FINA 2011 Shanghai Water Polo Womens Championships

Quarters: 1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 1-2

Extra Man: NED: 2/4. USA: 2/3

Referees: Massimiliano Caputi (ITA), Margeta, Boris (SLO)
Delegates: Khosrow Amini, Haluk Toygarili

Russell McKinnon, FINA

This was the game where all the champions were contesting perhaps the hottest game of the tournament in the very first match. The USA has World, World Cup and World League titles while the Netherlands is the reigning Olympic champion. It all came down to the final two minutes when both teams took a timeout but could not convert as superb defence nullified powerful attacking chances. The centre forwards dominated with VERMEER proving a handful for the USA with three goals while the USA’s powerful forward trio DRIES, SEIDEMANN and CRAIG netting the USA’s first three. WENGER was sharp, scoring twice on extra and her third came off a close pass from the top which she turn and dragged back into goal for the go-ahead 7-6 goal. SMIT equalised with a gift goal off the left-post position at 1:28. The USA’s last-gasp attempt to win was to come from a top shot but the driver failed to earn the foul to assist with a potential 5m attempt.

Greg Mescall, USA Water Polo:

Shanghai, China - July 17 - A see-saw match that witnessed a variety of lead changes and runs throughout ended in a tie as the defending World Champion USA Women's National Team opened the defense of their crown with a draw against the defending Olympic Gold Medalists from the Netherlands 7-7. The United States had the final possession of the match but were unable to get a shot off as time expired. Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) led the offensive attack for Team USA with three goals while Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) went the distance in net turning aside seven shots.

The Netherlands got the scoring started in the first quarter with a power play tally to go up 1-0. After an initial save by Armstrong the rebound came right to the Dutch who buried a close shot for the early lead. The United States would answer minutes later at the 2:25 mark when Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) wheeled inside and scored with her off-hand for a 1-1 match headed to the second period.

In the second quarter the scoring opened up a bit as Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford) delivered on a counter attack to put the United States up for the first time at 2-1 with 5:49 remaining in the period. The USA started to cook on offense a minute later as Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) dished to Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) who popped up right in front of the cage for an easy putaway and a 3-1 lead. The Netherlands came right back with consecutive goals in the span of a minute and had tied the match at 3-3 with 3:07 to go in the period. That would be the score as the two teams pulled into intermission.

Back and forth it went as play opened in the third quarter with the Netherlands drawing an exclusion and quickly getting a pass to two meters for a score and a 4-3 lead. Team USA came right back twenty seconds later when Wenger scored the first of her three goals on a power play for a 4-4 match. Fast forward three minutes to the 4:27 mark and it was more Wenger again hitting on the player advantage for a 5-4 lead. Again the Dutch would rally scoring consecutive goals the last coming with just :22 remaining in the period to take the lead back at 6-5 going to the fourth.

90 seconds into the fourth quarter and Villa stepped up with a few fakes and a laser to the back of the cage for a tie game at 6-6. Things looked promising minutes later when Wenger capped her hat trick with the match’s prettiest goal, a re-direct right in front of net for a 7-6 advantage with just 2:45 to play. The Netherlands would not go quietly returning the favor with 1:28 left as Yasemin Smith spun her way inside for the tying goal at 7-7. Each team had opportunities as the match wound to a close with both failing to score and the contest would end 7-7.

Team USA ended the game 3-4 on player advantages while the Netherlands went 3-6. Neither team attempted a penalty shot. Next up for the United States will be a match with Hungary on Tuesday evening. The Hungarians throttled Kazakhstan 21-6.

Scoring -

UNITED STATES of AMERICA: 7 (1, 2, 2, 2) L. Wenger 3, B. Villa 1, M. Seidemann 1, A. Dries 1, K. Craig 1

NETHERLANDS: 7 (1, 2, 3, 1)

6x5 – USA 3-4 – NED – 3-6

Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 7

Flash Quotes:

Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

“We gave up two, almost essentially three goals out of the center position which is disappoint. When we took the lead in the fourth, I really thought we were going to kind of pull away from it, and unfortunately we couldn’t close out the game. Holland is very good, this is certainly not a surprising result for us.”

“We just want to get better, we know our next opponent Hungary is extremely talented as well. We just have to learn from our mistakes in this game and learn from them and get ready four next game. We can’t spend too much dwelling on this, it is important that we just learn and move on.”

Lauren Wenger, USA All-Around

“I think it was a great first game. We knew coming into this tournament they would be our first game, it was going to be a very difficult game, they are a great team. It was a good battle and a good building block for the rest of the tournament.”

Game #2 10:50 KAZ 6 vs HUN 21

Play by Play Result Start List

Quarters: 3-5, 0-6, 3-6, 0-4

Extra Man: KAZ: 1/2. HUN: 4/5

Referees: Shi Wei Ni (CHN), Erhan Tulga (TUR)
Delegate: Boukezouha Badreddine, Bill Shaw

KAZAKHSTAN: Galina RYTOVA, Lyudmila CHEGODAYEVA, Aizhan AKILBAYEVA, Anna TUROVA, Kamila ZAKIROVA (1), Kamila MARINA, Natalya ALEXANDROVA, Darya VASSILYEVA (2), Agata TNASHEVA, Marina GRITSENKO (2), Yelena CHEBOTOVA (1), Assem MUSSAROVA, Yelena STARODUBTSEVA. Head Coach: Ryan CASTLE.

HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Dora CZIGANY (1), Dora ANTAL (3), Anna ILLES, Gabriella SZUCS, (1) Orsolya TAKACS (2), Rita DRAVUCZ (3), Rita KESZTHELYI (5), Ildiko TOTH, Barbara BUJKA (3), Rita KOSZPOLI (2), Kata MENCZINGER, Edina GANGL. Head Coach: Andreas MERESZ

Kazakhstan felt the full might of a resurgent Hungary keen to re-establish itself in the top echelon. The 2005 champion settled into the game slowly but combinations, passing and counter-attack proved the accelerant for a big victory. Three goals came from blow-out counters while several others were scored one-on-one with goalkeeper RYTOVA, who is back in action after retiring after last November’s Asian Games in Guangzhou. KESZTHELYI had a great outing with five goals, from varying positions and situations.

Game #3 12:10 AUS 7 vs CAN 10

Quarters: 0-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-2

Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Torsten Bock (GER)
Delegate: Alexsandar Soster, Rich Foster

Extra Man: AUS: 3/6. CAN: 3/3

AUSTRALIA: McCormack, Beadsworth 1, Smith, Rippon, Moran, Knox 1, Webster 2 , Gynther 1, Ralph 1, Smith, M. Rippon 1, Zagame, Brown

CANADA: Riddell, Alogbo, Monton, Csikos 2, Bekhazi 2, Genoway, Valin, Perreault 2, Eggens 2, Robinson 2, Campbell, Radu, Janssens

Canada produced what some would see as an upset on recent form but Canada has the more recent World Championship silver medal from Rome, while Australia claimed silver in Melbourne in 2007. With Australia in poor shooting form and Canada defensively superb, thanks in no small part by goalkeeper RIDDELL, the North Americans had a 3-0 lead until midway through the second quarter. The gap was still three by halftime with the third period looking better for the Aussie Stingers before CSIKOS scored her second of the period with 17 seconds left for an overwhelming 8-4 advantage at the final break. Australia came back in the fourth with three straight goals and still in with a chance but when PERREAULT plastered in a goal after extra advantage at 2:45, the game was beyond reach. Canada’s ferocious defence was the pivot on which it easily secured the match.

Game #4 13:30 NZL 19 vs UZE 6

Quarters: 4-2,5-1,6-1, 4-2

Extra Man: NZL: 2/4. UZB: 1/1

Pens: NZL: 1/1. UZB: 1/1

Referees: Guy Pinker (RSA) , Osvaldo Gonzalez (PUR)
Delegate: Boukezouha Badreddine, Haluk Toygarli

New Zeland: Harache, Cox 2, Mason 1, Lewis 1, Logan, Boyd 1, Smallfield 1, Sieprath 3, Theelen 1, Bowry 2, Hudson 6, Myles 1, Millar

Uzebekistan: Dukhanova,Dadabaeva 1, Sarancha, Piftor, Ivanova, Umarova, Plyusova 1 , Sheglova 1, Halikova 3, Morozova, Osipenko, Plyusova, Hamitova

New Zealand opened the scoring in the first 20 seconds and kept the pressure on Uzbekistan for the rest of the game. New Zealand was allowed space and excellent shooting meant the score kept climbing. COX relished the two-metres position and HUDSON used her power shot to good use with three goals in the first half, followed by two more in the third and her sixth in the fourth.

Game #5 15:00 BRA 4 vs RUS 15

Quarters: 1-6, 1-2, 2-2, 0-5

Extra Man: BRA: 1/1. RUS: 3/9

Pen: BRA: 0/1

Referees: Daniel Flahive (AUS), Radoslav Koryzna (POL)
Delegate: Andrey Kryukov, Manuel Ibern

BRAZIL: Tess OLIVEIRA, Cecilia CANETTI, Marina ZABLITH (1), Marina CANETTI (1), Marella COUTINHO, Izabella CHIAPPINI, Cristina BEER (1), Luiza CARVALHO (1), Fernanda LISSONI, Gabriela GOZANI, Maria Barbara AMARO, Gabriela DIAS, Manuela CANETTI. Head Coach: Roberto CHIAPPINI.

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA, Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (2), Sofia KONUKH (3), Alexandra ANTONOVA (1), Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA (1), Ekaterina LISUNOVA, Evgenia SOBOLEVA (3), Ekaterina TANKEEVA, Olga BELYAEVA (4), Evgenia IVANOVA (1), Yulia GAUFLER, Anna KANAUKH. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

Russia comfortably secured maximum points from its clash with Brazil but head coach KABANOV was not happy at times in the manner Russia was going about its workload. Brazil disrupted the Russian flow but Russia hadt he game in hand by quarter time. Captain KONUKH was in the goals but it was BELYAEVA who topped the scoring with four, including a magnificent centre-forward sweep shot and a classy lob. Brazil fought to the end but it was Russia who made the space and scored some unattended goals.

Game #6 16:20 RSA 5 vs CHN 22

Quarters: 1-5, 0- , 2-5, 2-6

Extra Man: RSA: 0/1. CHN: 3/3

Pens: RSA 1/1. CHN: 1/3

Referees: Marie Deslieres (CAN), Kazuhiko Makita (JPN)
Delegate: Wahid Farid, Evgeny Sharanov

SOUTH AFRICA: Leigh MAARSCHALK, Kimberly SCHMIDT, Kimberly KAY, Shelley FAULMANN, Megan SCHOOLING, Laura BARRETT, Christine BARRETTO, Lee Anne KEET, Delaine CHRISTIAN, Sarah HARRIS (1), Nicolette POULOS, Kelsey WHITE (2), Jemma DENDY YOUNG (2). Head Coach: Brad ROWE.

CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei (2), LIU Ping (1), SUN Yujun (3), HE Jin (1), SUN Yating (3), SONG Donglun (1), CHEN Yuan (2), WANG Yi (2), MA Huanhuan (6), SUN Huizi (1) ZHANG Lei, WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

China used South Africa for training but the parochial Chinese crowd was stunned when DENDY YOUNG opened the scoring. The goal came just seconds after Chinese superstar penalty shooter MA drilled her penalty attempt into MAARSCHALK’s stomach. But then it was one-way traffic to early in the third period when MA scored her fourth action goal for 12-1. WHITE converted a penalty goal and DENDY YOUNG scored from two metres either side of a SUN Yating backhander for 13-3 barely two minutes into the second half. SONG converted a penalty but TENG had her penalty attempt blocked, giving MAARSCHALK an impressive two saves from three attempts against one of the best teams in the world. China went to 16-3 by the final break and South Africa was not finished, WHITE scoring a second from beyond Beijing. MA went on to six goals and from there it was a case of a match well engineered by the host team. It must be noted that while South Africa took 23 shots, China had the luxury of 39.

Game #7 17:40 GRE 10 vs ESP 9

Quarters: 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3

Extra Man: GRE: 3/5. ESP: 6/8

Referees: Gideon Remnet (NED), Mark Koganov (AZE)
Delegate: Evgeny Sharanov, Alexsandar Sostar

GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA (1), Antiopi MELIDONI, Ilektra Maria PSOUNI, Kyriaki LIOSI, Alkisti AVRAMIDOU, Alexandra ASIMAKI (3), Antigoni ROUMPESI (2), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (3), Triantafylla MANOLIOUDAKI (1), Stavroula ANTONAKOU, Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.

SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (3), Ana ESPAR (1), Helena LLORET (1), Matilde ORTIZ (1), Paula CHILLADA, Lorena MIRANDA, Pilar PENA, Andrea BLAS, Ona MESSEGUER (2), M. Carmen GARCIA (1), Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguel OCA.

