Gergely Csurka, FINA Media Committee Member
Imagem 1
A kind
of underlining why the women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament is regarded the
toughest in water polo (besides the majors), this year’s final from Gouda is
replayed in Rio between Italy and the United States. Both sides had to work
hard in the semis but there was nothing to worry about in the last periods,
against Russia and Hungary respectively.
Semifinals
Game 2,
12.20: Russia v Italy 9-12 (2-2, 2-4, 0-2, 5-4)
Referees:
Xevi Buch (ESP), Mark Koganov (AZE)
RUSSIA:
Anna Listyukhina, Nadezhda Glyzina 1, Ekaterina Prokofyeva 1, Elvina Karimova,
Maria Borisova, Olga Gorbunova 1, Ekaterina Lisunova 2, Anastasia Simanovich,
Anna Timofeeva, Evgeniia Soboleva 1, Evgeniya Ivanova 2, Anna Grineva 1, Anna
Karnaukh (GK). Head coach: Aleksandr Gaidukov
ITALY: Giulia
Gorlero, Chiara Tabani 2, Arianna Garibotti 5, Elisa Queirolo 1, Federica
Radicchi 1, Rosaria Aiello, Tania di Mario 1, Roberta Bianconi 2, Giulia
Emmolo, Francesca Pomeri, Aleksandra Pomeri, Aleksandra Cotti, Teresa
Frassinetti, Laura Teani (GK). Head coach: Fabio Conti
Extramen
Russia:
3 for 7
Italy:
2 for 7
Penalties
Russia:
none
Italy:
2 for 2
Image 2 The Italian players celebrate their fine win
over Russia - Credit: G. Scala / Deepbluemedia
A
brilliant game with a lot of twists and turns but at the end of the day Italy
proved its superiority and managed to reach the final, a feat they achieved
last time in 2004 when they captured the title.
The
Russians had a flying start and took a 2-0 lead in less than two minutes. Italy
responded well, Arianna Garibotti’s two action goals in 37 seconds put them on
equal terms, then a missed man-up at both sides let the score settle at 2-2
after eight minutes. The Italians carried on their momentum to the second
period, though, this time a goal from a 6 on 5 by Chiara Tabani and a penalty
by Tania di Mario gave the Setterosa a 2-4 advantage. Their 0-4 rush was halted
by Ekaterina Lisunova’s action shot and soon Nadezhda Glyzina’s fine centre
goal brought back the score to even once more. As it turned out: for the last
time. Before the middle break Garibotti netted another one from the distance
and 43 seconds later Federica Radicchi added another one, resetting the
two-goal cushion (4-6).
And
just in the previous quarter, the first two minutes saw more fine goals from
the Italians, completing another 0-4 rush for 4-8 – of course, Garibotti was
part of the show again, with another action goal. A change in front of the
Russian cage slowed down the Italian’s march, but just for a while – and the
Russians couldn’t get any closer at the other end either.
As it
was expected, they began to play a much riskier game in the fourth and this
counter-attack chasing approach began to pay off. After 5-9 they netted two for
7-9, but Garibotti did the damage again, netting her 5th of the afternoon,
and even though Anna Grineva responded immediately, a penalty by Roberta
Bianconi with 1:41 from time closed down the contest (8-11). Thus, Italy
maintained its unbeaten run here while Russia is yet to reach the Olympic final
– what’s more, they had to win one more game to get a medal for the first time
after 2000.
Fabio
Conti, head coach, Italy
"The
final is the dream. Every player and every coach wants to reach that dream and
now we have to make sure the dream doesn't stop."
"Arianna
(Garibotti) is a quality player. She doesn't feel fear and that's what makes
her so good. When we are in danger she can go out there and do everything for
us."
Aleksandr
Gaidukov, assistant coach, Russia:
"We
are now competing for the main prizes so you have to show your best. The girls
put their whole soul into this game. Not everything has gone as planned but they
are trying their hardest."
"We
were trying to find their weak spots. Even today we were trying to find their
weak players. I think the referees were quite fair despite penalties and fouls
going against us. It's our own fault. Unfortunately, some things went right and
some things went wrong. During the last part of the game we missed some chances
which shouldn't have happened."
