{"id":345581,"date":"2025-08-15T03:57:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T03:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/345581\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T03:57:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T03:57:11","slug":"usa-italy-spain-greece-u20-semifinals-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/345581\/","title":{"rendered":"USA-Italy, Spain-Greece U20 semifinals set"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the medal quarterfinals, United States of America defeated Croatia 24-6 with an 8-1 second half; Spain held off Hungary 15-13 with a penalty shootout after the match was drawn at 11-11; Greece nailed Brazil 20-7 and Italy fended off Netherlands 11-9.<\/p>\n

This means that unbeaten USA will play Italy in the semifinals with its two wins and unbeaten Spain will clash with Greece with just the one loss.<\/p>\n

In the classification 9-12 semifinals, China had the better of Israel 19-10 and Australia surpassed neighbour New Zealand 13-5.<\/p>\n

In Group E, where classifications 13-16 will be decided on Friday, Argentina beat Mexico 12-8 in the American clash and Canada swam over South Africa 12-4 in the Commonwealth encounter.<\/p>\n

Day 6 Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n

Group E (Classification 13-16)
<\/strong>Match 39. 09:00. Argentina v Canada
Match 40. 10:30. Mexico v South Africa
Classification 11-12
<\/strong>Match 41. 12:00. Israel v New Zealand
Classification 9-10
<\/strong>Match 42. 13:30. China v Australia
Classification 5-8 Semifinals
<\/strong>Match 43. 16:00. Croatia v Netherlands
Match 44. 17:30. Hungary v Brazil
Classification 1-4 Semifinals
<\/strong>Match 45. 19:00.United States of America v Italy
Match 46. 20:30. Spain v Greece<\/p>\n

Match Reports<\/strong>
\nClassification 1-8 Quarterfinals<\/strong>
\nMatch 37, GREECE 20 BRAZIL 7 (6-2, 5-2, 5-2, 4-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Ariadni Karampetsou (GRE)\/Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Greece romped into the semifinals and hopefully will continue the fine showing by its women\u2019s teams this year with two titles already in the bag. Greece held Brazil at bay throughout and poured in the action goals \u2014 14 in all. Dionysia Koureta<\/strong> started the ball rolling with the first three goals for Greece and the 6-2 lead at the first break showed where this match was going. The score was pumped to 11-3 as Zoi Tzortzakaki<\/strong> scored twice and Aspasia Fouraki<\/strong> gained her second. Karen da Silva<\/strong> and Dandara Sampaio<\/strong> scored for Brazil as the score reached 11-4 at the turn.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Stefany Azevedo (BRA)\/Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Efstathia Kovatsevits<\/strong> opened the second half with the first two goals while Maiah Nascimento<\/strong> and Stefany Azevedo claimed their second strikes for Brazil. Two more Greek hits gave the team a 10-goal margin at the final intermission. Tzortzakaki<\/strong>, Kovatsevits<\/strong> and Rafaela Saltamanika<\/strong> boosted their tallies heading into the final three minutes with Saltamanika<\/strong> and Nascimento<\/strong> trading goals before the full-time buzzer.<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
Kovatsevits<\/strong>, Koureta<\/strong>, Tzortzakaki<\/strong> and Saltamanika<\/strong> scored three each for Greece. Nascimento<\/strong> netted three and Azevedo<\/strong> two for Brazil. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Nefeli Krassa (GRE)\/Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>Greece breaking free of 1-1 and 3-2 and onwards to a huge win.<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>Greece converted three from four on extra and Brazil three from five. Greece missed one of two penalty attempts and Brazil missed its sole chance. Greece took the steals six to four and the shots were squared at 29.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>Greece has three world champions on its roster and Brazil was never going to get past that fact. Now it has a chance to beat that eighth placing from 2015.<\/p>\n

Match 36, SPAIN 15 HUNGARY 13 in penalty shootout. FT: 11-11. Pens: 4-2 (2-1, 5-4, 3-3, 1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

What a terrific match this was with a penalty shootout deciding the fate of the world champion Hungarians. Hungary held the lead briefly at the start and was then always behind until equalising with 34 seconds to go. Hungary kept Spain scoreless for nearly seven minutes in that final quarter while scoring twice to go to the shootout, which it lost.<\/p>\n

