Overview

In the medal semifinals, Spain earned a shot at a third crown with its incredible 11-9 win over Greece, thanks to a 5-2 closing quarter after being five goals behind in the second quarter. United States of America gave up two penalty fouls in the dying minutes to allow Italy to level at 9-9 and force a penalty shootout. It was USA’s second shootout of the week and a second success, winning it 4-2 for 13-11.

In the classification 5-8 semifinals, there were big wins with Netherlands downing Croatia 13-7 and Hungary putting paid to Brazil’s chances 19-8.

In the classification for 9-10, Australia gained a fifth victory from six matches in beating China 12-8. It sole loss was to Hungary in the crossovers, proving how cut-throat and heart-wrenching this system can be.

In the classification for 11-12, New Zealand pipped Israel 11-10.

In Group E, the final round-robin matches were staged with Canada defeating Argentina 19-8 for 12th and 13th places respectively and South Africa clinched 15th position in stopping Mexico 15-8.

Day 7 Schedule

Classification 7-8
Match 47. 10:00. Croatia v Brazil
Classification 5-6
Match 48. 11:30. Netherlands v Hungary
Classification 3-4
Match 49. 13:00. Italy v Greece
Classification 1-2
Match 50. 14:30. United States of America v Spain
Match Reports

Match Reports
Classification 1-4 Semifinals
Match 46, SPAIN 11 GREECE 9 (0-3, 3-4, 3-0, 5-2)

Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Spain did the unthinkable and came back from five goals down midway through the second quarter to have the lead halfway through the fourth period. It was fantastical. There was no way Spain could come back, even if there were six periods. However, Spain showed true grit and composure. No panic. Just concentration and stick to the game plan.

Spain was nowhere to be seen in the first nine minutes as Greece had four in the bag before Isabel Piralkova converted a penalty foul. Two more Greek goals, including a second for senior star Foteini Tricha on counter had the Spanish stunned at 6-1 down. Piralkova scored identical goals less than a minute apart but Nefeli Krassa plucked her second from the top a minute from halftime and 7-3 — still a magnificent differential.

Image Source: Isabel Piralkova (ESP)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Greece had a challenged penalty shot saved while Piralkova made sure of her five-metre shot. Queralt Anton drove in and scored for 7-5. The gap was lessening. A Greek timeout failed to come up with a goal and Carlota Penalver scored on action and had her challenged penalty attempt saved. It was Greece up by one at the last break. Irene Casada equalised 22 seconds into the fourth period but Ariadni Karampetsou lobbed (needing VAR to confirm) for 8-7 at 7:07. Anton sent in a rocket from the top for the equaliser; Rita Gurri and captain Alba Munoz converted extra chances and Spain was sitting pretty at 10-8 ahead. Piralkova plundered another penalty goal and in a flash, Spain came from one goal down to three ahead. Aspasia Fouraki converted extra for her second goal, but at 1:08 it was fairly late to affect the result. Spain lost the ball on attack, Greece took a timeout and found the right post with the shot, which Greece snapped up and held until the final buzzer. What an improbable victory. From the jaws of death…

Match Heroes
Spain’s Olympic champion Piralkova with five goals while here goalkeepers gathered 13 saves between them. Krassa, Fouraki, Tricha and Karampetsou scored twice each and goalkeeper Nikoleta Kryiakopoulou made nine saves.

Image Source: Carlota Penalver (ESP)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Turning Point
The 6-1 lead seemed impregnable. The 8-2 revival that sent the match to 9-8 in Spain’s favour and then going to 11-8.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted four from nine and defended four of six. Spain made three from four on penalty and saved Greece’s one chance. Spain made the steals four-two and the shots 36-35.

Bottom Line
Spain had been in five finals and Greece three. However, what was on Spain’s mind was how to bridge those five goals. Resolve, skill and determination made it look easy. It wasn’t. Commiserations to Greece on losing after such a fantastic first half.