Greece received a fright en route to its opening win, twice coming back from a goal down to level twice in the second quarter and take a stranglehold on the match in the second half. While Greece went 8-5 ahead late in the third quarter, it was Spain who scored either side of the final break to bring to game to 8-7. However, Greece struck twice with GEROLYMOU and ROUMPESI lengthening the margin to 10-7. GOMEZ struck back for Spain and Spain went to a timeout soon after on extra but could not convert. GIL’s directness in play and three goals in the first half kept Spain alive but the absence of Jennifer PAREJA from these championships has weakened the team. Greece nearly gave up the win when ORTIZ shovelled in a rebound with 10 seconds left but Greece managed to control to control the ball for the two points. Spain will only improve from this effort.

Game #8 19:00 ITA 12 vs CUB 4

WATER POLO PLANET.COM: the Alternative Voice www.waterpoloplanet.com

Quarters: 4-1, 2-1, 3-0, 3-2

Extra Man: ITA: 3/5. CUB: 1/3

Pen: CUB: 1/1

Referees: Gyorgy Juhaz (HUN) Ursula Wengenroth (SUI)
Delegate: Bill Shaw, Niculaw Firoiu

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (3), Elisa CASANOVA (1), Francesca POMERI, Martina SAVIOLI (3), Allegra LAPI (1), Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI (3), Giulia EMMOLO, Giulia RAMBALDI, Alessandra COTTI (1), Teresa FRASSINETTI, Elena GIGLI. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

CUBA: Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI, Daniela ESCALONA, Yeliana BRAVO, Hirovis HERNANDEZ (2), Danay GUTIERREZ (2), Mayelin BERNAL, Yanet LOPEZ, Yadira OMS, Dayana MORALES, Yordanka PUJOL, Lisbeth SANTANA, Neldys TRUFFIN, Arisney RAMOS. Head Coach: Francisco VEITIA.

Italy cruised through its opening match with a solid workout against Cuba, who front for World Championships and perform as if they compete at the top level all the time. The determination of the Cubans was evident everywhere, especially from goalkeeper ZUNZUNEGUI, but the dominance of Italy proved too tough a hurdle. Italy worked on its plays and used the players sparingly but enough to gain a decent goal differential. ABBATE and SAVIOLI enjoyed their hat-tricks of goals. CASANOVA had her usual cameo performances and missed some excellent backhands but did turn for an easy score from the two-metre line. HERNANDEZ showed her usual flair for Cuba and converted the only penalty shot of the match. Italy now has harder competition ahead but is equal to the task.

July 17
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July 29

Tuesday, July 19

Greece finds Brazil a tough nut to crack

by Russell McKinnon, FINA Press Corps

Shanghai (July 19).— Greece had to come from down twice to shake off Brazil, winning their Group C women’s water polo match at the Natatorium today.

Playing the second day of the competition, Brazil led 2-1 and 4-3 before scoring the equalising goal at 5-5 by halftime.

Greece moved to 8-5 but Brazil scored either side of the final break to bring the game to 7-8. However, Greece had the better of the final four minutes, winning 11-8.

It was Greece’s second win and sets it up for the final group game on Thursday against Russia, who accounted for Spain 18-8 in the earlier match.

Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA was devastating in that match, scoring five goals in a game where Spain struggled to compete.

In Group A, The United States of America drew away from Hungary with a three-goal burst just before halftime to win 16-7. With a draw against the Netherlands on day one, the USA needed to pour in the goals against Hungary to assist decision making after the Thursday round finishes in a probably tie-break situation.

The Dutch struck a defiant Kazakhstan, winning 13-3 with Olympic champion Mieke CABOUT scoring three.

Canada and Australia had wins in Group B with leader Canada gaining a second win with a 22-6 margin over Uzbekistan. Captain Krystina ALOGBO fired in five goals for Canada and Whitney GENOWAY scored four with three in quick-fire succession late in the first half — 62 seconds!

Australia defeated New Zealand 12-4 after leading 9-1 just before the final break.

Italy and China are on a collision course in Group D. Italy rolled South Africa 18-2 while China beat Cuba 19-6 in a thrilling match highlighted by the incredible exploits of Cuban goalkeeper Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI. Both teams are undefeated.

Tomorrow’s men’s competition throws up some interesting match-ups with Serbia opening the day against Romania at 09:30; USA v Italy at 17:00 and Spain-Montenegro at 16:20.

Game #9 09:30 UZB 6 vs CAN 22

Quarters: 2-6, 1-6, 1-7, 2-3

Referees: Juan MENENDEZ (CUB), Kazuhiko MAKITA (JPN)
Delegate: AMINI Khosrow TOYGARLI Haluk

Extra Man: UZB: 0/0. CAN 5/6

Pen: UZB: 1/1

UZBEKISTAN: Elena DUKHANOVA, Daiana DADABAEVA (1), Aleksandra SARANCHA (2), Eseniya PIFTOR, Evgeniya IVANOVA, Liliya UMAROVA, Natalya PLYUSOVA (1), Anna SHEGLOVA (1), Ramilya HALIKOVA (1), Ekaterina MOROZOVA, Anastasiya OSIPENKO, Anna PLYUSOVA, Guzelya HAMITOVA. Head Coach: Akbar SADIKOV.

CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO (5), Katrina MONTON (2), Emily CSIKOS (1), Joelle BEKHAZI (4), Whitney GENOWAY (4), Stephanie VALIN (2), Dominique PERREAULT (1), Monika EGGENS (1), Christine ROBINSON (1), Tara CAMPBELL, Marina RADU (1), Marissa JANSSENS. Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

This was just a case of how many and how long with the group leader Canada against the minnow. Canada used the session to great effect after a stirring three-goal victory over Australia on the opening day. As the quarter scores attest, Canada was by far the stronger team and pressured Uzbekistan into many mistakes and scored five goals on counter. Uzbekistan also scored on counter when SHEGLOVA lobbed on the drive in for 1-2. Uzbekistan scored either side of the first quarter break for 3-6 but Canada went to 17-3 before HALIKOVA scored. SARANCHA finished the scoring for her team when on counter 39 seconds from time. Canadian head coach OATEN said it was important for his team to maintain the momentum of Sunday ahead of the third clash with New Zealand.

Game #10 10:50 AUS 12 vs NZL 4

Quarters: 3-0, 2-0, 4-2, 3-2

Referees: NI Shi Wei (CHN), Guy PINKER (RSA)
Delegates: FARID Wahid FOSTER Richard

Extra Man: AUS: 0/2. NZL: 2/4

AUSTRALIA: Alicia McCORMACK, Gemma BEADSWORTH (1), Sophie SMITH, Rebecca RIPPON, Jane MORAN (1), Bronwen KNOX (2), Rowena WEBSTER (1), Kate GYNTHER (1), Glencora RALPH (3), Holly LINCOLN-SMITH (1), Melissa RIPPON (1), Nicola ZAGAME (1), Victoria BROWN. Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

NEW ZEALAND: Carina HARACHE, Emily COX, Kelly MASON (2), Danielle LEWIS, Amy LOGAN, Alexandra BOYD, Ashley SMALLFIELD (1), Lauren SIEPRATH, Johanna THEELEN, Casie BOWRY, Kirsten HUDSON (1), Alexandra MYLES, Brooke MILLAR. Head Coach: Eelco URI.

Australia bounced back from its three-goal loss to Canada on day one with a handy victory over New Zealand. New Zealand gained a win over Australia several years ago so proved useful competition and the Kiwis made the Aussie Stingers work for their goals. At 9-1 late in the third the game was well and truly over but New Zealand pulled one back through SMALLFIELD on extra to close the period. At 3-2 in the final quarter, the period flattered New Zealand more than Australia. New Zealand was forced into 17 errors compared to Australia’s nine turnovers. Australia’s shooting was wayward at times. RALPH had her shots on target three times but some easy shots went begging.

*The extra-man statistics do not reflect the true situation, Omega Timing recording only the shots taken and defended, not the steals or lack of shooting on extra. Australia actually scored one from seven on extra.

Game #11 12:10 ESP 8 vs RUS 18

Quarters: 1-4, 3-4, 3-6, 1-4

Referees: Daniel FLAHIVE (AUS), Marie-Claude DESLIERES (CAN)
Delegates: MARTIN G.O. FIROIU Niculae

Extra Man: ESP: 1/5. RUS: 3/3

Pen: ESP: 1/1

SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (2), Ana ESPAR, Helena LLORET, Matilde ORTIZ, Paula CHILLADA (2), Lorena MIRANDA, Pilar PENA, Andrea BLAS (1), Ona MESEGUER (1), M. Carmen GARCIA (2), Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguel OCA.

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA (1) Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (5), Sofia KONUKH (1), Alexandra ANTONOVA (1), Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA (2), Ekaterina LISUNOVA (4), Evgenia SOBOLEVA (1), Ekaterina TANKEEVA (1), Olga BELYAEVA (1), Evgenia IVANOVA (1), Yulia GAUFLER, Anna KANAUKH. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

Russia produced a stunning performance against a team expected to put up a closer score. With PROKOFYEVA in sparkling form with five goals to give her seven from two matches, the Russians were dominate everywhere and relished the counter-attack and cross-passing. PROKOFYEVA scored three of her collection in the opening quarter as Russia settled into a rhythm. While GIL brought it back to 2-4, PROKOFYEVA made it 5-2. GARCIA pulled one back, but by halftime, thanks to two LISUNOVA strikes, Russia had a four-goal advantage. LISUNOVA scored her third at 9-4 and by the final break Russia was 14-7 adrift of Spain. LISUNOVA and PROKOFYEVA added to the their tallies in the final quarter while the final say went to CHILLADA 20 seconds from time. Spain shot at 38% but Russia had an impressive 60% statistic.

Game #12 13:30 BRA 8 vs GRE 11

Quarters: 2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 2-3

Referees: Gyorgy JUHASZ (HUN), Steven ROTSART (USA)
Delegates: FARID Wahid FIROIU Niculae

Extra Man: BRA: 0/1. GRE: 5/6

BRAZIL: Tess OLIVEIRA, Cecilia CANETTI (1), Marina ZABLITH (1), Marina CANETTI (1), Marella COUTINHO (1), Izabella CHIAPPINI (1), Cristina BEER, Luiza CARVALHO (1), Fernanda LISSONI, Gabriela GOZANI, Maria Barbara AMARO (1), Gabriela DIAS (1), Manuela CANETTI. Head Coach: Roberto CHIAPPINI.

GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA (1), Antiopi MELIDONI (1), Ilektra Maria PSOUNI (2), Kyriaki LIOSI, Alkisti AVRAMIDOU, Alexandra ASIMAKI (2), Antigoni ROUMPESI (2), Angeliki GEROLYMOU, Triantafylla MANOLIOUDAKI (1), Stavroula ANTONAKOU (2), Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.

Greece emerged with a second win but it took some time before the game was settled. In fact, Greece trailed twice in the first two periods and saw a 5-4 lead late in the second quarter nullified when DIAS dragged down a fantastic cross pass with a right-hand backhand. Greece looked untroubled in the third period with three goals, from MELIDONI, ROUMPESI and ANTONAKOU, but COUTINHO netted on extra for 6-8. When ZABLITH swam the length of the pool and pounced on a long pass from KOUVDOU, she made no mistake with the shot and, at one goal, the game was well alive. Brazil took a second timeout but lost the ball with a series of fumbled passes. It was the turning point of the game. A minute later ROUMPESI converted from the top and ASIMAKI professionally disposed of her defender to score from two metres for 10-7 at 1:41. CHIAPPINI brought up some consolation for Brazil from the deep right at 0:36. The final goal went to ANTONAKOU with a screamer from the top seconds from the buzzer. Brazil’s inability to convert on extra-man advantage proved the downfall, scoring none from eight Greek ejections. Greece, on the other hand, netted five from 11 attempts.

Game #13 18:20ITA 18 vs RSA 2

Quarters: 4-2, 5-0, 5-0, 4-0

Referees: Nenad PERIS (CRO), Natalya RUSTAMOVA (UZB)
Delegates: SHARANOV Evgeny IBERN Manuel

Extra Man: ITA: 4/9. RSA: 2/6

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (1), Elisa CASANOVA (4), Francesca POMERI, Martina SAVIOLI (3), Allegra LAPI (2), Marta COLAIOCCO (2), Roberta BIANCONI (3), Giulia EMMOLO (1), Giulia RAMBALDI (1), Alessandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI (1), Elena GIGLI. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

SOUTH AFRICA: Leigh MAARSCHALK, Kimberly SCHMIDT, Kimberly KAY, Shelley FAULMANN, Megan SCHOOLING (1), Laura BARRETT, Christine BARRETTO, Lee Anne KEET, Delaine CHRISTIAN, Sarah HARRIS (1), Nicolette POULOS, Kelsey WHITE, Jemma DENDY YOUNG. Head Coach: Brad ROWE.