It was a tight opening with Eszter Macsai<\/strong> giving Hungary the lead and no further Hungarian goal coming for eight minutes. Bibor Pogonyi<\/strong> scored from deep right for 3-2 with goals traded all the way to 7-5 at halftime. Carlota Penalver<\/strong> scored twice for Spain with her rocket from the top needing VAR to decide whether it made it across the line. Eszter Varro<\/strong> netted twice for Hungary from centre forward and Macsai<\/strong> snared another, on penalty.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Penalver<\/strong> started the second half with Macsai<\/strong> replying for her third. Olympic champion Isabel Piralkova<\/strong> scored twice either side of a Dominika Kardos<\/strong> extra-player goal. Piralkova\u2019s<\/strong> second goal was studied by VAR before she was awarded it. Zoe Lenvay<\/strong> scored with six seconds remaining for 10-8 at the final break. Lendvay<\/strong> scored on penalty to start the fourth quarter with Ariadna Temprano<\/strong> scoring her second with a lob for 11-9 at 6:52. Macsai<\/strong> converted extra at 4:05 and with the last minute approaching had successive shots denied. At 0:52, Hungary went to a timeout and Dominika Kardos<\/strong> scored with just two seconds left on possession for the valued equaliser. Spain called a timeout at 0:33 and earned an exclusion and took another timeout to set up Queralt Anton<\/strong> for the outside shot. It slipped from her hand and captain Alba Munoz<\/strong> shot off the rebound from two metres, but it was saved and the match went to penalties.<\/p>\n

Piralkova<\/strong> had her first shot saved. Four shots went in and Zoe Lendvay<\/strong>, also had hers saved by Blanca Colominas<\/strong>. Anton<\/strong> scored for Spain and Dominika Kardos<\/strong> watched as her bounce shot hit the crossbar, leaving Itziar Almeda<\/strong> to convert for the winner, giving Spain the semifinal berth and Hungary consigned to the play-off for five-eight.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Zoe Lendvay (HUN)\/Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
Penalver<\/strong> grabbed three goals for Spain with Temprano<\/strong> and Piralkova<\/strong> two each. For Hungary, Macsai<\/strong> made four with pairs to Lendvay<\/strong>, Varro<\/strong> and Dominika Kardos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>Hungary coming back to force the shootout.<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>Spain converted three from seven and Hungary four from six. Spain scored one penalty goal and Hungary two. The steals were even at five and Spain needed 28 shots to Hungary\u2019s 24.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>Spain has been winning all week while Hungary has just the one crossover victory to its name. Hungary played far better tonight but any other opponent other than Spain and it could be in the medal hunt still.<\/p>\n

Match 35, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 24 CROATIA 6 (6-3, 5-2, 7-1, 6-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

USA turned on the taps and let the goals flow in the second half of the match after a busy first half in which Croatia was competitive. However, when Iva Rozic<\/strong> left on three majors early in the third, it seemed to upset the Croatians and goals dried up. USA scored the first two goals and Croatia responded in kind. USA surged to 6-2 with Meghan McAninch<\/strong> netting twice before Rozic<\/strong> closed the gap to 6-3 a minute before the first break. USA captain Emily Ausmus<\/strong>, one of the world\u2019s leading players, countered and Allison Cohen<\/strong> collected her third goal from the top on extra. A Croatian timeout worked a treat with captain Jelena Butic<\/strong> scoring from a six-metre free throw on extra. Two USA goals, including a second for Charlotte Raisin<\/strong>, closed the half at 11-5.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Julia Bonaguidi<\/strong> finished off an extra-player move when Rozic<\/strong> was ejected and scored her third, also on extra. Ausmus<\/strong> threw two more with Raisin<\/strong> and McIninch<\/strong> lifting it to 17-5. USA used a timeout for Rosalie Hassett<\/strong> to claim her second goal before Ria Glas<\/strong> brought Croatia back from 10 minutes in the wilderness on extra for 18-6 at the final break. The final period was a rout with six goals coming in five minutes to secure the victory and send USA into the semifinals.<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
McIninch<\/strong> with five and four goals each to Raisin<\/strong>, Ausmus<\/strong> and Cohen<\/strong> were USA\u2019s best shooters. Lauren Steele<\/strong> made nine from 15 saves in her time in goal. Butic<\/strong> scored three for Croatia and Rozic<\/strong> two. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>From 2-2 to 6-2 and then from 9-5 to 18-5 by late in the third quarter showed USA\u2019s class.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>USA buried seven from nine on extra to two from four. USA scored a penalty goal and lost the steals six-five but had more shots at 36-32. The percentage was 67-19.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>USA remains unbeaten, although this match was much easier than the two one-goal victories in the rounds. For Croatia, it was a first defeat in five matches.<\/p>\n

