santa shot from the top and scored on counter by 2:05 with Eleftheria Plevritou also countering for the victory goal at 0:24.<\/p>\n
Roemer and Ausmus with three apiece for USA while Farago also made three for Hungary and her goalkeepers combined for 10 saves.<\/p>\n
USA surviving the violence situation, giving up just the penalty goal, and then coming from 5-4 down to 9-5 ahead by the end of the third period.<\/p>\n
USA converted six from 11 on extra and stopped seven of 10. USA struggled on penalty shots at one from three compared to Hungary\u2019s successful pair. USA took the steals 4-0 and the shots 36-26.<\/p>\n
JAPAN 10 SPAIN 26 (1-7, 4-4, 2-8, 3-7)<\/p>\n
Martina Terre<\/a> was best in water with her 12 saves for Spain. Camus slotted five, Crespi and Prats four each while Perez and Elena Ruiz grabbed three each. For Japan, Kawaguchi and Lowrey scored three apiece.<\/p>\n
Spain shooting from 1-1 to 8-1.<\/p>\n
Spain converted three from five on extra and Japan three from seven. Both teams converted four from five on penalty; Spain won the steals 7-1 and outshot Japan 34-27.<\/p>\n
NETHERLANDS 14 AUSTRALIA 8 (3-4, 4-1, 4-1, 3-2)<\/p>\n
Netherlands\u2019 Kittylynn Joustra<\/a> and Lola Moolhuijzen<\/a> with three goals while the goalkeepers combined for nine saves. Charlize Andrews and Williams made two each for Australia.<\/p>\n
Netherlands coming from 5-3 behind and the missed Aussie penalty attempt which sent the match out to 8-5 early in the third period.<\/p>\n
Netherlands crashed in seven from 12 and defended six of 10 on extra. The Dutch scored their sole penalty attempts and Australia missed two from three. The steals were shared at one and the shots favoured Australia 31-29.<\/p>\n
ITALY 11 GREECE 15 (3-4, 1-3, 2-3, 5-5)<\/p>\n