"The
main factor was uncertainty in our minds. We were ready functionally, but not
completely ready technically. We will work on this for the bronze medal
match."
Game 4,
16.30: Hungary v United States 10-14 (2-3, 3-5, 3-4, 2-2)
Referees:
Daniel Flahive (AUS), Georgios Stavridis (GRE)
HUNGARY:
Orsolya Kaso, Dora Czigany 1, Dora Antal, Hanna Kisteleki 2, Gabriella Szucs,
Orsolya Takacs, Anna Illes, Rita Keszthelyi 4, Ildiko Toth, Barbara Bujka 2,
Dora Csabai, Krisztina Garda 1, Edinga Gangl (GK). Head coach: Attila Biro
USA:
Ashleigh Johnson, Madeline Musselman 2, Melissa Seidemann 1, Rachel Fattal 1,
KK Clark, Maggie Steffens 4, Courtney Matthewson 1, Kiley Neushul 2, Aria
Fischer, Kaleigh Gilchrist 1, Makenzie Fischer 1, Kami Craig 1, Sami Hill (GK).
Head coach: Adam Krikorian
Extramen
Hungary:
5 for 7
USA: 6
for 12
Penalties
none
image 3 Maggie Steffens is about to score one of her
four goals against Hungary
Hungarian
head coach, Attila Biro said before the match that if any team was capable of
beating the US side, it was his European champion side. Well, the plan didn’t
work, based on the outcome. The Magyar girls fought hard and bravely but the US
team is so strong, so united, so skilled that it requires a 100 percent effort
from any opponent to have a real chance to catch them – if it’s enough at all.
The Dutch lost to them 5-4 in last year’s World Championships final in Kazan,
that was their closest battle in the recent seasons. And of course, they
captured all titles on offer since 2012, with the exception of the 2013 Worlds.
Any time they have a possession, the scoring threat is stronger than against
any other side. If you earn a 6 on 5, you know it’s a must to score, otherwise
the gap can start growing. Teams are under enormous pressure both in defence
and in offence and after a while they usually break down.
Here
the Hungarians did what no other teams could so far in the entire tournament:
took the lead against the title-holders. It happened at 2-1, but the reply came
soon as Melissa Seidemann netted one from the distance and still in the first
Maggie Steffens scored another fine action goal for 2-3. Despite a late miss in
a man-up, the Hungarians could stay in visible distance in the second, Barbara
Bujka’s bouncing shot hit the back of the net from a dying 6 on 5 for 3-4, but
soon the usual numbers began to appear on the scoreboard. Three goals in 1:58
minutes made it 3-7, sooner or later it happens in the matches of US.
Still,
the Hungarians tried to chase their rivals, they trailed by three at half-time
(5-8) and a really fine one-timer from Rita Keszthelyi brought them even closer
early in the third. But before their hopes would have become bigger, the US
girls responded with a breathtaking display of attacking water polo. Three
back-to-back possessions, three fantastic drives, three goals from close range,
like checkmate in chess. It was 6-11 in a sudden, so in two and half minutes
the job was finished, from that point there was no way back for the European
champions. Credits to the Magyars that they didn’t let the game go, kept up
fighting, as they have to take one more step to earn a medal for the first time
in their history (among the women they have two painful 4thplace finishes from
2008 and 2012). They managed to keep their composure and were defeated by four
goals at the end – from another perspective: it was the ‘narrowest’ win by the
US team so far in Rio...
Adam
Krikorian, head coach, USA:
"We
could be playing dominoes back at the apartment and they would all want to beat
me and beat each other. This group hates to lose and that makes my job much
easier. It's as much of a mental challenge as it is a physical challenge. I'm
fortunate to have an extremely competitive group."
"We
were complete offensively and complete in terms of our effort. We didn't lose
focus but I do think we could have done a better job defensively. We haven't
given up 10 goals in a long time. Hungary is a great offensive team so we knew
it was going to be a challenge but I wish we could have done a little better
job defensively."
Attila
Biro, head coach, Hungary:
“It
could have been closer if we had avoided a couple of errors, especially in
defence. Then we could have played a more even match. We started well, then we
had a weaker period, then we could come back to the game but towards the end of
the third their physically superiority began to dominate. You need an extremely
high level goalie performance, tight defence, efficient blocking to be able to
beat this US team. What we want to achieve now is the bronze medal and we have
enough gas left in the tank to play well on the last day.”