Classification 9-12 Semifinals<\/strong>
\nMatch 34, AUSTRALIA 13 NEW ZEALAND 5 (3-2, 2-2, 3-0, 5-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Australia blew away the frustration of losing to Hungary in the crossovers to easily dispose of trans-Tasman neighbour New Zealand with a withering 8-1 second half. The writing was on the board with three goals to start despite a saved penalty attempt. New Zealand struck back with two. Bless Daly<\/strong>, who scored the first goal, took a penalty attempt to start the second quarter, bouncing into the right post and gaining the rebound to score. Taafili Taoso<\/strong> converted extra off the right-post position for 5-2. Emison Styris<\/strong>, the Kiwis\u2019 second scorer, hurled in an eight-metre shot for 5-3 and Riaan Bryant<\/strong> converted extra from the top to keep New Zealand within one goal at the turn.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Australia kept New Zealand away from goal and converted three extra-player goals with two from Sienna Owen<\/strong> and Daly\u2019s third after many passes. Saskia Dunn<\/strong> converted extra to start the fourth period when New Zealand\u2019s senior international, Holly Dunn<\/strong>, was ejected. Dunn<\/strong> on Dunn<\/strong>! A Kiwi timeout produced nothing other than two more Aussie goals with Daly<\/strong> grabbed her fourth with a lob from wide left. Taylor Fisher<\/strong> broke the 12-minute Kiwi drought at 4:42 for 11-5. Bryant<\/strong> had her penalty attempt saved and Australia squared away the last two goals with a third to Owen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
Daly<\/strong> scored four and Owen<\/strong> three for the Aussies. Isabel Scott<\/strong> made nine saves in goal. For the Kiwis, Styris<\/strong> netted twice. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>The 3-0 third period set up what was an 8-1 second half.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>Australia was perfect on extra, netting five and denying New Zealand eight of nine. The Aussies missed two penalty attempts from four and New Zeal missed its one chance. The Aussies stole the ball six to five and needed only 23 shots to 32 \u2014 a 56 to 15 per cent difference.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>Australia now has four victories and a return clash with China, which it beat 14-8 on day three, will settle ninth position. New Zealand will be chasing a third win when it faces Israel, a team it beat 12-11 on day one.<\/p>\n

Match 33, ISRAEL 10 CHINA 19 (3-5, 1-6, 5-5, 1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Wang Beiyi (CHN)\/Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Fresh from six goals against Italy, Wang Beiyi<\/strong> proved her left arm is worth the emperor\u2019s gold with another five goals as China proved its worthiness for ninth place with a top showing against Israel. China had a 5-3 advantage at the quarter thanks to a pair of goals to Shao Yixin<\/strong> and Wang\u2019s<\/strong> first goal on lob, but it was the second period that set the seal on the match with six unanswered goals for an 11-3 margin that Israel could not come back from. Shao<\/strong> added two more as five different players scored. Noga Levinshtein<\/strong> closed the scoring on extra for her second goal for 11-4 at halftime.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Gili Borenstein<\/strong> and Levinshtein<\/strong> converted penalty goals to finish a three-goal haul at the top of the third period. Three more Chinese goals, with Wang<\/strong> claiming an extra-player move had the match at 14-6. Nika Koren<\/strong> and Wang<\/strong> exchanged goals before Israeli captain Miya Tirosh<\/strong> from the deep left; Zhang Yumian<\/strong> with a lob and Maya Katzir<\/strong> rifling one in from the top to beat the buzzer, had the score at 16-9 at the last break. Goals were swapped in the fourth quarter before Wang<\/strong> landed the last two, albeit three minutes apart and still 1:11 from full time.<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
Wang<\/strong> scored five, Shao<\/strong> four and Zhang Yumian<\/strong> three for China. Goalkeeper Yan Xintong<\/strong> made 10 saves from 15 shots during her stint. Levinshtein <\/strong>topped Israel\u2019s scoring with three with Carmel<\/strong> Rahum <\/strong>and Tirosh <\/strong>chiming in with two each. Roni Kakuzin <\/strong>made nine save from 27 shots during her tenure.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>China breaking away from 4-3 up to 11-3.<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>China scored four from six on extra and saved four from eight. Israel scored two penalty goals and China one. China made four steals to three and shot 37-32.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>China gained its fourth victory and Israel is still winless despite two one-goal defeats.<\/p>\n