Match 45, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 13 ITALY 11 in penalty shootout. FT: 9-9. Pens 4-2 (2-3, 2-2, 4-2, 1-2)

Image Source: Charlotte Raisin (USA) and Beatrice Cassara (ITA)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

USA needed a penalty shootout to shrug off Italy and make the gold-medal final and possibly further its record haul of titles to five. USA was a goal behind in the third period, twice took the margin to two, only for Italy to bridge the gap in the final three minutes to go to the penalties.

Cristina Malluzzo and Beatrice Cassara gave Italy the dream start only for Lily Palma and captain Emily Ausmus to level, both on extra plays. Malluzzo closed the period with a shot into the top right.

Goals were traded at the top of the second quarter with Charlotte Raisin tipping in a shot on the right post, gaining the rebound and slipping it in. Three minutes later, Cassara converted a penalty foul for 5-3. With the clock showing little time left in the half, USA goalkeeper Christine Carpenter pulled down a high ball and started swimming, making it almost to the five-metre line and shooting a bouncer off the underside of the crossbar and into goal on the buzzer for 5-4 down. It was her night as the total saves show.

Image Source: Emily Ausmus (USA)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Julia Bonaguidi and Malika Bovo swapped goals on extra. USA went to a timeout and Ausmus converted an extra-player goal with Palma scoring from centre and Ausmus again scoring, this time while heavily guarded on the left-post position. It was 8-6 to USA at 2:11. Two minutes later Bianca Rosta converted extra from deep right. It was not until 3:24 of the final quarter that a goal came. Ausmus sat up high from outside to score and give USA a valuable two-goal advantage. Soon after, Malluzzo converted a penalty, which was unsuccessfully challenged. At 1:23, USA gave up another penalty foul for Cassara to convert for 9-9. USA went on attack, shot, regained the corner and shot again. It was saved and Italy took a timeout with five seconds remaining. Goalkeeper Olimpia Sesena swam up and shot, but no repeat of Carpenter’s heroics. The match was going to penalties.

Both teams scored their first two shots. Both had their third shots saved. USA snared the fourth goal and Italy missed its fourth attempt. This left Meghan McAninch, who missed a shootout shot on day two, to score and send her team into the final.

Image Source: Beatrice Cassara (ITA)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Match Heroes
Ausmus was best in pool with four goals and goalkeeper Carpenter made 12 saves and scored one goal! Cassara and Malluzzo scored three each for Italy.

Turning Point
Italy go9ng to 5-3 and 6-5 before USA turned the tables for 8-6. Italy coming back with the last two to force the shootout.

Stats Don’t Lie
USA converted five from 12 on extra while Italy was three from four and scored all three penalty goals. Italy stole the ball nine to six and shot 27-21. Italy had the superior stats in normal time.

Bottom Line
USA had the fiery spirit to come through when most needed, in the shootout. Italy lost the lottery.

Classification 5-8 Semifinals
Match 44, HUNGARY 19 BRAZIL 8 (5-3, 4-1, 6-2, 4-2)

Image Source: Hungary v Brazil/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Hungary scored 11 action goals to five. The statistics show it as the superior team and history shows that Hungary has the experience to come through when needed. Today was a romp by comparison with its shootout loss to Spain in the quarterfinals now a painful memory. Zoe Lendvay started and had three goals by the first break as Hungary went to five goals. Brazil was definitely in the mix with three of its own, two from Maiah Nascimento. Lendvay began the second quarter as Hungary surged to 9-3 before Leticia Lorieto gained her second at 0:27 for 9-4.

Image Source: Eszter Macsai (HUN)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Kata Hajdu, who tasted gold two years ago, scored the first two Hungarians goals of the third quarter to lift her tally to three, either side of an Anna Maximo strike on extra. Captain Eszter Macsai netted her second as the margin shot to nine. Karen da Silva converted extra for Brazil with Eszter Varro bringing up 15-6 at 1:47. A Brazilian timeout at 0:12 yielded no goal. Dandara Sampaio started the fourth period for Brazil with Zoe Lendvay grabbing her fifth and Natasa Lendvai chipping in with the 17-7 score. Hajdu made it 19-7 with a pair and Sampaio closed on extra for 19-8.