Rita
Keszthelyi, captain, Hungary:
“Our
defence was disastrous, we conceded 14 goals. We have to review where we made
the mistakes if we wish to clinch the bronze medal. I don’t want to go home
with empty hands and surely I won’t.”
For
places 5-8th
Game 1,
11.00: Australia v Brazil 11-4 (2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 2-1)
Referees:
Marie-Claude Deslieres (CAN), Ni Shi Wei (CHN)
AUSTRALIA:
Kelsey Wakefield, Gemma Beadsworth, Hannah Buckling 1, Holly Lincoln-Smith 1,
Keesja Gofers, Bronwen Knox 1, Rowie Webster, Glencora McGhie 1, Zoe Arancini
3, Ash Southern 3, Isobel Bishop, Nicola Zagame 1, Lea Yanitsas (GK). Head
coach: Greg McFadden
BRAZIL:
Tess Oliveira, Diana Abla, Marina Zablith, Marina Canetti, Lucianne Barroncas,
Izabella Chiappini 2, Amanda Oliveira 1, Luiza Carvalho, Camila Pedrosa,
Viviane Bahia, Mariane Duarte 1, Gabriela Mantellato, Victoria Chamorro. Head
coach: Patrick Oaten
Extramen
Australia:
3 for 11
Brazil:
1 for 6
Penalties
Australia:
2 for 3
Brazil:
0 for 1
Image 4 The Brazilians tried it hard but it wasn't
their day... Credit:
Marcel Terbals / Waterpoloworld
For
almost two periods it was an equal encounter, since the Aussies needed some
time to rebuild their friendship with their beloved game where they went
through the utmost disappointment two days ago while losing to Hungary in the
most heartbreaking way, after a penalty shootout.
But
towards the end of the second quarter they were back and after 2-2 they scored
three connecting goals in a span of 77 seconds and they never looked back. Soon
it was 7-2, so the hosts could do nothing but try to minimalise the margin of
their defeat. A missed penalty at 7-3 didn’t help though late in the fourth
their goalie also stopped one. Still, thanks to the powerful offensive play of
Ash Southern, who was really outstanding in the whole tourney, and Zoe
Arancini, they scored three goals apiece, the Aussies won with ease and
restored some pride.
Game 3,
15.10: Spain v China 11-6 (2-2, 2-0, 4-2, 3-2)
Referees:
Radoslaw Koryzna (POL), Fabio Toffoli (BRA)
SPAIN:
Laura Ester, Marta Bach, Anna Espar 2, Beatriz Ortiz, Matilde Ortiz, Paula
Leiton, Clara Espar, Pilar Pena 2, Judith Forca 2, Roser Tarrago 1, Maica
Garcia 2, Laura Lopez 2, Patricia Herrera (GK). Head coach: Miguel Oca
CHINA:
Yang Jun, Ma Huanhuan 2, Mei Xiaohan, Siong Dunham, Niu Guannan 1, Sun Yating,
Song Donglun, Zhang Cong 1, Zhao Zihan 1, Zhang Weiwei, Wang Xinyan, Zhang Jing
1, Peng Lin (GK). Head coach: Rick Azevedo
Extramen
Spain:
6 for 12
China:
3 for 14
Penalties
Spain:
0 for 1
China:
1 for 2
The
first period brought a balanced game but from the second period the gap began
to grow, with two man-up goals from Anna Espar, even though between the two
Roser Tarrago’s penalty was well saved by Yang Jun. Defences worked well, 6 on
5s were denied in succession at both ends so it stood 2-4 at half-time.
Maica
Garcia’s classical centre-goal was followed by Ma Huanhuan’s fine distance shot
but two more action goals in the middle of the third, in a span of 25 seconds
for a 3-7 lead diminished the Chinese chances. In the fourth they could shave
the Spaniards’ advantage to three, but not more and they could hold it that
just for a while. The last two goals came from the 2012 runner-up so it turned
into a big win for Spain.
Final
Italy v
United States
Bronze
medal game
Russia
v Hungary
For
places 5-6
Australia
v Spain
For
places 7-8
Brazil
v China
Fonte FINA
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