Group E (Classification 13-16)<\/strong>
\nMatch 32, CANADA 12 SOUTH AFRICA 4 (3-0, 2-1, 5-1, 2-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Canada and South Africa clashed for the second time with Canada increasing its winning margin. On day three, Canada won 14-8 and today the margin was elevated to eight. Keeping South Africa scoreless in the first quarter set up the victory. Isabella Mady<\/strong>, who scored six goals the last time they met, scored the opening two goals with a centre-forward scoop and an extra-player score off the left-post position. Brooklyn Plomp<\/strong> drilled one from the top for 3-0, 19 seconds from the buzzer. Cianne Benjamin<\/strong> also scored from two metres before Hannah Banks<\/strong> collected South Africa\u2019s first goal from penalty. Sydney Krushen<\/strong> did the same for 5-1 in a low-scoring period.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

It opened up in the third period with Katherine Featherstone<\/strong> starting her run and Benjamin<\/strong> once again doing damage from two metres. Banks<\/strong> responded on a centre-forward drive; Plomp<\/strong> converted a penalty and Featherstone<\/strong> landed two more for 10-2 at the final break. Tori Voke<\/strong> converted from five metres for 10-3 early in the fourth. Four minutes later, Canadian captain Pippa Heaver<\/strong> and Plomp<\/strong> \u2014 for her third as in the first encounter \u2014 had it out to nine goals differential. Voke<\/strong> reduced the deficit with a missile from seven metres a minute from full time.<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
Featherstone<\/strong> and Plomp<\/strong> with three apiece. Alexandra Stoddard<\/strong> made eight saves in her time in goal. Voke<\/strong> scored twice for South Africa. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>Keeping South Africa scoreless until midway through the second quarter and taking the score to 7-1 proved crucial to victory.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>Canada converted two from three on extra and South Africa missed its one chance. Both teams converted two penalty goals. South Africa commanded the steals 8-6 and the shots 28-27.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>Canada is well placed for 13th position having won three matches now.<\/p>\n

Match 31, ARGENTINA 12 MEXICO 8 (5-1, 2-3, 2-2, 3-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

In a repeat of the first day, Argentina defeated Mexico. It was 16-7 in the opening match of the tournament and Mexico can be congratulated on reducing that margin to four, such has been the week\u2019s experience. From 1-1, Argentina finished the first quarter handsomely with captain Anahi Bacigalupo<\/strong> scoring a hat-trick and increasing the margin to six in the second quarter. Mexico scored three straight with Sofia Gaytan<\/strong> adding two more to her first-quarter score and have the match at 7-4 by halftime.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Isabella Mastronardi<\/strong> converted the fourth penalty of the match to start the third period with Mexico scoring twice, either side of a saved penalty attempt by Argentina. Dafne Legaspi<\/strong> lobbed on counter and Mercedes Feliciano<\/strong> sent in a penalty goal. Bacigalupo<\/strong> used her incredible skills at centre forward to maintain the three-goal lead by the final break. Two Argentinian strikes, including a fifth goal, on counter, for Bacigalupo<\/strong> had the margin at five. Goals were traded, Mastronardi<\/strong> gaining her fourth, at centre forward, and Gaytan<\/strong> had the last say with her steal and score at 0:54 for the final score of 12-8.<\/p>\n

Match Heroes
<\/strong>Argentina\u2019s Bacigalupo<\/strong> with five goals and Mastronardi<\/strong> with four. <\/strong>For Mexico, Gaytan <\/strong>made four goals and Alma Luna<\/strong> took in 13 saves from goal.<\/p>\n

Image Source: Satiro Sodr\u00e9\/CBDA\/World Aquatics<\/p>\n

Turning Point
<\/strong>The 7-1 advantage midway through the second quarter was where victory came.\u00a0 Mexico won the rest of the match 7-5.<\/p>\n

Stats Don\u2019t Lie
<\/strong>Argentina missed both extra chances and Mexico managed just one from three. Argentina converted three from four on penalty and Mexico two from two. Argentina won the steals 5-3 and the shots 29-20.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line
<\/strong>Argentina now has three victories and Mexico has yet to make that mark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Overview In the medal quarterfinals, United States of America defeated Croatia 24-6 with an 8-1 second half; Spain…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":345582,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5312],"tags":[2000,299,104,661],"class_list":{"0":"post-345581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-spain","8":"tag-eu","9":"tag-europe","10":"tag-spain","11":"tag-text"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115030775821565583","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/345582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}