Sports
USA edges champion Hungary on U20 women’s opening day
Overview
In Group A, Spain came from 4-2 behind to down Netherlands 13-7 and New Zealand did the same to best Israel 12-11.
In Group B, USA had the better of champion Hungary in the last quarter, winning it 5-2 to upset Hungary 11-10. Greece also had to come from behind to beat Italy 13-11.
In Group C, Argentina defeated Mexico 16-7 and Croatia downed Brazil 18-9 with all its goals coming from senior internationals.
In Group D, China had the better of Canada 12-8 and Australia swam over South Africa 17-4.
Match Reports
Match 1, Group C, MEXICO 7 ARGENTINA 16 (1-4, 2-5, 2-2, 2-5)
Mexico may have started the scoring but Argentina quickly regained the initiative and bounced out to a 4-1 lead through four different players a full two minutes from quarter time. Anahi Bacigalupo, fresh from the Singaporean World Championships, scored off her left arm from a rebound at centre forward for 5-1 at the top of the second quarter and her second goal. She scored her third from penalty as Mexico stayed in touch, but by the end of the half, Argentina was 9-3 up thanks to Bacigalupo scoring from a six-metre foul with 33 seconds remaining.
The third period was even with Mercedes Feliciano scoring her second for Mexico with a backhand shot off counter for 11-5 at the final break. Bianca Perasso nailed her fourth and Maylen Sampedro her third — the first of three penalty goals with team-mate Juana Masini grabbing her second goal and Vivian Rangel her second for Mexico. Masini made it 15-6 from the top on extra and Felciano threw the last goal from centre forward for 16-7 at 1:20.
Match Heroes
Perasso and Bacigalupo scored four each and Sampedro and Masini netted three apiece for Argentina. Feliciano scored three goals and goalkeeper Alma Luna made 13 saves for Mexico.
Turning Point
The 5-1 advantage early in the second quarter had the match in the bag for Argentina.
Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina proved it superiority on shooting with 36 to 15, secured four from four on penalty while giving up three, made 10 steals to one and converted the sole extra chance while denying Mexico its two attempts.
Bottom Line
Argentina has senior world championship-honed players and this proved the difference today.
Match 2, Group D, CANADA 8 CHINA 12 (2-3, 1-2, 2-4, 3-3)
Two goals in the last six seconds was exciting enough in a match where China held sway despite the constant attentions of the Canadians. Jaya Basu scored the two opening goals for Canada with the second on penalty after a long break for a technical issue. China responded with the next three goals before the first break and extended the lead to 4-2 in the second quarter, but not until 2:51 when Huang Zerui converted her second extra-player goal. Goals were traded in the final minute with Katherine Featherstone and senior international Zhang Yumian making it 5-3.
Zou Yuhe took it out to 6-3 on extra before Featherstone on extra and Sydney Krushen from a six-metre-foul shot narrowed the score to 6-5. Zou, Zhang Yumian and Shi Yitong from the deep right gave China an excellent 9-5 margin by the final break. Natalia Blazevic gave Canada hope early in the fourth on extra. Both teams took a timeout as the match closed to well inside the final three minutes. Zhang Jingwen, another senior international, converted extra from the deep left and Melania Segulja drilled from the top for 10-7. Krushen had her penalty attempt saved and Zhang Yumian scored at the other end at 0:54. Canada sent up seven field players, lost the ball, China shot and the ball stopped short of the line; two players chased and the Canadian was ejected. The ball came to the attacker who scored into an unguarded goal. With six seconds left on the clock, Canada restarted and Blazevic sent in a missile that was deflected by a defender, beating the goalkeeper for 12-8 on the buzzer. Splendid finish.
Match Heroes
Zhang Yumian netted four goals and Yan Xintong pulled in nine saves for China. Blazevic, Featherstone and Basu scored two each for Canada.
Turning Point
China coming from two down to two ahead by midway through the second period and throwing in a three-goal spurt in the third quarter for a four-goal advantage.