Italy made it two in a row with a convincing win over South Africa but the start of the match proved interesting. Italy went 2-0 up in just over a minute but two minutes later the score was 3-2 and then 4-2 at 4:23. That was the quarter score so South Africa proved to be equal to the task at this stage. However, the counter-attacks started coming and the score started mounting. With the inequity in the sides it could be expected to have huge scores but South Africa frustrated Italy enough for a pair of fives. South Africa kept trying and even restricted Italy to four in the last. MAARSCHALK was susceptible to the lob but it was the superior experience, ball skills and strength that stumped the South Africans. The statistics told heavily with Italy scoring off 39 attempts compared to RSA’s 20.

Game #14 19:40 HUN 7 vs USA 16

Quarters: 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 0-3

Referees: Torsten BOCK (GER), Sergei NAUMOV (RUS)
Delegate: KRYUKOV Andrey SHAW Bill

Extra Man: HUN: 2/5. USA: 1/3

Pens: HUN: 2/2. USA: 1/1

HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Dora CZIGANY, Dora ANTAL, Anna ILLES, Gabriella SZUCS (3), Orsolya TAKACS, Rita DRAVUCZ, Rita KESZTHELYI (2), Ildiko TOTH (1), Barbara BUJKA (1), Rita KOSZPOLI, Kata MENCZINGER, Edina GANGL. Head Coach: Andreas MERESZ

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI (2), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA (2), Lauren WENGER (2), Margaret STEFFENS (2), Courtney MATHEWSON (3), Jessica STEFFENS, Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES (2), Kameryn CRAIG (2), Tumuaialii ANAE. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

It’s amazing what a minute does in international sport. That minute came late in the first half when an enthralling game between two of the best teams on the planet was broken wide open. World champion USA broke a 4-4 deadlock when DRIES from centre forward, MATHEWSON on a cross-cage shot and VILLA from five metres with a second left gave the USA a commanding adjustment. VILLA made it four at the top of the third and the goals were swapped until 10-6. STEFFENS stretched it to 11-6 midway through the third. KESZTHELYI, twice a scorer for Hungary earlier on, then produced the most hopeful shot of the tournament when she played a five-metre foul with a helicopter backhand but failed to reap the ultimate reward for such audacity. BUJKE scored half a minute later off the right-post position on extra but MATHEWSON converted a penalty foul for 12-7 at the final break. With the game virtually gone, GANGL gained time in goal and fumbled the first shot from PETRI. With STEFFENS firing from the deep right to score 26 seconds later, the game was over as a spectacle. MATHEWSON claimed her third from the same position as the previous goal. The game died and even Hungary’s timeout could not produce anything. PETRI lit up the pool with a big outside shot for 16-7, a result that must disappoint Hungarian fans, especially after beating Kazakhstan 21-6 on the opening day. The USA shot at 51.6%, well clear of Hungary’s 25.9%.

Greg Mescall, USA Water Polo:

Shanghai, China – July 19 – The USA Women’s National Team bounced back from an opening round draw against the Netherlands to pound Hungary 16-7 in their second match of the FINA World Championships. The victory keeps the squad in contention to win their group, with one match remaining, a Thursday evening battle with Kazakhstan at 5pm/2am pst. In the victory over Hungary seven different scorers contributed with Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) leading the charge posting three goals. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) went all four quarters in net turning aside 11 shots.

The United States started the match off in strong fashion when less than thirty seconds in Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) turned out of two meters and found the cage for a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later it was more Craig on a great dish from Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) making use of a 6 on 4 advantage for the score and a 2-0 lead. Hungary rebounded quickly to tie the game at 2-2 with 2:37 left but that was short lived when Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) redirected a pass into the cage for a score and a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second period Hungary struck first drawing a five meter penalty and connecting to tie the game at 3-3 with 4:29 left in the quarter. Team USA went back to two meters and this time it was Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) delivering on a turnaround fadeaway shot to put the USA in front 4-3. Hungary answered on the next possession with an outside shot to even the match at 4-4. From then on it was all Team USA. Dries came back at the 1:18 mark with a score from inside, then Mathewson buried a shot from distance, and with one second left in the period Villa struck from well beyond five meters. When the dust settled the United States was in control 7-4 at intermission.

Momentum continued to build early in the third quarter when Villa found the cage again on a lob shot for an 8-4 lead. Hungary answered on their next possession but the United States immediately followed with a score when Villa dished off to Wenger who scored from in close to make the score 9-5 in favor of the United States. Fast forward to the 4:56 mark and Hungary got one back on a power play to make it 9-6. Not long after it was Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/California/Tulatin Hills) knocking it in from the perimeter and then Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Monte Vista HS/Diablo) connecting on a power play to put the United States up 11-6. Hungary found the net on a player advantage at the 1:25 mark but with nine seconds to go in the quarter Mathewson hit on a five meter penalty shot to put the United States in front 12-7 going to the fourth.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the United States. The offense continued their assault as Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC) opened the scoring with a shot that trickled past the keeper for a 13-7 game. Maggie Steffens came back with another score, followed a minute later by a Mathewson counter attack goal and the USA was cruising up 15-7. A final chance by Hungary was halted on a great save by Armstrong and Petri put a bow on things with a shot from seven meters to put the USA up 16-7 with less than a minute to play. That is how the match would end and the United States picked up their first victory of the 2011 FINA World Championships.

Team USA went 3-8 on power plays while Hungary was 2-7. The United States was 1-1 on penalty shots, Hungary was 2-2.

Game #15 21:00 NED 13 vs KAZ 3

Quarters: 4-1, 3-1, 3-0, 3-1

Referees:CABRAL Roberto (BRA) WENGENROTH Ursula (SUI)
Delegate: SOSTAR Alexsandar SHARANOV Evgeny

Quarters: 4-1, 3-1, 3-0, 3-1

Extra Man: NED: 6/8. KAZ: 0/1

NETHERLANDS: Ilse VAN DER MEIJDEN, Yasemin SMIT (2), Frederike CABOUT (2), Biurakn HAKHVERDIAN, Catharina VAN DER SLOOT, Nomi STOMPHORST (1), Iefke VAN BELKUM (1), Robbin REMERS, Jantien CABOUT (2), Nienke VERMEER (4), Lieke KLAASSEN, Simone KOOT (1), Anne HEINIS. Head Coach: Mauro MAUGERI.

KAZAKHSTAN: Galina RYTOVA, Lyudmila CHEGODAYEVA, Aizhan AKILBAYEVA, Anna TUROVA, Kamila ZAKIROVA, Kamila MARINA, Natalya ALEXANDROVA, Darya VASSILYEVA (1), Agata TNASHEVA, Marina GRITSENKO (2), Yelena CHEBOTOVA, Assem MUSSAROVA, Yelena STARODUBTSEVA. Head Coach: Ryan CASTLE.

The Netherlands added a victory to the draw with the USA on day one. The win was hard fought with head coach MAUGERI urging his team to better movements and more goals. To Kazakhstan’s credit, it was a top effort against a team fresh from drawing with the best in the world. Goals were hard to come by but the effort was there and the Dutch were thwarted on many occasions. GRITSENKO scored twice for the Kazakhs. On the other side of the ledger, VERMEER and Olympic champion F (Mieke) CABOUT were in a scoring mood with three each. The Dutch just needed the win and now, with three points like the USA, need to attack Hungary on the third day of women’s competition and better the goal differential of nine achieved by the USA against Hungary. The statistics prove interesting with Kazakhstan restricting the Dutch to 27 shots while taking 23 itself but the conversion rate was 48.1% in the Netherlands’ favour.

Game #16 17:00CHN 19 vs CUB 6

WATER POLO PLANET.COM: the Alternative Voice www.waterpoloplanet.com

Quarters: 6-2, 4-0, 5-2, 4-2

Referees:BALFANBAYEV Alan (KAZ) GONZALEZ Osvaldo (PUR)
Delegate:BADREDDINE Boukezouha SHAW Bill

Extra Man: CHN: 6/9. CUB: 2/2

Pens: CHN: ½. CUB: 1/2

CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei (1), LIU Ping, SUN Yujun (2), HE Jin (1), SUN Yating (2), SONG Donglun (1), CHEN Yuan (2), WANG Yi (4), MA Huanhuan (2), SUN Huizi (2), ZHANG Lei (1), WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

CUBA: Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI, Daniela ESCALONA, Yeliana BRAVO, Hirovis HERNANDEZ (2), Danay GUTIERREZ (2), Mayelin BERNAL, Yanet LOPEZ (1), Yadira OMS, Dayana MORALES (1), Yordanka PUJOL, Lisbeth SANTANA, Neldys TRUFFIN, Arisney RAMOS. Head Coach: Francisco VEITIA.

This game was not about the score, as we all knew China would win, but it was about the gutsy Cuban defence and, in particular, goalkeeper ZUNZUNEGUI. She was exceptional and in scintillating form. The diminutive, 25-year-old goalkeeper with previous World Championship experience, continually stared down the Chinese and, when one on one with them, kept her eyes open and focused on the ball. She stopped about 10 shots by halfway but it could well have been 100 as the mainly Chinese crowd warmed to her fantastic play. In fact, by fulltime she had 14 saves to her credit. It was the one-on-ones where she excelled and before halftime China hesitated several times, deciding not to shoot when a strong possibility normally. It was not just the goalkeeper but GUTIERREZ opened the scoring with a skinny shot into the bottom left, stunning the assembly. Midway through the quarter it was 4-2 after HERNANDEZ made sure of a penalty shot. When SUN Huizi pulled up the 8-2 scoreline nearly halfway through the second quarter, Cuba was not out of the game. Cuba restricted the Chinese onslaught and ZUNZUNEGUI blocked a penalty shot by SONG, heightening the excitement. Just before halftime Cuba earned another penalty attempt but GUTIERREZ had her shot blocked by WANG Ying. China moved to 13-2 but LOPEZ and GUTIERREZ scored extra-man goals either side of a SUN Huizi rocket for 14-4. HERNANDEZ and MORALES both scored in the final quarter where ZUNZUNEGUI was at her awesome best with several more saves. Chinese head coach JANE GIRALT used his bench wisely and 10 players made the scoresheet.

July 17
July 19
July 21
July 23
July 25
July 27
July 29

Thursday, July 21

Russell McKinnon, FINA Press Commissioner

Greece created history in beating Russia for the first time at a FINA World Championship in women's water polo competition at the Natatorium today.

A penalty goal to Antigoni ROUMPESI just inside the final minute broke the deadlock for a 6-5 success that repeated the previous victory over Russia, in Kirishi, Russia, at the 2005 FINA World League Super Final. Since then there have been several draws, including at the European Championships but today's victory was momentous.

The win secured Group C success with three narrow losses for Greece while Russia's international woes this year continue. In Tianjin, China, last month, Italy gained a 21-20 margin over Russia in the FINA World League Super Final quarter-finals, eventually finishing fifth.

Spain sent off Brazil 12-4 in their clash to decide third place, with Spanish captain Blanca GIL scoring five goals, three from the penalty line and, surprisingly, missing her first penalty attempt.

In Group D, Italy took the crown with a nail-biting 10-9 victory over China in a match where Simons ABBATE scored three goals. China hit back with a 3-1 final quarter but it was not enough to avoid the second round.

In the decider for third and fourth position, Cuba pulled back two late goals to draw level at 9-9. Cuba's better goal differential against group winner Italy put it into third spot.

The all-important Group A matchup between Olympic champion Netherlands and Hungary ended in a 9-all draw, enough for the Dutch to take second place in the group. World champion United States of America beat Kazakhstan 14-4 to win the group.

In Group B, Canada played a Commonwealth battle with New Zealand, winning the match 11-4 and the group with three straight victories. Australia used the clash with Uzbekistan as a chance to improve its standard of play, winning 27-2 after a tight 3-1 opening quarter.

The third day of men's games will be played on Friday.

Game #17 09:30 BRA 4 vs ESP 12

Quarters: 0-3, 2-4, 0-3, 2-2

Referees:RUSTAMOVA Natalya (UZB) MARGETA Boris (SLO)
Delegate: FARID Wahid FOSTER Richard

Extra Man: BRA: 0/8. ESP: 1/6

Pens: ESP: 3/4

BRAZIL: Tess OLIVEIRA, Cecilia CANETTI, Marina ZABLITH, Marina CANETTI, Marella COUTINHO, Izabella CHIAPPINI (1), Cristina BEER, Luiza CARVALHO (2), Fernanda LISSONI, Gabriela GOZANI, Maria Barbara AMARO (1), Gabriela DIAS, Manuela CANETTI. Head Coach: Roberto CHIAPPINI.

SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (5), Ana ESPAR (1), Helena LLORET (1), Matilde ORTIZ (1), Paula CHILLADA, Lorena MIRANDA, Pilar PENA (2), Andrea BLAS (1), Ona MESEGUER, (1) M. Carmen GARCIA, Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguel OCA.

Superstar GIL doubled her scoring tally for the tournament to 10 as Spain outplayed Brazil. However, three of GIL’s goals came from the penalty line while she missed her first attempt at penalty in the opening quarter. She scored with a centre-forward backhand with her first goal and then climbed high out of the water with a slow-turning backhand to close the game’s scoring at 12-4. Brazil struggled to threaten in the first and third periods. CARVALHO scored twice from two metres, AMARO sent one in the top corner and CHIAPPINI sent in a slider that only just bobbled across the line. Spain looked sharper and better than gaining only third place in the group. Hope for Brazil came from levelling the final quarter, a good omen heading into the classification 13-16 round.

Game #18 10:50 GRE 6 vs RUS 5

Quarters: 2-2, 1-1, 1-1, 2-1

Referees: BORRELL Sergio (ESP) JUHAZ Gyorgy (HUN)
Delegate: FIROIU Niculae SOSTAR Alexsandar

Extra Man: GRE: 1/4. RUS: 2/5

GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA, Antiopi MELIDONI, Ilektra Maria PSOUNI, Kyriaki LIOSI, Alkisti AVRAMIDOU, Alexandra ASIMAKI (1), Antigoni ROUMPESI (2), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (1), Triantafylla MANOLIOUDAKI, Stavroula ANTONAKOU (2), Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA, Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA, Sofia KONUKH (1), Alexandra ANTONOVA, Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA, Ekaterina LISUNOVA (1), Evgenia SOBOLEVA (2), Ekaterina TANKEEVA, Olga BELYAEVA (1), Evgenia IVANOVA, Yulia GAUFLER, Anna KANAUKH. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

Greece pulled off the first major upset of the tournament with a last-minute victory over Russia, a team that inexplicably lost to Italy in a prolonged penalty shootout at the recent FINA World League Super Final in Tianjin. There, Russia had to be content with fifth place when expected to fill a medal-final berth. All is not lost for Russia but it must now play the second round while Greece has the luxury of a few days off and a chance to prepare for the quarter-finals. While Greece opened the scoring, it was Russia who led the way with BELYAEVA on extra and SOBOLEVA from the top firing into the top left who took the lead. GEROLYMOU converted a penalty to close the first period. LISUNOVA gained Russia’s only counter-attack goal, scoring off a cross pass. ANTONAKOU drew level on extra. Captain KONUKH opened the second half with a long angled shot. Five minutes later ANTONAKOU played a similar shot for Greece. SOBOLEVA broke the deadlock at 3:11 in the fourth period with a shot from deep right on extra. With the game ticking away, ASIMAKI scored on extra at 1:34 and then on the next Greek attack drew a penalty on SOBOLEVA for ROUMPESI to settle the game 59 seconds from time. IVANOVA was left to satisfy Russia’s hunger for at least a point when BELYAEVA drew an exclusion foul but her shot hit the crossbar, leaving Greece to go to a timeout with six seconds remaining. The ball was passed back to the goalkeeper and the game was over with Greece gaining an historic victory.

Game #19 12:10 RSA 9 vs CUB 9

Quarters: 3-3, 1-1, 1-1, 4-4

Referees: REEMNET Gideon (NED) MAKITA Kazuhiko (JPN)
Delegate: FARID Wahid SHARANOV Evgeny

Extra Man: RSA: 3/4. CUB: 2/5

SOUTH AFRICA: Leigh MAARSCHALK, Kimberly SCHMIDT, Kimberly KAY, Shelley FAULMANN, Megan SCHOOLING, Laura BARRETT, Christine BARRETTO (2), Lee Anne KEET (1), Delaine CHRISTIAN, Sarah HARRIS (5), Nicolette POULOS, Kelsey WHITE, Jemma DENDY YOUNG (1). Head Coach: Brad ROWE.

CUBA: Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI, Daniela ESCALONA, Yeliana BRAVO (3), Hirovis HERNANDEZ (3), Danay GUTIERREZ (1), Mayelin BERNAL (1), Yanet LOPEZ (1), Yadira OMS, Dayana MORALES, Yordanka PUJOL, Lisbeth SANTANA, Neldys TRUFFIN, Arisney RAMOS. Head Coach: Francisco VEITIA.

This was the game that South Africa lost, losing a two-goal margin in the last three minutes to allow Cuba to gain a draw and advance to the top 12. South Africa needed the win and outscored Cuba 4-1 in a two-minute spurt in the middle of the final quarter. The HARRIS-inspired attack saw the captain score three of those goals to go with two she gained earlier. But South Africa gave up a penalty, which GUTIERREZ converted at 2:42. BRAVO had the easiest of turns to score at two metres for 9-9 and still the game had 2:13 to go. It was then that South Africa exploded, taking a wishful shot from Johannesburg just when it needed to be calm and attack conservatively. Then in the dying seconds, goalkeeper MAARSCHALK failed to pass the ball to her breaking players. Instead her late pass was intercepted and the Cubans gained a deserved draw. Even at this stage when the group win would not be decided until the evening in the match between China and Italy, Cuba had the better goal differentials against both teams so would take third place. Sadly for South Africa, it is now consigned to the play-offs for 13-16 and the hope of securing a higher world ranking than the 16th place in Rome two years ago. Cuba began the game with a lightning three goals before South Africa awoke and levelled by quarter time. Then it was trading goals time. HERNANDEZ, inspirational with three goals, hit the post with a penalty attempt in the third period but scored on the next attack. Cuba proved in its two previous games it deserves to be in the top 12 while South Africa improved too late.

Game #20 13:30 NED 9 vs HUN 9

Quarters: 3-1, 0-0, 3-3, 3-5

Referees: CAPUTI Massimiliano (ITA) WILLIAMS Cory (NZL)
Delegate: SOSTAR Alexsandar FIROIU Niculae

Extra Man: NED: 4/9. HUN: 1/7

NETHERLANDS: Ilse VAN DER MEIJDEN, Yasemin SMIT, Frederike CABOUT (4), Biurakn HAKHVERDIAN (1), Catharina VAN DER SLOOT, Nomi STOMPHORST, Iefke VAN BELKUM (4), Robbin REMERS, Jantien CABOUT, Nienke VERMEER, Lieke KLAASSEN, Simone KOOT, Anne HEINIS. Head Coach: Mauro MAUGERI.

HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Dora CZIGANY, Dora ANTAL, Anna ILLES, Gabriella SZUCS, (2) Orsolya TAKACS, Rita DRAVUCZ (1), Rita KESZTHELYI (2), Ildiko TOTH (1), Barbara BUJKA (3), Rita KOSZPOLI, Kata MENCZINGER, Edina GANGL. Head Coach: Andreas MERESZ.

Five goals in the final quarter were only enough for Hungary to draw its final round match with the Olympic champion Dutch. However, it was one goal short of what was needed as the wily Dutch managed to stay ahead for much of the game. The Netherlands will finish in the top two after its second draw (7-7 with the USA in Game 1) while Hungary takes third and probably a clash with world No 3 Australia in the second round. The Dutch deserved to win after a 3-1 first quarter and the first shutout period of the tournament when nothing of substance eventuated in the second quarter. The Netherlands went to 4-1 before BUJKA and TOTH brought the game to 4-3. Frederike “Mieke” CABOUT proved why she is an Olympic champion scoring two in a row with the first a short drive and lob. BUJKE pulled one back before the final break, scoring off a pass to the right post for 6-4. SZUCS hit the right post but the ball bounced in off the goalkeeper’s back and then DRAVUCZ had a gift shot on counter to level the game at 6:48. Next attack, the CABOUT factor hit again when Mieke scored from five metres for her fourth of the game. Both teams went to a timeout but it was Hungary who scored after the second, BUJKE claiming her third of the match and seventh for the tournament. Hungary rejoiced in SZUCS’s second goal from the top left-hand-catch position at 3:24 for the 8-7 lead. That was short-lived as VAN BELKUM scored her fourth on extra at 3:06. HAKHVERDIAN became only the third scorer for the Netherlands when she bounced the ball across the cage on extra at 1:55 for 9-8. At 1:14, KESZTHELYI, who scored the opening goal, closed the match when she nailed the equaliser well after the exclusion period. Despite a Hungarian timeout at 0:50, Hungary could not convert and the Dutch had no intention of trying to score, finishing one point better than Hungary in a tight group.

Game #24 17:00 ITA 10 vs CHN 9

Quarters: 4-2, 2-1, 3-3, 1-3

Referees:KOGANOV Mark (AZE) FLAHIVE Daniel (AUS)
Delegate:SHAW Bill IBERN Manuel

Extra Man: ITA: 1/8. CHN: 1/6

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (3), Elisa CASANOVA (1), Francesca POMERI, Martina SAVIOLI, Allegra LAPI, Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI (2), Giulia EMMOLO (1), Giulia RAMBALDI (1), Alessandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI (2), Elena GIGLI. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei, LIU Ping, SUN Yujun, HE Jin, SUN Yating (2), SONG Donglun, CHEN Yuan, WANG Yi (3), MA Huanhuan (2), SUN Huizi, ZHANG Lei (2), WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

Continental pride was at stake between the team that finished second at the recent FINA World League Super Final in Tianjin and the team that claimed bronze at last year's FINA World Cup. The huge crowd backed China but it was Italy that swam away with the start of the game, going ahead 4-1 in six minutes. BIANCONI struck twice while CASANOVA and ABBATE joined the fun. WANG joined ZHANG as scorers for China with a strike from the deep at 1:52. ZHANG scored again nearly two minutes into the second quarter. FRASSINETTI and EMMOLO stretched the margin to three, the last with a lob just before halftime. Chinese head coach JANE GIRALT was upset with some non-calls, intimating that the head was being used by the Italians. His protestations went unheeded or purposely unnoticed. The third period gave some hope to the Chinese but not before ABBATE took the margin to 7-3. WANG responded but RAMBALDI scored from the centre and ABBATE scored her third for 9-4. MA helped lift the roof with the noise of the locals when she drove down the centre to score. WANG netted a third with a drive down the left to return the gap to three by the final break. SUN Yujun opened the fourth with a big shot down the middle and the game was within two at 9-7. MA fired a shot from nine metres into the top left at 6:44 and Italy immediately called a timeout to slow the magnificent momentum by the home side. The ball was turned over at two metres. Italy did manage to go two up again at 4:34 when FRASSINETTI pushed the ball in at two metres after a Chinese fumble. Italy went to a timeout when MA was excluded at 3:30. Italy twice shot and regained the rebound but turned over the ball before a third attempt. SUN Yujun accepted a cross pass on the counter and sent the ball deflecting into the top left for 10-9 at 1:45. COTTI missed a one-on-one with the goalie after being left in the open. SUN Yating sent her backhand wide and Italy entered the last minute with the attack. FRASSINETTI turned the ball over and China had time to equalise. The lob went off the right post and Italy gathered to win the game. Italy was economical with the shooting, taking 24 compared to China's 37. Italy had the group win while China must now play Spain in the second round.

Game #21 18:20 KAZ 4 vs USA 14

Quarters: 3-4, 0-5, 0-4, 1-2

Referees:CIRIC Mihailo (SRB) MENENDEZ Juan (CUB)
Delegate:BADREDDINE Boukezouha SHAW Bill

Extra Man: KAZ: 1/8. USA: 3/7

Pens: USA: 2/2

KAZAKHSTAN: Galina RYTOVA, Lyudmila CHEGODAYEVA, Aizhan AKILBAYEVA, Anna TUROVA, Kamila ZAKIROVA, Kamila MARINA, Natalya ALEXANDROVA (1), Darya VASSILYEVA, Agata TNASHEVA, Marina GRITSENKO (1), Yelena CHEBOTOVA (2), Assem MUSSAROVA, Yelena STARODUBTSEVA. Head Coach: Ryan CASTLE.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI (1), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA (1), Lauren WENGER (3), Margaret STEFFENS, Courtney MATHEWSON, Jessica STEFFENS (2), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON (1), Annika DRIES (3), Kameryn CRAIG (2), Tumuaialii ANAE. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

Greg Mescall, USA Water Polo:

Shanghai, China - July 21- The USA Women's National Team won their group and earned a bye into the quarterfinals at the 2011 FINA World Championships with a commanding victory over Kazakhstan 14-4. Behind three goals apiece from Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) and Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) the team took a close first quarter and turned it into a rout by halftime. Goalies Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) and Tumua Anae (Newport Beach, CA/USC/Trojan) split time in cage combining for 13 saves. Team USA now awaits their opponent, the winner of a match between Russia and Cuba on Saturday.

