Written by: Russell McKinnon, FINA
Media Committee Member
Spain won a nail-biting penalty
shootout 8-7 to defeat Hungary 19-18 for a debut title in what will be the
final FINA Women’s Water Polo World League here in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on
Sunday. The Super Final gold-medal match was tied at 11-11 after full time and
four of the first six goals were saved and 13 more crossed the line before the
final shot was stopped on the line, needing a VAR decision to confirm Spain’s
victory. The bronze-medal final was also 11-11 at the final whistle and
outgoing champion United States of America won the shootout 5-4 over
Netherlands for 16-15. In the lower classifications, Italy held off a resurgent
Australia 13-11 for fifth place and Canada sent off New Zealand 13-6 for
seventh ranking.
Final rankings:
1. Spain
2. Hungary
3. United States of America
4. Netherlands
5. Italy
6. Australia
7. Canada
8. New Zealand
Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Rita Keszthelyi
(HUN).
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Martina
Terre (ESP).
Media All Star Team:
Goalkeeper:
Martina Terre (ESP)
Field Players:
Bronte Halligan (AUS)
Rita Keszthelyi (HUN)
Paula Leiton (ESP)
Claudia Marletta (ITA)
Lola Moolhuijzen (NED)
Jordan Raney (USA)
Classification 1-2
SPAIN 19 HUNGARY 18 in penalty
shootout (FT: 11-11. Pens: 8-7)
European champion Spain can now add
the FINA World League title to its resumé after a stunning 20-shot penalty
shootout victory over Hungary. It was a magnificent match, which was tied at
every number to nine with 3-3 at the quarter, 6-6 at halftime and 9-9 at the
final break. It was end-to-end action with Hungary taking the first lead and
Spain leading at four, six, seven and 10, going to 11-9 before Hungary claimed
the final two goals and the last just beating the buzzer and a VAR decision
just to make sure, thus forcing the shootout. If you looked back at the match,
you could pick out certain mistakes, like Spain’s failure to assist goalkeeper
Martina Terre — the tournament’s best — by leaving her stranded with a
defender, eventuating in a three on one at 6-6, one second from halftime. Then
there was Paula Leiton who was caught in a clutch at 5:29 in the last quarter
and the play was stopped for five minutes as VAR was used, firstly sending
Leiton from the pool with a red card for fighting and then having it
overturned. If that was not enough drama for the packed Spanish crowd, there
was a double exclusion at 3:07, but Judith Forca gained a second consecutive
goal soon after for 11-9. The crowd was in raptures. Then Dora Leimeter scored
on extra-man attack for 11-10. Soon after, Hungary had a shot rebound and
regained at 0:13 and Greta Gurisatti banged in a shot from wide left and VAR
used to determine that it left the hand before the buzzer sounded. It did and
the shootout eventuated. It was as excruciating for the players as it was for
the spectators with Spain shooting first and having both stopped by the stoic
Alda Magyari. Terre stopped the second and third Hungarian shots and then 13
went past the keepers before Gurisatti, the Hungarian heroine 15 minutes
earlier, having her shot stopped millimetres from crossing, according to VAR.
Spain had won its first crown and will forever have the trophy as the final
World League victor before the World Cup overshadows it in coming years.
Match Heroes
So many, with Forca and Leiton
netting four each for Spain, but it was probably the tournament’s most valuable
player, Hungary’s Rita Keszthelyi, who emerged the finest in water with five
goals. She was tireless all week and, while not scoring a lot of goals earlier
on, stepped up when most needed. Her long career deserved a gold medal, but she
should be satisfied with her efforts for silver.
Turning Point
Gurisatti’s last-gasp goal to force
the shootout.
Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams converted six extra-man
goals with Spain doing it from 10 attempts and Hungary from 13. The sole penalty goal went to Hungary.
Bottom Line
Spain has travelled an amazing
journey under head coach Miki Oca, the 1996 Olympic champion, since he took
over the reins and the team has achieved so much, especially this year after
the disappointment of fifth place in the Budapest Worlds and then the European
gold in Split. Now Spain adds a second World League medal, but this time it is
gold, to go with the silver from 2016 and 10 Super Final appearances. Hungary
goes home with eight showings and three silver medals and that amazing victory
over USA the previous day.
FINA Power Ranking before the event
Spain 2nd, Hungary 3rd.
Classification 3-4
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16
NETHERLANDS 15 in penalty shootout (FT: 11-11. Pens: 5-4)
For the second time in 18
appearances, USA collected a bronze medal, which means that in the history of
this event, it only missed out on a medal once — fifth in 2005. By winning 14
titles and finishing second once, the USA leaves the competition as the most
successful nation. Although it was not gold today, the team showed what it can
do and swatted a game Netherlands in the shootout by a single goal. Such was
the closeness of the match that it was tied seven times — one, two, three,
seven, nine, 10 and 11. Netherlands opened, but then had to play catch-up to
USA, trailing 6-3 and then 7-4 at halftime. The Dutch brought it to 7-7 in less
than three minutes before Jordan Raney sent in a double for the 9-7 final-break
advantage. Another three-goal surge by the women in orange not only gained a
draw when Lola Moohuijzen converted extra-man attack, but also went to the lead
thanks to Maartje Keuning. Moolhuijzen committed a cardinal sin earlier in the
match when she was ejected and then inexplicably returned to the pool as an
illegal player, earning a penalty foul that USA converted for 2-1. She made
amends later with a penalty score of her own en route to 10 goals for the
tournament while celebrating her 18th birthday. Raney and Bente Rogge traded
goals and at 2:53, Rachel Fattal blasted in the 11-11 equaliser, which led to
the shootout. Netherlands won the toss and the only shooter to have her shot
saved was Marit van der Weijden, who had an excellent FINA debut at this venue
otherwise.