Match Heroes
Zoe Lendvay and Hajdu with five goals apiece for Hungary. Nascimento, Lorieto and Sampaio scored twice each for Brazil.

Image Source: Leticia Lorieto (BRA)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Turning Point
From 4-3 in the first quarter to 10-4 in the third.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary scored all three extra chances and defended six from 11. Hungary converted all three penalty fouls; the steals were squared at four and Hungary shot 31 to 24.

Bottom Line
Hungary has the experience at this level, making the podium five times and winning the championship once.

Match 43, CROATIA 7 NETHERLANDS 13 (0-2, 1-4, 4-1, 2-6)

Image Source: Caitlin van Leeuwin (NED)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Netherlands worked hard to secure this victory over Croatia. It was tougher than the score attests. The opening quarter was all Netherlands with a saved penalty chance thwarting Croatia’s move to get on the scoreboard. Robin Jutte began proceedings, but not until 2:34, and Esmee Ouwens fired in a missile from the top at 0:23. Neli Jankovic brought up Croatia’s first goal to start the second quarter, although Jutte on a drive; a Pien Gorter pair from identical situations on the top left and Tatum van der Elst with a centre-forward backhand at 0:27, had the Dutch comfortably at halftime 6-2 ahead.

Image Source: Ria Glas (CRO) and Pien Gorter (NED)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

The rain poured down briefly on the outdoor complex nestled into the seaside rocks with goals traded. Ria Glas then came into her own with a hat-trick to close out the third period and looking good at 7-5 behind. However, Tess van der Meer rattled in three of the next four Dutch goals as Glas was red-carded for a misdemeanour. Goals were traded with Jutte nabbing her third and Iva Rozic scored her second on extra at 2:02. Kiara Heerink closed all scoring at 0:31 with a blast from outside.

Match Heroes
Caitlin van Leeuwen with a remarkable, tournament-high 17 saves in the Dutch goal. Captain Jutte and van der Meer scored three each. For Croatia, Glas scored three and Rozic two. Latica Medvesek made eight saves in goal.

Turning Point
Having a 6-1 halftime lead said it all.

Image Source: Iva Rozic (CRO)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Stats Don’t Lie
Netherlands converted just two from five on extra and Croatia four from six.  Croatia missed both penalty chances but did make eight to six on steals and 32 to 31 on shots.

Bottom Line
Netherlands picked up a third win from five matches and is well placed for the play-off. Croatia will still collect its highest finish in three appearances no matter the result on Saturday.

Classification 9-10
Match 42, CHINA 8 AUSTRALIA 12 (3-3, 0-2, 2-5, 3-2)

Image Source: China v Australia/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Australia beat China for the second time in Salvador, having its winning margin trimmed from six to four and will go home with the ninth-place classification, the same as in Coimbra two years ago. China’s last visit to this event was eighth in 2019. China started strongly with the first two goals from captain and senior international Zhang Yumian and Zou Yuhe. Bless Daly had to work hard for her counter-attack goal, turning and popping the ball over her head as she was well covered. Charley Stephens on extra and Anneliese Pamp off a cross pass at deep left gave Australia the 3-2 advantage. Li Xingmeng drilled from the top for 3-3 a minute from the first break. Daly had to work even harder for her second counter-attack goal two minutes into the second quarter. Both teams took timeouts in the tiring period of few goals, the second coming at 0:27 through Sienna Owen on counter for 5-3 at the turn.