In the victory over Kazakhstan the United States got off to the fast start when Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/California/Tulatin Hills) found the cage just thirty seconds into the match for a power play goal and a 1-0 lead. 90 seconds later Kazakhstan returned fire with a goal of their own to even the match at 1-1. Over the next few minutes the United States went about building a lead first getting a score from Kelly Rulon (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC) on a penalty shot. Up 2-1 they went to Kami Craig, (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) celebrating her birthday, with a score from inside and a 3-1 advantage. More work out of the center led to another score as Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford) dished off a nice pass to her Stanford teammate Dries for the tally and a 4-1 lead. Kazakhstan looked to rally scoring two straight to close out the period and after one quarter the game was nearly even with the United States holding a 4-3 lead.

The second quarter was all Team USA as they got it started early at the 7:44 mark when Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) hit from outside for a 5-3 game. That was followed by Wenger taking advantage of a power play to find the cage and a 6-3 lead. At the 3:46 mark Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC) lit the proverbial lamp from distance and the United States was in command 7-3. They closed out the half with another score from Wenger as she put one in from outside with just :31 remaining in the quarter for an 8-3 lead going to halftime.

Out of the halftime the United States kept up the intensity when on a player advantage Craig was submerged by her defender and then unloaded a shot while still underwater to beat the keeper and put her squad up 9-3. The beat rolled on when Wenger skipped home her third of the night for a 10-3 lead at the 5:54 mark. Fast forward to 1:35 left in the period and Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Monte Vista HS/Diablo) bounced home a shot from the near side for an 11-3 lead. Continuing to surge on offense the ball went back inside to Dries with just seven seconds remaining in the period and she was able to draw a five meter penalty. Maggie Steffens put the shot away and the United States went up 12-3 going to the fourth.

It was all over but the shouting in the final period as just a few more goals would be exchanged. Dries unloaded a turnaround shot at the 4:01 mark that was initally stopped by the keeper and then trickled in as the goalie tried to gather the ball putting the United States in front 13-3. After Kazakhstan got another goal back Petri dealt off to Dries who fired the ball from in close and the lead ballooned back out to 10 goals at 14-4 which is where the match would end. Team USA went 3/7 on power plays and 2/2 on penalty shots while Kazakhstan was 3/12 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty shot. Armstrong halted sixed saves while Anae posted seven, each goalie playing a half.

Flash Quotes

"(We're) obviously happy, I think after the first game you just dont know things are going to go, I think we responded well after that first game. I dont know if it makes it any easier we're playing maybe the best team this summer; Russia. They won the Kirishi Cup, they lost only one game in the World League Super Final, a shootout in which they were leading the whole time. That is going to be extremely extremely difficult." - Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

"We're going to work hard, the next two days we need to try and get better. We can't stop, I feel like we built a little momentum here, the training needs to be difficult to get them the most prepared against a physial and very fast Russia team." - Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

Russell McKinnon, FINA Press Commissioner

World champion USA, stunned by the Netherlands in the tournament’s opening game, completed the tight Group A preliminary round on top with a comfortable outing against Kazakhstan. The game was never easy and Team USA had to work for its rite of passage. Lauren Wenger, the 2007 Melbourne FINA World Championships MVP, scored three times to give her eight for the week. The USA looked ready for an armchair ride at 4-1 but two CHEBOTOVA goals on extra had the game poised at 4-3 by the first break. It was a long time before the USA opened the door, spurred on by the USA Synchro team in the stands. A flurry of goals took the game to 8-3 and 12-3 at the next breaks. The final quarter saw the second goalkeepers take the water and the pace slowed and two DRIES goals were punctuated by an ALEXANDROVA effort on extra. The USA was through and Kazakhstan is assigned to the bottom four.

Game #22 19:40AUS 27 vs UZE 2

Quarters: 3-1, 9-0, 6-1, 9-0

Referees:WENGENROTH Ursula (SUI) GONZALEZ Osvaldo (PUR)
Delegate:KRYUKOV Andrey IBERN Manuel

Referees: Ursula WENGENROTH (SUI), Osvaldo GONZALEZ (PUR)

Extra Man: AUS: 4/6. UZB: 1/4

AUSTRALIA: Alicia McCORMACK, Gemma BEADSWORTH (4), Sophie SMITH (2), Rebecca RIPPON (3), Jane MORAN (1), Bronwen KNOX (3), Rowena WEBSTER (4), Kate GYNTHER (3), Glencora RALPH (1), Holly LINCOLN-SMITH (2), Melissa RIPPON (2), Nicola ZAGAME (2), Victoria BROWN. Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

UZBEKISTAN: Elena DUKHANOVA, Daiana DADABAEVA, Aleksandra SARANCHA (1), Eseniya PIFTOR, Evgeniya IVANOVA, Liliya UMAROVA, Natalya PLYUSOVA (1), Anna SHEGLOVA, Ramilya HALIKOVA, Ekaterina MOROZOVA, Anastasiya OSIPENKO, Anna PLYUSOVA, Guzelya HAMITOVA. Head Coach: Akbar SADIKOV.

Australia needed to play a solid game against Uzbekistan after some lacklustre performances. This proved unfortunate for Uzbekistan, playing one of the teams that has filled a podium spot at many of the major events in the past five or six years. It was also a chance for Aussie Stingers head coach McFADDEN to work his bench and his plays. The one thing the Stingers don't have is second-string players. They are all topliners and this hurt Uzbekistan as every field player in the Stingers team scored goals. Counter-attack was utilised a lot and the Stingers threw in nine lob shots. Uzbekistan moves to the round of 13-16 and will play Kazakhstan in the crossover. Australia finished second in the group behind Canada and will play Hungary in the second round.

Game #23 21:00 NZL 4 vs CAN 11

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Quarters: 2-3, 1-4, 1-2, 0-2

Referees: NAUMOV Sergei (RUS) ALEXANDRESCU Adrian (ROU)
Delegate: AMINI Khosrow MARTIN G.O.

Extra Man: NZL: 2/6. CAN: 2/3

Pen: CAN: 2/2

NEW ZEALAND: Carina HARACHE, Emily COX, Kelly MASON, Danielle LEWIS, Amy LOGAN, Alexandra BOYD, Ashley SMALLFIELD, Lauren SIEPRATH (1), Johanna THEELEN (1), Casie BOWRY (1), Kirsten HUDSON (1), Alexandra MYLES, Brooke MILLAR. Head Coach: Eelco URI.

CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO (2), Katrina MONTON, Emily CSIKOS (5), Joelle BEKHAZI (1), Whitney GENOWAY, Stephanie VALIN, Dominique PERREAULT (1), Monika EGGENS (1), Christine ROBINSON, Tara CAMPBELL (1), Marina RADU, Marissa JANSSENS. Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

Canada wrapped up Group B with a third successive win and earns a direct shot at the quarter-finals. It was not without its difficulties as New Zealand fought hard and went to the quarter break just one goal adrift. The experience of the Canadians shone through in the second period but the Kiwis kept the second half to 4-1 in Canada's favour. CSIKOS scored two penalty goals in her tally of five to give her eight for the week. Her first penalty came at the end of the first quarter and this led to a three-goal burst in the second quarter that had Canada 6-2 ahead. HUDSON pulled one back but EGGENS drilled one for 7-3 late in the half. CSIKOS jumped the score to 8-3 on penalty 12 seconds into the second half. THEELAN disrupted the flow and PERREAULT responded late with the left arm. New Zealand worked tirelessly in the face of the Canadians and restricted them to two goals, the last of which came from captain ALOGBO, her second from close to goal. New Zealand tried a timeout ploy but it failed to connect with the net. RIDDELL made it hard for the Kiwis, stopping 11 shots.

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Saturday, July 23

Russell McKinnon, FINA Press Commission:

Olympic champion Netherlands heads a list of four teams who survived the second round of the women's water polo competition at the Natatorium on Saturday.

The Dutch defeated New Zealand 14-8, while Australia held off a late-charging Hungary 10-9 after leading by four goals seven minutes from time. Aussie Stinger Rowie WEBSTER netted four goals to take her tournament tally to 11.

Russia had little trouble getting past Cuba, winning 26-4 and China pleased the huge crowd in the late game with a 15-6 destruction of Spain, built on a 7-2 opening quarter. MA Huanhuan became the tournament's highest scorer with 14 goals thanks to a five-goal effort tonight.

In the round 13-16, Kazakhstan outlasted a defiant Uzbekistan 14-13 with Ramilya HALIKOVA scoring an incredible eight goals for the losing team. South Africa then blew a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper to force extra time but hitting the crossbar and losing 10-9 to Brazil.

The men's competition on Sunday features the second round with some huge match-up in the battle for top-eight positions.

Game #25 KAZ 14 vs UZE 13

Quarters: 4-2, 2-4,4-2,4-5

Referees:GONZALEZ Osvaldo (PUR) JUHAZ Gyorgy (HUN)
Delegate: AMINI Khosrow TOYGARLI Haluk

Extra Man: KAZ 4/12. UZB: 2/9

Pens: KAZ: 0/1. UZB: 3/3

KAZAKHSTAN: Galina RYTOVA, Lyudmila CHEGODAYEVA, Aizhan AKILBAYEVA (1), Anna TUROVA (2), Kamila ZAKIROVA (1), Kamila MARINA, Natalya ALEXANDROVA (1), Darya VASSILYEVA (4), Agata TNASHEVA (1), Marina GRITSENKO (1), Yelena CHEBOTOVA (2), Assem MUSSAROVA (1), Yelena STARODUBTSEVA. Head Coach: Ryan CASTLE.

UZBEKISTAN: Elena DUKHANOVA, Daiana DADABAEVA, Aleksandra SARANCHA, Eseniya PIFTOR, Evgeniya IVANOVA (1), Liliya UMAROVA, Natalya PLYUSOVA (3), Anna SHEGLOVA (1), Ramilya HALIKOVA (8), Ekaterina MOROZOVA, Anastasiya OSIPENKO, Anna PLYUSOVA, Guzelya HAMITOVA. Head Coach: Akbar SADIKOV.

Remember the name HALIKOVA — Ramilya HALIKOVA. The 25-year-old came into this match as the equal highest scorer on her team but with just three goals, one from penalty. She left with a tournament tally of 11, emulating the feat of Friday’s final game when Romania’s Cosmin RADU also scored eight. They are the tournament’s highest goal-scorers in a single game. HALIKOVA was fearless in the face of a stronger Kazakhstan outfit and it was rewarded. Once she took a cross-pass at six metres and scored off the hand while heavily guarded. She counter-attacked, scored three penalty goals, scored from the left and from the right. But her most audacious goal, proving she was near infallible, was at the close of quarter time. Kazakhstan went to a 3-0 lead after six minutes of effort. This became 4-1 when CHEBOTOVA claimed a second goal two seconds from time. Uzbekistan had the restart, fired it back to HALIKOVA, who quickly laid back and launched the shot skyward. As the buzzer sounded the ball started its downward trajectory, slipping over the head of the goalkeeper and into goal! That was the start of her incredible scoring run. Her six-metre goal on extra earned the 6-6 equaliser just before halftime. Her penalty at the top of the third took her side ahead. But after a timeout, Kazakhstan laid its own plan, forget about HALIKOVA and pummel the defence. Four consecutive goals lifted Kazakhstan to 10-7. A minute into the last period it was 11-9but Kazakhstan looked seemingly safe at 13-9 by 5:49. Natalya PLYUSOVA scored her third on extra and HALIKOVA scored on counter with enough time to knit a jersey. VASSILYEVA sent her penalty shot into the right post but regathered and score for 14-11 at 0:49. The game was won. However, not in the minds of the Uzbeks, or that girl called HALIKOVA. CHEGODAYEVA entered illegally and HALIKOVA nailed the penalty at 0:44. Then when all was done, HALIKOVA signed off with her eighth goal from the right a second from time.

Game #26 BRA 10 vs RSA 9

Quarters: 3-1, 3-1, 2-2, 2-4

Referees: Adrian ALEXANDRESCU (ROU), Ursula WENGENROTH (SUI)
Delegate: BADREDDINE Boukezouha KRYUKOV Andrey

Extra Man: BRA: 4/9. RSA: 2/8

Pens: RSA: 4/4

BRAZIL: Tess OLIVEIRA, Cecilia CANETTI (1), Marina ZABLITH, Marina CANETTI (1), Marella COUTINHO (1), Izabella CHIAPPINI (1), Cristina BEER (1), Luiza CARVALHO (2), Fernanda LISSONI, Gabriela GOZANI (1), Maria Barbara AMARO, Gabriela DIAS (1), Manuela CANETTI. Head Coach: Roberto CHIAPPINI.

