South Africa pipped Zimbabwe 8-6 in a
clash of the neighbours and Greece downed Czech Republic 11-6 in second-day
action of the women’s water polo competition in Hurghada. Greece rises to the
top of the ladder with two wins.
ZIMBABWE 6 SOUTH AFRICA 8
South Africa may have shot to a 3-0
lead, but it had narrowed to 4-2 by the first break. South Africa fumbled a
penalty attempt to start the second quarter, elevated to 5-2 before Zimbabwe came
back with two long shots for a 5-4 deficit. South Africa scored from a
six-metre foul just ahead of the halftime buzzer, which sounds more like a
tweeter.
Dayna Bond scored her third goal to
start the third quarter and bring the margin to one. Four minutes later she
levelled with a rifle shot. Her next attempt hit the bar, South Africa
countered and Kendell de Beer gave South Africa the 7-6 advantage with five
seconds to spare.
South Africa missed a penalty
attempt; Zimbabwe wasted a timeout by losing the ball on the play; South Africa
called a timeout at 0:54, gained an exclusion and converted for 8-6, that
proved enough for victory.
Match Difference Makers
Zimbabwe’s Bond, who scored nine
goals against Greece on Friday, topped the scoring with four while four South
Africans netted twice.
The Decider
Scoring on counter at the end of the
third period.
Stats Critical
The stats do not look good for South
Africa, blowing both penalty attempts and converting only two from nine on
extra-man attack. Zimbabwe was more clinical with two from four.
What Awaits The Teams?
South Africa faces Greece and
Zimbabwe the Czech Republic on Sunday.
CZECH REPUBLIC 6 GREECE 11
Greece made it two from two with a
comfortable win over Czech Republic. Greece went to 3-1 and 5-1 before the
Czechs scored off a drive a second from the quarter-time buzzer. It was was a
4-3 second quarter to Greece, moving from 7-5 to 9-5 thanks to a penalty goal
and a bomb from halfway.
The third period was the first of the
tournament, and probably only time, that no goals were scored. Greece scored
the first two goals, the second from a lob; Czech Republic responded with a
centre-forward backhand from Barbora Kilianova. Greece had a chance to stretch
the margin to 12-6 but missed the penalty attempt.
Match Difference Makers
Evdokia Tsimara, Dionysia Kouretas
and Nefeli Chaldaiou all scored three each for Greece while Czech Republic’s
double scorer was Karolina Hlavata.
The Decider
Leading at 9-5 by halftime and
playing a scoreless third quarter.
Stats Critical
Greece converted three from nine to
the Czech tally of one from seven on extra-man attack. Both teams scored one
from two at the penalty line.
What Awaits The Teams?
Top-of-the-table Greece plays South
Africa and Czech Republic fronts Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Progress Points
Greece 6, Czech Republic 3, South
Africa 3, Zimbabwe 0.
Written by McKinnon, World Aquatics
Water Polo Correspondent
Image Source: Jacopo Briatore/World
Aquatics
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