Image Source: Zhang Yumian (CHN) and Charley Stephens (AUS)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Australia rammed home the advantage in the third period taking the score out to 8-4 and 10-5 by the last break. With senior Chinese coach Miki Oca (ESP) looking on, his two Singaporean World Championship players, Zhang Jingwen and Zhang Yumian, scored. Daly scored her third off a pass to centre forward to close the scoring. Zou opened the final quarter and captain Tayla Dawkins netted her second from deep left for 11-6. A Chinese timeout yielded a Zhang Yumian goal at 1:19 and Shao Yixin lobbed from the right for 11-8. Owen finished the scoring from the top with 12 seconds left on the clock.

Match Heroes
Daly scored three with pairs to Owen, Dawkins and Stephens for Australia while Zhang Yumian netted three and Zou two. Yan Xintong made eight saves for China.

Turning Point
The 5-2 third period gained the separation needed.

Image Source: Zou Yuhe (CHN) and Charley Stephens (AUS)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Stats Don’t Lie
Australia could only manage one from five on extra compared to China’s three from eight. Australia scored the only penalty goal, made eight steals to seven and shot 29 times to 26.

Bottom Line
Australia proved twice that it is better than China and leaves for home waters with a 5-1 record that included the sole loss to Hungary in the crossovers. China lost to Australia in the group stage narrowly lost the crossover to Italy and beat Israel in the 9-12 semifinals for a 3-3 record.

Classification 11-12
Match 41, ISRAEL 10 NEW ZEALAND 11 (2-2, 3-2, 4-3, 1-4)

Image Source: Emison Styris (NZL) and Teva Dorfman (ISR)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

New Zealand came back from 9-7 down at the final break to beat Israel with a 4-0 burst that was enough for victory and 11th place in the competition. The match was drawn at one, two, three, four, seven and nine with Israel having the lead at 4-2, 6-4, 7-5 and 9-7.

Riaan Bryant scored the first two Kiwi goals with Miya Tirosh gaining the equaliser on penalty for 2-2 at the quarter break. Holly Dunn edged New Zealand out before Tirosh scored twice to take the lead. Katie Marshall scored from wide left on extra for 4-4 and Tirosh secured the halftime lead with a bounce shot from top right at 0:59 and 5-4.

Image Source: Israel v New Zealand/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Gili Borenstein made sure of the lead with two goals at the start of the third period either side of a Georgia Daly shot from the top. Dunn scored from deep right and Keira Evans scored her first goal of the tournament for 7-7 from the top left. Borenstein led a mini march of two goals for 9-7 by the final break. Marshall found her herself unguarded on the right-post position to score for 9-8 at the top of the fourth quarter. The Kiwis gained a penalty foul and it was challenged by Israel and overturned. However, on the subsequent extra-player movement, Dunn converted for 9-9. Nearly three minutes later, Marshall scored on counter to give the Kiwis the first lead since 3-2. Taylor Fisher scored a “lookaway” shot from deep left for 11-9 at 0:56. Carmel Rahum took a high pass to score from centre forward for 11-10 at 0:42. New Zealand played for time, gained an exclusion, shot high and left Israel with a timeout at 0:08. The subsequent play left the deep-left-hand-catcher to shoot and it was heroically saved by goalkeeper Sophie Gardiner, sending New Zealand to the ninth-place play-off.

Match Heroes
Marshall and Dunn with three each for the Kiwis. Tirosh scored four and Borenstein three for Israel.

Image Source: Noga Levinshtein (ISR)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Turning Point
The final quarter.

Stats Don’t Lie
New Zealand converted three from five on extra and Israel two from three. Israel put away the only penalty goal, the steals were even at five and Israel shot more — 31-27.

Bottom Line
New Zealand dropped out of the top eight while Israel, seventh in Coimbra, Portugal two years ago with have to settle for 12th place.