SOUTH AFRICA: Leigh MAARSCHALK, Kimberly SCHMIDT (1), Kimberly KAY (1), Shelley FAULMANN, Megan SCHOOLING, Laura BARRETT, Christine BARRETTO, Lee Anne KEET (1), Delaine CHRISTIAN, Sarah HARRIS (4), Nicolette POULOS, Kelsey WHITE (2), Jemma DENDY YOUNG. Head Coach: Brad ROWE.

The excitement continued in the women’s competition. Even though these two teams were playing for the right to finish 13th, the pressure was on from the start and remained until the final seconds. The pressure went through the gauge in the dying seconds and, unfairly, it stood heavily on the shoulders of star HARRIS for the South Africans. The final few minutes is where it all happened after Brazil controlled the first two quarters and squared the third. The South Africans were coming back and KAY and KEET scored off counter and from the two-metre line to be just 8-5 behind at the final break. SCHMIDT and HARRIS continued the run at the start of the fourth and South Africa was a viable contender for victory at 8-7. HARRIS, so much a playmaker for the African team, scored her third goal and second on penalty. BEER stopped the rout for 10-7 with a shot from the top at 6:03. HARRIS drilled another penalty at 5:49 and at 10-8 the game was still hot. South Africa took two timeouts with the second successful, WHITE putting the ball into the top right for 10-9. The game was hotter than hot. South Africa went on counter with two on one but the South African was dragged back just outside the five-metre line. If the referee had allowed the foul to pass into the penalty zone it could have been different. The Brazilian was ejected but the referee allowed the ball to be played three metres forward of the foul and the pass failed to bring a shot and the ball stolen. Brazil called a timeout at 0:19 and started playing the ball around to waste time. HARRIS stayed at the five-metre line unmarked. A South African stole the ball, fired it north to HARRIS, who calmly set herself, watched the defender frantically homing in on her, shot the ball, beat the goalkeeper and the ball hit the crossbar! If it had gone in, the game would have gone to extra time but it was not to be and Brazil advanced to the classification match 13-14. Sadly for South Africa, such a valiantly team, it means a play-off with Uzbekistan on Monday. HARRIS may be lamenting the loss but her efforts have taken her to 11 goals for the week, the highest to this stage.

Game #27 NED 14 vs NZL 6

Quarters: 6-2, 2-0, 3-3, 3-1

Referees: BALFANBAYEV Alan (KAZ) CABRAL Roberto (BRA)
Delegate: SHARANOV Evgeny MARTIN G.O.

Extra Man: NED: 6/12. NZL: 1/8

Pens: NED: 1/1. NZL: 1/1

NETHERLANDS: Ilse VAN DER MEIJDEN, Yasemin SMIT (1), Frederike CABOUT (3), Biurakn HAKHVERDIAN (1), Catharina VAN DER SLOOT, Nomi STOMPHORST (2), Iefke VAN BELKUM (2), Robbin REMERS, Jantien CABOUT (1), Nienke VERMEER (2), Lieke KLAASSEN (1), Simone KOOT (1), Anne HEINIS. Head Coach: Mauro MAUGERI.

NEW ZEALAND: Carina HARACHE, Emily COX, Kelly MASON (2), Danielle LEWIS (1), Amy LOGAN (1), Alexandra BOYD, Ashley SMALLFIELD, Lauren SIEPRATH (2), Johanna THEELEN, Casie BOWRY, Kirsten HUDSON, Alexandra MYLES, Brooke MILLAR. Head Coach: Eelco URI.

The Netherlands was expected to win the game, and it did, but New Zealand was an eager participant against far more experienced players. The Netherlands’ snappier passing and defensive skills were needed to counter the determination of the Kiwis. MASON opened for New Zealand on extra but F (Mieke) CABOUT scored a penalty and an easy turning goal for 2-1. By quarter time the Dutch were in control at 6-2. It was harder going for the Dutch in the second as New Zealand toiled stoutly. The third period was a triumph more for New Zealand than the Dutch with a 3-3 score. VAN BELKUM stopped New Zealand from winning the quarter, converting extra when goalkeeper HARACHE was ejected. MASON converted a penalty to start the fourth period at 11-6 but VAN BELKUM on extra and KLAASSEN with a classic turn from centre forward had the game out to 13-6 by 2:18. The final say went to STOMPHORST on extra on the closing buzzer. The Dutch now head to the quarter-finals and face Group winner Greece for the right to play in the medal round. New Zealand, who fared the worst in the extra-man conversion count today, wil contest

Game #28 HUN 9 vs AUS 10

Quarters: 2-3, 2-2, 1-3, 4-2

Referees: MARGETA Boris (SLO) BORRELL Sergio (ESP)
Delegate: SHAW Bill FOSTER Richard

Extra Man: HUN: 3/9. AUS: 2/9

Pens: HUN: 2/2. AUS: 1/1

HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Dora CZIGANY, Dora ANTAL, Anna ILLES, Gabriella SZUCS, Orsolya TAKACS, Rita DRAVUCZ, Rita KESZTHELYI, Ildiko TOTH, Barbara BUJKA, Rita KOSZPOLI, Kata MENCZINGER, Edina GANGL. Head Coach: Andreas MERESZ.

AUSTRALIA: Alicia McCORMACK, Gemma BEADSWORTH, Sophie SMITH, Rebecca RIPPON, Jane MORAN, Bronwen KNOX, Rowena WEBSTER, Kate GYNTHER, Glencora RALPH, Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Melissa RIPPON, Nicola ZAGAME, Victoria BROWN. Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

Australia advanced to the quarter-finals as expected by most people except the hopeful Hungarians who had every right, as it turned out. The game came down to the last quarter, which Hungary won but the damage was done in the middle half of the match. WEBSTER scored twice as the Aussie Stingers shot to a 3-1 lead but DRAVUCZ brought it back again by the quarter. KESZTHELYI on extra and SZUCS with a penalty goal took Hungary 4-3 ahead. But there the Hungarian goals dried up as Australia regained the lead through two extra-man goals by halftime, including a third WEBSTER goal. Two counter-attack goals and a score after extra-man advantage had elapsed gave the Stingers a handy 8-4 lead. Hungary called a timeout immediately and BUJKA obliged with the goal from the right post-position with a backhander. BEADSWORTH lobbed from the right post to open the fourth period and regain the four-goal margin. Hungary wanted a quarter-final berth more than Australia from that point on. POSZKOLI scored on extra and SCUCZ sent in another penalty goal. Australia went to a timeout and WEBSTER succeeded with the shot as the returning player was in the pool. It was WEBSTER’s fourth goal for the match and 11th for the tournament but she fouled out on the next defence and DRAVUCZ scored an open goal at 0:51. Before WEBSTER’s goal, Hungary failed to take an easy chance that was defended, virtually giving the game to Australia. This came back to haunt Hungary as KESZTHELYI scored on counter after KNOX found herself in front of goal, did not shoot but lost the ball in the scrum. That final goal by Hungary came with 12 seconds left. Australia spread the team and held the ball to win. Australia heads to the quarters to clash with Italy, the silver medallist at last month’s FINA World League Super Final.

Game #29 RUS 26 vs CUB 4

Quarters: 5-1, 8-1, 6-1, 7-2

Referees: PINKER Guy (RSA) MAKITA Kazuhiko (JPN)
Delegate: FARID Wahid IBERN Manuel

Extra Man: RUS: 5/11. CUB: 2/5

Pen: CUB: 1/1

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA (1), Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (4), Sofia KONUKH (3), Alexandra ANTONOVA (2), Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA (2), Ekaterina LISUNOVA (5), Evgenia SOBOLEVA (4), Ekaterina TANKEEVA (1), Olga BELYAEVA (1), Evgenia IVANOVA (3), Yulia GAUFLER, Anna KANAUKH. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

CUBA: Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI, Daniela ESCALONA, Yeliana BRAVO, Hirovis HERNANDEZ (2), Danay GUTIERREZ, Mayelin BERNAL, Yanet LOPEZ, Yadira OMS, Dayana MORALES (1), Yordanka PUJOL, Lisbeth SANTANA (1), Neldys TRUFFIN, Arisney RAMOS. Head Coach: Francisco VEITIA.

Russia swam riot over Cuba in a mis-match in this second-round encounter. By halftime the game was well and truly over and Cuba had no answer to the stronger, faster, bigger, fitter and more experienced Russians who are looking for some redemption after failing to make the top four in Tianjin last month. Russian head coach KABANOV used his team wisely and spread them evenly, allowing most players to score. MORALES scored Cuba’s first goal at 2-1 but the next came at the top of the third when HERNANDEZ turned as the goalkeeper came out on her. She shot into an empty goal. She scored again on penalty at 21-3 while SANTANA opportunistically shot wide left from the top right to score at 23-4. LISUNOVA loved the bottom left to score and her five took her to 10 for the tournament. PROKOFYEVA joined a growing list of people on 11 with her four goals and SOBOLEVA’s four took her to 10. Russia will have a tantalising clash with world champion USA in the quarters while Cuba will play New Zealand for a place in the 9-10 play-off.

Game #30 ESP 6 vs CHN 15

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Referees: STAVRIDIS Georgios (GRE) NAUMOV Sergei (RUS)
Delegate: FIROIU Niculae SOSTAR Alexsandar

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Monday, July 25

World champion United States of America, so long a permanent feature of the FINA World Championship women's water polo final, will not be contesting a medal this year.

Perennial podium-climber Australia, Olympic champion Netherlands and 2009 silver medalist Canada were also denied a top-four finish when quarter-final action was played today at the Natatorium.

The USA was upstaged by a gutsy Russia who used a seven-goal blitz to shatter the hearts of the North Americans. Not out of a podium finish since 2001, the multi-awarded USA had no answer to Russia after being 4-0 up midway through the second quarter.

The loss means the USA will shed one of its crowns, leaving it with the World Cup and World League titles.

The USA missed a crucial penalty shot when 8-6 down and Russia seized on the defence to march to victory and set up a semifinal clash with China.

Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA scored five goals in the demolition and is rapidly stamping her authority on the championship.

Greece beat the Olympic champion Netherlands 12-10, coming from 3-1 down in the first quarter to grasp the lead two minutes into the second quarter.

And then Italy toppled Australian in a mouth-watering penalty shootout after the game finished at 8-8 and the extra periods stopped at 9-9. Italy led the penalty shootout and sent in five straight goals but Australia missed its fourth shot and Italy had the game 14-12.

China, in downing Canada 9-7, became the fourth team to make the semifinals and will face Russia while Canada will play its nemeses the USA in the round of 5-8 semifinals.

In the round 9-12, Cuba overhauled New Zealand 11-10 and Hungary outlasted Spain 17-13 in a 31-foul match riddled with stoppages.
Kazakhstan beat Brazil for 13th place and South Africa downed Uzbekistan 6-5 for 15th.

Game #31 UZB 5 vs RSA 6

Quarters: 0-1, 2-2, 2-1, 1-2

Referees: GONZALEZ Osvaldo (PUR) MENENDEZ Juan (CUB)
Delegate:. AMINI Khosrow TOYGARLI Haluk

Extra Man: UZB: 1/6. RSA: 1/3

UZBEKISTAN: Elena DUKHANOVA, Daiana DADABAEVA, Aleksandra SARANCHA (1), Eseniya PIFTOR, Evgeniya IVANOVA, Liliya UMAROVA, Natalya PLYUSOVA, Anna SHEGLOVA (1), Ramilya HALIKOVA (1), Ekaterina MOROZOVA, Anastasiya OSIPENKO, Anna PLYUSOVA (1), Guzelya HAMITOVA. Head Coach: Akbar SADIKOV.

SOUTH AFRICA: Leigh MAARSCHALK, Kimberly SCHMIDT (1), Kimberly KAY (2), Shelley FAULMANN, Megan SCHOOLING, Laura BARRETT, Christine BARRETTO, Lee Anne KEET, Delaine CHRISTIAN, Sarah HARRIS (2), Nicolette POULOS, Kelsey WHITE, Jemma DENDY YOUNG (1). Head Coach: Brad ROWE.

The South Africans thoroughly deserved this victory with the early start and the second-quarter recovery after falling 2-1 behind. Anna PLYUSOVA took the lead for Uzbekistan with a screamer from eight metres. HARRIS scored from a five-metre shot on free throw and KAY picked up where she left off the other day with a brilliant centre forward backhand when smothered by the defender and the goalkeeper. SHEGLOVA at centre forward and SARANCHA on a cross pass close in, gave Uzbekistan the lead again at 4-3. South Africa used a timeout to set up an outside shot, which rebounded down and SCHMIDT reached forward to push the ball the last 30cm into goal for 4-4 by the final break. KAY had th easiest of centre- forward swing shots and HARRIS scored a beautiful shot into the top right for 6-4. The woman who scored eight goals two days earlier, HALIKOVA, closed out her tournament with 12 goals, scoring from the top at 1:04, too late to deny South Africa its first win of the event reversing the result between the two in Rome two years ago.