Stats Don’t Lie
China was excellent on extra plays, converting six from eight while Canada planted four from six. Canada missed one of two penalty chances; China made eight steals to six and needed only 24 shots to 27 for the victory.
Bottom Line
China has a handful of senior internationals, which will put it in good stead for upcoming matches.
Match 3, Group D, SOUTH AFRICA 4 AUSTRALIA 17 (0-5, 1-5, 2-2, 1-5)
Australia signalled its intentions to head into the top grouping with a strong start to the tournament, turning the 5-0 opening quarter into 10-1 at halftime. Taafili Taoso scored from centre forward and on counter en route to being named player of the match. Anneliese Pamp scored from deep right to close the first-quarter scoring and scored off a cross pass for 9-1. She could have had three if her penalty attempt had no creased the bar and gone over the top. Tayla Dawkins scored on counter on the next attack for her second and the 10-1 scoreline.
The second quarter started well for South Africa with Bella Imbriolo and Mia Loizidis scoring and two more Aussie goals had the scoreboard at 12-3 with Pamp netting her third on counter. Three more Aussie goals started the fourth quarter with Bless Daly leading the way with her third. Jaime van den Bosch scooped in the ball from centre forward for 15-4 with Australia finishing with two penalty goals and one to Taoso.
Match Heroes
Pamp, Taoso and Daly all scored three goals for the Aussies.
Turning Point
Australia showed its intent from the start and never lifted the foot off the throat.
Stats Don’t Lie
Australia scored just one from four on extra but denied South Africa all six chances; buried three from four on penalty; made seven steals to four and outshot South Africa 31-24.
Bottom Line
Australia has a balanced team with plenty of junior experience.
Match 4, Group A, NETHERLANDS 7 SPAIN 13 (3-1, 2-4, 1-5, 1-3)
Spain has the team to go far in Salvador and not just outside the complex on to the beach. Spain found itself trailing 3-1 after scoring the opening goal but played consistent water polo to level the match at four and five by halftime. Ariadna Temprano scored two outside shots and Olympic gold medallist Isabel Piralkova converted a penalty foul as two Pien Gorter goals kept Netherlands in the picture. Gorter, who contested the senior worlds last month, had earlier scored the 2-1 go-ahead goal.
Three Spanish goals, including a second Piralkova penalty strike, changed the face of the match. Tess van der Meer grabbed her second goal for Netherlands but Carlota Penalver and Piralkova sent the score to 10-6. Gorter failed in her penalty attempt just before the final break. Spain shot out to 13-7 with another Dutch penalty attempt failing to go in and Piralkova converting extra for that 13th goal at 1:15. A Dutch timeout yielded nothing and Spain had completed the last three quarters 12-4.
Match Heroes
Piralkova finished with four goals and Spanish goalkeeper Blanca Colominas made nine saves. Gorter made a hat-trick for the Netherlands
Turning Point
Netherlands took away the early advantage from Spain but Spain was in control by the end of the third period.
Stats Don’t Lie
Spain struggled on extra with one from seven while Netherlands converted four from 10. Spain made all four penalty attempts to Netherlands’ one from three. The Spaniards plundered 10 steals to three and shot 32-27.
Bottom Line
Spain had tried and tested players at the higher level against a Dutch team containing players from last year’s U18 world championships.
Progress Points
Group A: Spain 3, New Zealand 3, Israel 0, Netherlands 0
Group B: Greece 3, United States of America 3, Hungary 0, Italy 0
Group C: Croatia 3, Argentina 3, Brazil 0, Mexico 0
Group D: Australia 3, China 3, Canada 0, South Africa 0
Day 2 Schedule
Match 09. 09:00. Group D, China v South Africa
Match 10. 10:30. Group D, Australia v Canada
Match 11. 12:00. Group C, Croatia v Mexico
Match 12. 13:30. Group B, Italy v Hungary
Match 13. 16:00. Group A, Israel v Netherlands
Match 14. 17:30. Group C, Argentina v Brazil
Match 15. 19:00. Group B, United States of America v Greece
Match 16. 20:30. Group A, Spain v New Zealand