Group E (Classification 13-16)
Match 40, MEXICO SOUTH 8 AFRICA 15 (2-4, 1-6, 3-2, 2-3)

Image Source: Bella Murray (RSA)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

South Africa took out 15th position with a strong finish to the tournament, gaining its first victory. Mexico leaves without a win but plenty of experience. While South Africa was dominant throughout, Mexico had to rely on extra-player and penalties for all its eight goals, with none coming from action, such was the South African defence. Hannah Banks opened in the first 11 seconds and scored twice more for 3-1. Goals were traded and South Africa had the 4-2 quarter-time lead. Morgan Christian netted twice with a centre-forward backhand and another on counter. A Mexican penalty attempt was saved, Tori Voke landed her second, on extra; Gabriella Morrell scored her first in Salvador from the penalty line and Bella Murray scored the 9-2 goal from centre forward. Sofia Gaytan converted extra and Isabella Imbriolo sent in a penalty goal for 10-3 at the long break.

Image Source: Julia Joseph (RSA) shooting/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Goals were traded to 12-5 in the third quarter with Canada having a penalty attempt saved. Mexico made sure of its penalty attempt to close the period at 12-6. Gaytan fired in consecutive goals for Mexico; Julia Joseph snared a centre-forward goal and Christian scored the last two goals of the match, the first off a rebound in front of goal and the second from the top for the 15-8 victory.

Match Heroes
Christian with four goals and three each to Voke and Banks for South Africa. Gaytan scored three for Mexico and Mercedes Feliciano two. Both finished with 11 goals for the tournament.

Turning Point
By going 6-2 and 9-2 ahead, South Africa had the match well in control before halftime.

Image Source: Vivian Rangel (MEX)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Stats Don’t Lie
Mexico was excellent on extra with six from nine and denying South Africa three from four. Mexico missed two of three penalty shots and stopped one of South Africa’s three. However, South Africa won the steals five to four and outshot Mexico 33 to 21.

Bottom Line
South Africa was 17th last time out and 14th in 2021. Mexico’s previous appearance was in 2015 when it finished 12th.

Match 39, ARGENTINA 8 CANADA 19 (3-4, 2-7, 1-3, 2-5)

Image Source: Jaya Basu (CAN)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Canada, with three victories in the classification series, finished in 13th position and Argentina took 14th spot with two wins. It meant four wins on the trot for the Canadians. The victory was constructed on the second-quarter, six-goal onslaught that Argentina could not recover from. It was messy at the start with plenty of turnovers before Sydney Krushen scored the first of her two goals of the period. Anahi Bacigalupo equalised and Isabella Mastronardi and Bianca Perasso drew level at three before Katherine Featherstone gave Canada the edge with a blast from the top. Bacigalupo converted a penalty for 4-4 early in the second quarter before Canada went on the rampage with Brooklyn Plomp scoring three of the first four goals; Jaya Basu with a second and Krushen with a third at centre forward. Mastronardi stopped the charge with a penalty goal while Isabella Mady claimed her second off the left-post position on action. It was an almost unassailable 11-5 lead at halftime.

Image Source: Makayla Ulmer-Lutudromu (CAN)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Plomp and Bacigalupo swapped goals in the first minute of the third period and for the next seven minutes there were errors galore — steals, missed shots, running out of time, etc — before Canadian captain Pippa Heaver struck from the deep right. Plomp punched in a penalty goal and it was 14-6 at the last break. Basu scored the first two goals of the fourth period  as the score stretched to 19-7 with Mastronardi claiming the last goal from wide left for 19-8.

Match Heroes
Plomp was best for Canada with five goals, followed by Basu with four and Krushen with three. Captain Bacigalupo with four finished with 23 for the week and Mastronardi scoring three (14) for Argentina.

Image Source: Avril Parada (ARG)/Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics

Turning Point
Six unanswered goals in the second quarter that took the score from 4-4 to 10-4.

Stats Don’t Lie
Canada outshot Argentina 34-22, made eight steals to three, converted all three penalty attempts, as did Argentina with five, and missed one of two extra chances and saving three of five.

Bottom Line
Canada was 12th at the last edition and Argentina, who did not compete two years ago, was 10th in 2021.