Game #32 KAZ 9 vs BRA 7

Quarters: 2-1, 2-2, 2-0, 3-2

Referees: FLAHIVE Daniel (AUS) REEMNET Gideon (NED)
Delegate: FARID Wahid FIROIU Niculae

Extra Man: KAZ: 2/11. BRA: 0/4

KAZAKHSTAN: Galina RYTOVA, Lyudmila CHEGODAYEVA, Aizhan AKILBAYEVA, Anna TUROVA, Kamila ZAKIROVA, Kamila MARINA, Natalya ALEXANDROVA, Darya VASSILYEVA (3), Agata TNASHEVA, Marina GRITSENKO (2), Yelena CHEBOTOVA (3), Assem MUSSAROVA (1), Yelena STARODUBTSEVA. Head Coach: Ryan CASTLE.

BRAZIL: Tess OLIVEIRA, Cecilia CANETTI, Marina ZABLITH (2), Marina CANETTI, Marella COUTINHO (2), Izabella CHIAPPINI (1), Cristina BEER, Luiza CARVALHO, Fernanda LISSONI, Gabriela GOZANI, Maria Barbara AMARO, Gabriela DIAS, Manuela CANETTI.
Head Coach: Roberto CHIAPPINI.

Kazakhstan claimed 13th position in another rematch of Rome. This time Brazil had to be happy with 14th. Kazakhstan started strongly with the first two goals five-metre shots. ZABLITH responded on counter for a close first quarter. An even second period saw Kazakhstan stretch the margin to 4-2 but ZABLITH closed the half with a centre-forward goal 11 seconds from time.
It took some time for Kazakhstan to strike again, VASSILYEVA scoring at 4:34. CHEBOTOVA converted the penalty foul at 2:01 for the decisive 6-3 break after BEER gave up the penalty. VASSILYEVA scored her third of the game and 10th for the tournament two minutes into the final period and CHEBOTOVA followed suit with a score from two metres for 8-3. COUTINHO scored twice in 20 seconds, firstly from the penalty line and then on counter. However, MUSSAROVA converted extra-man at 0:05 for the final score.

Game #33 NZL 10 vs CUB 11

Quarters: 2-3, 4-3, 3-2, 1-3

Referees: NI Shi Wei (CHN) PINKER Guy (RSA)
Delegate: KRYUKOV Andrey MARTIN G.O.

Referees: NI Shi Wei (CHN), Guy PINKER (RSA) Extra Man: NZL: 2/5. CUB: 5/7

Pen: CUB: 1/1

NEW ZEALAND: Carina HARACHE, Emily COX, Kelly MASON (1), Danielle LEWIS, Amy LOGAN (1), Alexandra BOYD, Ashley SMALLFIELD (1), Lauren SIEPRATH (2), Johanna THEELEN, Casie BOWRY (3), Kirsten HUDSON (2), Alexandra MYLES, Brooke MILLAR. Head Coach: Eelco URI.

CUBA: Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI, Daniela ESCALONA, Yeliana BRAVO (1), Hirovis HERNANDEZ (2), Danay GUTIERREZ (5), Mayelin BERNAL, Yanet LOPEZ (3), Yadira OMS, Dayana MORALES, Yordanka PUJOL, Lisbeth SANTANA, Neldys TRUFFIN, Arisney RAMOS. Head Coach: Francisco VEITIA.

GUTIERREZ scored five goals in her previous game and scored five more today as she led her side to a stirring victory, making sure her team will finish far better than its 15th place in Melbourne at the last outing in 2007. New Zealand could count itself unlucky but winning is about scoring goals. Cuba managed it better than the Kiwis on extra man with five from seven and then proved crucial in the victory. GUTIERREZ opened with the first two goals, scored the last to close the first half and slammed in the last two. The last was crucial, naturally, converting extra in a controversial decision. The Cuban player was in control of the ball and about to shoot when the Kiwi goalkeeper was dis-possessing the player. LEWIS gained he exclusion and GUTIERREZ managed her fifth goal. New Zealand had a 5-4 lead halfway through the second quarter and then a 6-5 advance but HERNANDEZ re-claimed the lead for Cuba two minutes into the third on penalty. New Zealand regained the lead at 8-7 when HUDSON scored from outside while BOWRY took her side to 9-7 with another action goal. BRAVO scored from two metres to end the third period. HERNANDEZ scored the first of three extra-man goals in the last for Cuba while BOWRY scored form centre forward for 10-9 at 3:16. Then GUTIERREZ sealed the match.

Game #34 HUN 17 vs ESP 13

Quarters: 5-3, 5-3, 4-3, 3-4

Referees: DESLIERES Marie (CAN) WENGENROTH Ursula (SUI)
Delegate: FIROIU Niculae WHITEHOUSE John

Extra Man: HUN: 2/10. ESP: 8/20

HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Dora CZIGANY, Dora ANTAL (1), Anna ILLES, Gabriella SZUCS (3), Orsolya TAKACS (1), Rita DRAVUCZ (3), Rita KESZTHELYI (4), Ildiko TOTH, Barbara BUJKA (5), Rita KOSZPOLI, Kata MENCZINGER, Edina GANGL. Head
Coach: Andreas MERESZ.

SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (5), Ana ESPAR (3), Helena LLORET, Matilde ORTIZ, Paula CHILLADA, Lorena MIRANDA (1), Pilar PENA, Andrea BLAS (1), Ona MESEGUER, M. Carmen GARCIA (3), Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguel OCA.

This was a game of statistics. Thirty goals with 31 major fouls. Spain's GIL became the tournament's highest scorer with 18 goals thanks to five goals. On the other side of the line, former German international Barbara BUJKE also grabbed four to take her tally to 14 and is easily the standout two-metre player of the championship. KESZTHELYI chimed in with four goals in the second half for a burgeoning basket of 14 goals. The secretary's bench was nearly on fire with the all the action. This game also featured strongly as it is thought to be the first time two women have had charge of the same FINA World Championships match. The feat did occur at the recent FINA World League Super Final in Tianjin but at this level, it is probably a first. GIL's first three goals kept her team in the hunt at 7-4 down two minutes into the second quarter but Hungary went to the long break. With KESZTHELYI and BUJKE both scoring twice, Hungary went out to 14-8 but MIRANDA scored on extra to close the quarter five goals down. BUJKE split two GARCIA goals and GIL sent one in from six metres like an arrow at 4:31 for 15-12, still within striking distance. However, KESTHELYI stood up with a counter-attack goal and a seven-metre shot at 0:54 and 17-12. ESPAR scored from dee left in the last four seconds to close a game that left everyone breathless and sent Hungary to the 9-10 play-off with Cuba. Spain will take on New Zealand for 11th.

Game #35 USA 7 vs RUS 9

Quarters: 2-0, 3-2, 1-5, 1-2

Referees: TULGA Erhan (TUR) BOCK Torsten (GER)
Delegate: MARTIN G.O. SHAW Bill

Pen: USA: 0/1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI, Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA, Lauren WENGER, Margaret STEFFENS, Courtney MATHEWSON, Jessica STEFFENS, Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES, Kameryn CRAIG, Tumuaialii ANAE. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

Greg Mescall, United States Water Polo

Shanghai, China - July 25 - The USA Women's National Team's bid for a three-peat at the FINA World Championships was halted today in a 9-7 loss to Russia in the quarterfinal round. Leading 6-2 early in the third quarter the United States were blitzed by five straight Russian goals to give up a lead they would never regain. Team USA now moves into the 5th through 8th place bracket where they will play the loser of a Canada-China tilt on Wednesday, July 27 at 12:10pm local time - 9:10pm pst (Tues). The loss brings an end to a streak of five straight World Championships in which the United States played for a medal. Included in that run were three Gold Medals and one Silver Medal. It also signals the end of titles in every major FINA Championship over the last two years. The tally included a World Championship Gold Medal, World Cup Gold Medal, and three FINA World League Super Final Gold Medals. In the match against Russia Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) and Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford) led the offense with two goals apiece while Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) went the distance in net stopping 12 shots.

The match started off in solid fashion for the United States as they opened with a score from Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) just over a minute into the match for a 1-0 lead. The defenses would lock each other down over the next six minutes until Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) skipped home a power play goal for a 2-0 USA lead at the end of the first period. In the second quarter the United States hit their stride offensively again scoring early in the period. At the 6:48 mark they went inside to Seidemann who shed her defender to turn and beat the keeper for a 3-0 lead. A little over a minute later it was again Seidemann, this time taking a feed from Villa, finding the net and a 4-0 lead. Russia got one back a few minutes later on a power play to get on the board at 4-1 USA. Towards the end of the period with 1:40 remaining Dries drew an exclusion and Wenger cashed in for a 5-1 lead. Russia answered last in the period taking advantage of a power play to score with less than a minute remaining in the period drawing to within 5-2 at halftime.

Team USA picked up where they left off in the start of the third quarter as another six on five situation led to Wenger finding the back of the net for a 6-2 lead. Not long after Russia began to make their run. They proceeded to use the remainder of the period to keep the United States out of the scoring column while piling up five goals on a variety of deep shots, power plays, and counter attacks. When the dust settled Russia was holding a 7-6 lead as play moved to the fourth quarter.

Early in the final period Russia continued to build their lead scoring another goal from distance to go up 8-6 with 6:32 remaining in the game. Over the next six minutes the United States defense would answer the call keeping Russia off the board, but the offense was unable to respond. Three unconverted power plays and a missed five meter penalty shot spelled doom for Team USA. Russia sealed the deal with another six on five score with :47 seconds left to go up 9-6. Kelly Rulon (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC) got a quick goal back for the United States to draw within 9-7 but there would not be enough time to complete the rally.

The United States went 4/10 on power plays and 0/1 on penalties while Russia went 4/11 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty.

Flash Quotes

"We had talked about how its not over till its over, we watched the World Cup, we watched so many games where they tied it at the end regardless of how the game starts. But the momentum swung and we just couldn't stop it. I feel like if we could have had one more field block or one more goal in that swing of things maybe there would have been a different outcome." - Brenda Villa, USA Attacker

"I feel like we had the momentum and then it swung to them and you are thinking defense, defense. We also knew we wouldn't keep them to zero, it's just a matter of rolling with the momentum, we just couldn't get on top of it at the end." Brenda Villa, USA Attacker

"It started with our offense, against this team if you are not under control they will punish you on the counter attack and that's what happened. They scored a couple of counter attack goals, they had us reeling, we had to come back with a zone early and they nailed some shots from the outside. We just couldn't generate anything offensively, and Russia is a good team, I've said all along they were the next best team besides us this entire summer." - Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

"We just need to be better. I believe we are good enough to control how the game is played and we just got away from that in the third quarter." - Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

Russell McKinnon, FINA Press Commissioner

Russia scored the biggest upset of the tournament with a magnificent victory over the USA. It was the end of a streak that spans back so far it needs checking. Three golds and a silver in the past four FINA World Championship. We have to look back to Fukuoka in Japan in 2001 when Canada beat the USA for bronze in a year that Italy won gold. No major medal for VILLA and PETRI, which is a rarity. The first time off the podium since Tianjin in 2006 at the FINA World Cup when Canada was again the destroyer for the bronze medal when Australia won. Is this an omen for the London Olympics where the USA is hooting for a fourth consecutive medal? Or it is just an aberration? The real aberration was Russia's trump card PROKOFYEVA, captain of the successful Russian team at the FINA World Championships two years again and tournament most valuable player. She's fast making a name for herself in senior ranks, scoring five goals in an amazing game of water polo. Amazing, because the USAwas in total command until midway through the second period at 4-0. LISUNOVA and WENGER traded goals and PROKOFYEVA scored her first from the top on extra to close the second quarter at 5-2. WENGER made it 6-2 on extra two minutes into the third and looked good for the USA. THEN! The landslide started. FEDOTOVA on extra; LISUNOVA on the right, PROKOFYEVA on the left, FEDOTOVA with a lob and PROKOFYEVA from eightr metres for the 7- 6 lead —five goasls in less than four minutes! PROKOFYEVA sent one into the top right and Russia had an 8-6 lead. USA took a timeout to no effect and it took until 1:32 to gain a penalty shot. STEFFENS shot left and KANAUKH blocked. MATHEWSON pounced on the ball and shot again, only for KANAUKH to send sideways. Russia called a timeout and PROKOFYEVA scored after an exclusion period with a shot from downtown for 9-6 at 0:47. USA took a timeout and the ploy was simple. RULON to take a foul and score from five metres. Hey Presto! Simple. 9-7. But the goal was the first USA movement on the scoreboard for more than 13 minutes. Too long. The dream was over. Russia, with three bronze medals — the last in Rome in 2009 — was on track for another. It's probably unfair to say it is an upset as Russia looked good at the FINA World League Super Finals but lost just one game and finished fifth! Its time will come.