Match Heroes
Raney scored six goals before today
and sent in five more in the match that mattered and scored the final shot of
the shootout rotation to win the match and take home the bronze medal.
Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson (above) made one crucial save for USA in the
shootout, but made numerous others, including two consecutive snap saves
earlier in the match, thwarting what should have been an easy Dutch score.
Turning Points
USA going from 3-3 to 6-3;
Netherlands coming from 7-4 down to 7-7; Raney making it 9-7 and then
Netherlands going to 10-9 up. USA’s 2-1 in the final four minutes slipped it
across the line.
Stats Don’t Lie
USA converted five from nine on
extra-man attack and the Dutch four from eight and there was a penalty goal
apiece.
Bottom Line
USA has been the leading nation in
the world for so long and the 14 World League crowns, one silver and two
bronzes from 18 appearances is unprecedented in world sport. Netherlands leaves
with a silver and a bronze from eight outings and the thought “If only…” It could
have been the second team to defeat the normally invincible North Americans at
this tournament.
FINA Power Ranking before the
eventUSA 1st, Netherlands 4th.
Classification 5-6
ITALY 13 AUSTRALIA 11
With a 9-4 lead two minutes from
halftime, Italy was the deserved winner of this final encounter for the teams.
It looked all over as Australia struggled to find decent shots and was blocked
out by the Setterosa. The quarter time was 4-2 to Italy after being tied at one
and two. Even though Australia slipped in the last goal of the first half,
thanks to Matilda Kearns on extra, four seconds from the buzzer, Italy was the
team of the day. Then an unusual thing happened. The Aussie Stingers repeated
their antics of the previous day against Canada when it won the third period
5-1. Today it was 6-2, which put a
different complexion on the match. Starting from 9-4 in the previous quarter,
the Stingers twice went three straight with the second stanza taking the match
to an incredible 11-11 by the final hooter. It took two minutes for Dafne
Bettini to score on counter and captain Chiara Tabani drive and take a cross
pass on extra for the 13-11 Italian scoreline at 5:06. Nothing either side did
could bring up another goal and Italy finished fifth.
Match Heroes
Domatilla Picozzi scored three goals
with a pair in the opening quarter and a third to push the score to 10-7 in the
third. Alice Williams tuned into the match with three goals for Australia and
Bronte Halligan scored another pair for 14 in Tenerife.
Turning Points
Italy from 2-2 to 9-4 and then
Australia from 9-4 to 11-11. Italy’s last two goals were the ones that really
counted.
Stats Don’t Lie
Italy scored four from nine on
extra-man attack and Australia three from nine. Claudia Marletta converted two
penalty fouls for Italy — 15 goals for the week —and Halligan one for
Australia.
Bottom Line
Italy has the experience this year
with World League, World and European Championships and this showed through.
Australia played brilliantly in parts and needs to string more good periods
together in the lead-up to Fukuoka 2022 next year. Italy bows out of the
competition with four silvers and a bronze while Australia leaves with four
silvers and six bronzes, second in total number to USA.
FINA Power Ranking before the event
Australia 5th, Italy 6th.
Classification 7-8
NEW ZEALAND 6 CANADA 13
Canada gained a second win for the
week and finished seventh. Its shootout win over Netherlands was heroic, but
did not improve its position in the bottom four. Canada showed why it deserves
to be in the top echelon of world reams, shrugging off the Kiwis at 4-4 in the
first quarter, rising to 7-4 at halftime and 10-5 by the last break. The Kiwis
were kept nearly scoreless in the middle quarters with the Maddie Quin goal at
1:44 the only relief. New Zealand levelled at one, three and four in an
interesting first quarter that had eight goals and none was on extra-man
attack. They were all field goals, including three centre-forward backhands. In
fact, the first of the three extra-man goals came halfway through the second
quarter. It was that kind of match where the players were enjoying themselves
and playing freely. Congratulations to Canada, whose 18 appearances in the
World League Super Finals alongside United States of America, is a record and
reaped two silver medals — 2009 and 2017. For New Zealand it was a cameo
performance with five matches in its first appearance and vital data received
for following years.
06 Nueva Zelanda - Canada
Match Heroes
Kyra Christmas was the undoubted star
with four goals, scoring in four different manners, including a penalty strike.
She tallied 14 for the tournament. For the Kiwis, Emily Nicholson scored the
first three goals for her team by quarter time, and 10 for the week, as it was
well in the hunt.
Turning Point
The second, third and fourth quarter
where Canada went from 4-4 to 13-5.
Stats Don’t Lie
In a match that gave few chances on
extra-man attack, Canada did the best with two from six while New Zealand
gained one from seven. Canada converted both penalty attempts.
Bottom Line
Canada was the superior team coming
into the tournament and had that glorious shootout win under its belt. Canada
has played more matches on the world stage that the Kiwis in recent years and
that showed through.
FINA Power Ranking before the event
Canada 7th, New Zealand 8th.
No comments:
Post a Comment