Day 13 Schedule
Classification 7-8
Match 45. 16:00.
Classification 3-4
Match 47. 17:35.
Classification 5-6
Match 46. 20:00.
Classification 1-2
Match 48. 21:35.
Overview
In classification matches, China reversed the result of last year’s Doha play-off, beating New Zealand 10-6. Great Britain defeated France for the second time after day-one round play, to take out 11th position.
Match Reports
Classification 9-10
Match 40, CHINA 10 NEW ZEALAND 6 (4-2, 2-1, 0-1, 4-2)
In Doha last year this match was also for ninth classification and the Kiwis won 16-15. Today China held sway for all of the match and finished with a flourish despite a multitude of Kiwi goals on target or hitting the frame.
China almost swam away with the match in the first quarter such was the ferocity of its attack. Yan Siya and two Zhou Shang forward goals had China at 3-0 by 4:46. It took two Morgan McDowall goals — the first off the left-post position on extra and the second on counter — and an Emily Nicholson centre-forward backhand at 3:06 to level the score, However, a VAR review showed the ball was still in hand at the buzzer and the goal disallowed. It did slow the China charge, however. With eight seconds remaining, Zhang Yumian nudged the score to 4-2. Zhang Yumian started the second quarter from the top left. Nearly three minutes later, McDowall scored off the left post on extra again for 5-3. Yan Siya hit the crossbar on penalty at 1:09 but found a gap at 0:30 for 6-3 at halftime.
A Kiwi timeout at 5:48 yielded several shots at goal with McDowall picking up the rubbish and muscling in her fourth goal. As the thunder ripped through the city and rain and intruded the media tribunes, New Zealand had a challenge disallowed. Straight after the ball was stolen and Morgan went on the charge, gaining a penalty foul. China challenged — amazing since Angie Winstanley-Smith and Miki Oca, the respective coaches, chatted in the stands for a long period before the match. The challenge was lost and Millie Quin hit the right post. Tough defence denied both teams a goal before the final break.
The last period was excellent for China sneaking in two goals before McDowall stopped the trend with her four-metre strike. Shao Yixin countered for 9-5 and Emmerson Houghton converted a penalty after a violent action was challenged as two Chinese players left the water clutching their eyes. Wang Huan sent in a slider from well outside for 10-6 at 2:15, which proved to be the winner.
Match Heroes
McDowall was the best in water by far with her dynamic play, gutsy intervention and power shooting, netting her five of the Kiwis’ six goals. She finished the tournament with 19 goals. Emmerson Houghton, who scored the penalty was second with 14. For China, Zhang Yumian, Zhou Shang, Wang Huan and Yan Siya scored twice each. Yan was best for China with 15 goals and Shao Yixin, one today, took 10. Goalkeeper Shen Yineng stopped eight today and 50 for the week.
Turning Point
The opening three goals.
Stats Don’t Lie
China may have only scored one from three on extra but denied the Kiwis nine times from 11. China missed its one penalty shot and New Zealand one from two. China stole 11 to eight and shot 31 to 27.
Bottom Line
Two classy teams with a point to prove and both played strongly.
What They Said
Classification 11-12
Match 39, FRANCE 9 GREAT BRITAIN 14 (1-2, 3-4, 2-4, 3-4)
These two teams were meeting for the second time in Singapore with Great Britain having beaten France 12-9 on the first day of competition in their round clash. Today, it was a similar score at 14-9 but with a different dimension that included two French red cards. Whereas Britain was 2-1 ahead after the first period today, last week, France held the edge at 4-3. Tiziana Raspo opened for France from centre forward with Lily Turner on penalty and Katie Brown from the top deciding the period in Britain’s favour. Turner had her penalty attempt blocked at the top of the second quarter with Ema Vernoux making sure of her penalty chance at the other end. Anya Clapperton on extra from the top; Turner from the outside left and Kathy Rogers off a cross pass to the right post on extra rocketed Great Britain to 5-2. Vernoux converted another penalty foul for 5-3, much like in that first match. Valentine Heurtaux sent in France’s third penalty goal and Rogers dragged down a cross pass to the left post from the right on extra for 6-4 — the exact score as on day one. One of the keys to British supremacy was the nine saves from goalkeeper Sophie Jackson.
Toula Falvey scored on extra off the right-post position on the first British attack of the second half and Vernoux finished a clinical extra-player movement for 7-5. Brooke Tafazolli speared one down the left and Amelia Peters turned at the left post to goal at 4:33. Camille Radosavljevic pulled one back for France, although Izzy Howe finished an extra-player movement from top right on double extra at 0:23. A chance for France to narrow that margin failed when Heurtaux bounced into the crossbar on penalty, five seconds from the buzzer. At 10-6, it almost mirrored the first encounter when Britain led 11-6. Pasiphae Martineaud Peret had 11 saves for France at this stage and Jackson was on 12.
Controversy reigned in the final quarter as, after three and a half minutes when Heurtaux scored form the top, Vernoux was adjudged, with the use of VAR, to have allegedly kicked an opponent in the head in an earlier movement. Heurtaux’s effort was scratched, Vernoux sent from the pool deck (reluctantly) and Great Britain on a player up. It was Peters who scored, not on extra, for 11-7 and Radosavljevic made a penalty conversion. Soon after Arianna Banchi was red-carded (Ed: reason unknown), joining team-mate Vernoux in the “naughty box”. Another shot at extra attack yielded nothing and France called a timeout at 2:57, still in with a chance. Lou Jean-Michel converted extra for 11-8 and Turner put away another penalty shot. Britain called a timeout and Brown converted double extra. Emma Duflos did not wish to leave Singapore without a goal, so scored from centre forward at 0:52. Captain Rogers shovelled in a rebound off the second British shot at 0:14 and Britain had grasped 11th place.
Match Heroes
Britain’s Turner (18 in total) and Rogers (8) scored three each. Falvey scored once today for 10. Goalkeeper Jackson made 12 saves for 38 in Singapore. France’s Vernoux scored three for 15 and Radosavljevic three. Heurtaux, who scored one from nine today, was second best with 10 goals. Martineaud Peret also made 12 saves for 49 in all.
Turning Point
Britain coming from one down to 6-4 ahead at halftime and then 10-6 at the last break.
Stats Don’t Lie
Britain scored eight from 15 on extra and stopped five of seven. On penalties, France went four from five and Britain two from three. On steals, Britain made nine to eight and shot 37-34.
Bottom Line
Great Britain, with three wins here, was 11th in 2024 and France 14th, so one team advanced its position.
What They Said
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