Game #36 CAN 7 vs CHN 9

Referees: STAVRIDIS Georgios (GRE) CAPUTI Massimiliano (ITA)

Quarters: 2-3, 2-2, 3-3, 0-1

Extra Man: CAN: 0/5. CHN: 0/9

CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO, Katrina MONTON, Emily CSIKOS (3), Joelle BEKHAZI (1), Whitney GENOWAY, Stephanie VALIN, Dominique PERREAULT (3), Monika EGGENS, Christine ROBINSON, Tara CAMPBELL, Marina RADU, Marissa JANSSENS. Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei, LIU Ping (2), SUN Yujun (2), HE Jin, SUN Yating (3), SONG Donglun, CHEN Yuan, WANG Yi (1), MA Huanhuan (1), SUN Huizi, ZHANG Lei, WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

In the clash of the non-Europeans, which would guarantee one in the top four and make a change from recent years, China proved the bigger success. It's a meteoric rise for a team that won bronze in last year's FINA World Cup in New Zealand.
China finished 11th in Rome two years ago so a top-four finish puts the team on track to its bigger quest — Olympic gold next year. There was not much in the game with goals traded in the first quarter, starting with SUN Yujun's shot from deep left. LIU did some damage with identical shots off cross passes to the far post at about the four-metre line to close at 3-2.
BEHAZI and CSIKOS traded goals with MA and SUN Yating. China still had the advantage taking the lead goal each time. There was only a slight variation in the third period but Canada's tactic to shut down MA, who had 15 goals going into the game, was working despite the heavily guarded effort into the top left for 4-3. CSIKOS and PERREAULT caught up while SUN Yating and WANG made it 7-6. SUN Yujun scored an excellent goal from deep right while charging in to go 8-6 ahead at 1:42.
Canada called a timeout and PERREAULT was the shooter from the top right at the end of extra. China held an 8-7 advantage heading into the final period of the day. Canada used two timeouts for no success. SUN Yating scored on extra off the near post at 4:37 for 7-9. After the second Canada timeout, it had another extra but needed to shoot quickly. The shot came from the wrong option at bottom right. Neither team gained any further benefit and China was through to the top four at a FINA World Championships for the first time. Canada's hopes of repeat of 2009 when it came within a whisker of the gold medal.

Game #37 GRE 12 vs NED 11

Quarters: 3-4, 5-1, 2-3, 2-2

Referees: BRGULIAN Mario (MNE) BALFANBAYEV Alan (KAZ)
Delegate: SHARANOV Evgeny SOSTAR Alexsandar

Extra Man: GRE: 1/8. NED 4/13

Pens: GRE: 2/2

GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA (2), Antiopi MELIDONI, Ilektra Maria PSOUNI, Kyriaki LIOSI (1), Alkisti AVRAMIDOU (1), Alexandra ASIMAKI, Antigoni ROUMPESI (3), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (2), Triantafylla MANOLIOUDAKI (1), Stavroula ANTONAKOU (2), Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.

NETHERLANDS: Ilse VAN DER MEIJDEN, Yasemin SMIT (1), Frederike CABOUT (2), Biurakn HAKHVERDIAN (1), Catharina VAN DER SLOOT, Nomi STOMPHORST, Iefke VAN BELKUM (3), Robbin REMERS (2), Jantien CABOUT, Nienke VERMEER (1), Lieke KLAASSEN, Simone KOOT, Anne HEINIS. Head Coach: Mauro MAUGERI.

Greece was the seasoned team with the recent experience and form and should rightfully be in the top four. The Dutch had different ideas with a 2-0 start but at 3-4 down by quarter time, the Greeks were poised to pounce. Three straight Greek goals to start the second quarter had them 6-4 ahead. SMIT replied for the Dutch with a bounce shot but that was the last for a while. GEOLYMOU notched up a penalty goal and one on extra in just over a minute and the game was 8-5 at halftime.

Captain LIOSI with a nice turn on the right post and AVRAMIDOU on extra had the game at 10-5. Just before AVRAMIDOU's strike, the Dutch had an excellent extra-man chance but the shot smashed into the crossbar from two metres! F Mieke CABOUT started the comeback with her and REMERS scoring on extra inside half a a minute. VAN BELKUM scored off the left- post position and it was 10-8 at the last break. ROUMPESI nailed a penalty goal at the start of the fourth for some breathing space. Greece called a timeout to no avail. CABOUT scored again on extra at 2:39. The clock ticked down into the last minute and the large Orange supporter base fell silent. ROUMPESI scored on extra at 0:56 and head coach MORFESIS called two timeouts for no score. The Dutch went on to attack and VAN BELKUM scored at 0:19 but it was past the time for celebration.

Greece, a non-medal winner at World Championship level, was again in the top four and a chance to do better than fourth in Rome two years ago.

Game #38 ITA 14 vs AUS 12

WATER POLO PLANET.COM: the Alternative Voice www.waterpoloplanet.com

Quarters: 0-1, 4-0, 4-6 0-1, 0-1, 1-0. Pens: 5-3

Referees: JUHAZ Gyorgy (HUN) BORRELL Sergio (ESP)
Delegate: SHAW Bill IBERN Manuel

Extra Man: ITA: 3/9. AUS: 0/7

Pens: ITA: 3/3

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE, Elisa CASANOVA, Francesca POMERI, Martina SAVIOLI, Allegra LAPI, Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI, Giulia EMMOLO, Giulia RAMBALDI, Alessandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI, Elena GIGLI. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

AUSTRALIA: Alicia McCORMACK, Gemma BEADSWORTH, Sophie SMITH, Rebecca RIPPON, Jane MORAN, Bronwen KNOX (1), Rowena WEBSTER, Kate GYNTHER, Glencora RALPH, Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Melissa RIPPON (1), Nicola ZAGAME (1), Victoria BROWN. Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

Four-time World Championships medallist and twice champion Italy beat Australia, one of only five countries to win the gold medal (the inaugural 1986 event in Madrid, Spain), in a penalty-shootout thriller. Australia was killed in the second quarter as Italy levelled on counter-attack three minutes into the period through SAVIOLI. EMMOLO then converted a penalty.

Australia called a timeout to no effect. SAVIOLI fired in Italy's second penalty goal. POMERI made it 4-1 from deep right.

ZAGAME stopped the rot early in the second quarter with a cross-cage shot. FRASSINETTI sent in a bouncer and BIANCONI scored on extra from the top. KNOX drove right and brought up 6-3. BIANCONI said "thank you" for another penalty shot and at 7-3 the game looked over for the Aussie Stingers. Rebecca RIPPON scored a chance shot off left-hand-catch and WEBSTER rocketed in a shot from outside for 7-5 by 3:1q9. It was game on. Italy had timeout to stop the momentum but a minute afterwards BEADSWORTH took the foul at centre forward, accepted the free pass and scored from three metres for 7- 6. BIANCONI responded with a shot after extra-man period, off the left post for 8-6 at 0:31. Australia was not done and RALPH sat up and shot from six metres for 8-7 at 0:06. Australia missed several counter chances at the top of the fourth and FRASSINETTI saw her turn shot at two metres hit the right post. Italy wanted to stifle the superior Australian momentum so took a timeout at 4:04. Australia missed an extra-man chance inside the last three minutes with a GORLERO save. Italy had the ball stolen by the incoming ejected player and the ball raced up to GYNTHER and then to BEADSWORTH on the right, who scored the equaliser at 1:50. Italy lost the ball on the next attack and Australia had its shot steered clear by GORLERO.

Australia had a timeout at 0:57. Australia moved the ball and BEADSWORTH gained an exclusion but the resulting shot by RALPH was blocked by GORLERO. Italy was smothered and the game went to extra time. Both teams had chances in the first period of extra time with the best BEADSWORTH's lob on drive going wide. The breakthrough came when Australia moved the ball around and at the end of possession time Rebecca RIPPON passed right to RALPH on six metres who rose and lobbed GORLERO at 0:24. The score was now 6-1 to Australia since midway through the third period. Australia won the swim-off again but could not shoot, such was the pressure and the ball wasted. FRASSINETTI gained an exclusion on WEBSTER and EMMOLO converted from the left-hand-catch position at 2:01. Australia turned the ball over. BIANCONI shot wide. GYNTHER had her shot tipped to the left by GORLERO so Australia used its timeout at 1:08. GYNTHER took the shot and sent in wide right, leaving Italy on attack with just over half a minute remaining. RALPH was ejected and Italy called a timeout at 0:25. In the penalty shootout, Italy started first and the seven opening shots were converted. RALPH had her shot blocked by GORLERO. FRASSINETTI made no mistake of her shot and Italy had advanced to the top four, leaving Australia to rattle around in the 5-8 positions.

July 17
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July 25
July 27
July 29

Wednesday, July 27

FINA will crown a new women's water polo champion on Friday.

by Russell McKinnon FINA Press Commissioner

Greece and China will play for gold in the FINA World Championship competition at the Natatorium on Friday.

Neither team has competed in the championship game before so new ground is being broken. Anointing a new champion will expand the class of five — USA, three times champion; Hungary and Italy twice; Australia and the Netherlands once.

For Greece it could be a fairytale finish to a wonderful tournament, not having won a medal of any colour at this event. Its progression to the gold-medal match was epitomised with a splendid effort against Italy, a less experienced opponent, but both played well with Greece emerging with the honours 14-11.

Greece was in fine touch with shooting, denting the reputation of Italian goalkeeper Giulia GORLERO, who was playing brilliantly in Shanghai until the Greek missiles started firing.

Greece blasted to an 8-5 halftime lead and 11-8 at three-quarter time before cruising to victory. Chief in the Italian destruction were Antigoni ROUMPESI and Angeliki GEROLYMOU with three goals each.

The second semifinal went the way of host China, a team with just the one medal in its cabinet — bronze at last year's FINA World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand — a week before the centre of the city was virtually levelled in a devastating earthquake.

The stands certainly shook for China's 13-11 victory and the celebrations went long and hard. Hardest for MA Huanhuan, one of this tournament's favoured stars, who collapsed unconscious after the game and had to be carried to safety. It was not long before she was up and walking from the pool deck.

China led for much of the match, except for periods in the third and early fourth quarters. The winning margin was achieved 3:30 from time.

The undoubted star of the match was centre forward SUN Yating, who scored four goals, two with a devastating backhand.

Russia will now have to play for bronze, a medal it has won in three of the last four editions, punctuated by fourth in Montreal in 2005.

Greece was the first through to the championship match and brings a pedigree of medal success with silver at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games; gold at the 2005 FINA World League Super Final and silver at the 2010 European Championships. In Rome two years ago, Greece was fourth.

Greek captain Kyriaki LIOSI was almost lost for words at the victory: "We have not taken it in as yet. We really wanted this medal. We knew we could win and we were concentrating the whole time."

LIOSI made the 13-9 goal inside the final four minutes, which virtually sealed the game. On her emotion of scoring the goal when heavily defended close to the right post, LIOSI said: "Every Greek goal is important to me. I cheer my team-mates when they score. All goals are the same. I celebrate with my team."

Greek head coach George MORFESIS was equally ecstatic and rates the victory among his country's best. "We haven't realised what we have done yet. For us it is the best thing."

On what it means, he said: "After 2008 we did not have a good year but since then we have made a big leap."

On prospects for the final: "We have to see how they (his players) react after this important victory."

Italian head coach Fabio CONTI was upbeats after the loss. "We have played very well here. We have very good games against China and Australia. Greece is a very strong and more experienced team with good quality shots.

"Our defence was not good today but it is normal like this as we are not as experienced. I am very happy that they tried right until the end."

On playing for a bronze on Friday, CONTI said: "A bronze medal is a very good dream for us. If someone said to us at the start of the championships that we would play for a medal, it would have been a dream."

In the round of 5-8 semifinals, outgoing world champion United States of America downed Canada 8-4 after leading 4-2 at halftime. Australia turned on a classic display with a 12-7 defeat of Olympic champion Netherlands after gaining a halftime 8-3 advantage.

In the play-off for ninth place, Hungary was made to work against a fired-up Cuba, finally winning 2-7. Head coach Andreas MERESZ said it was hard for his team to get excited for a game that did not have medals at stake.

Spain sent off New Zealand 15-7 in the 11th-12th classification game with the winner 11-3 ahead at one stage.

The men's semifinal round will be played on Thursday with Olympic Hungary against world champion Serbia and Croatia taking on Italy — tantalising encounters indeed!

Game 39 11th Place NZL 7 vs ESP 15

Quarters: 2-3, 1-6, 2-4, 2-2

Referees: DESLIERES Marie (CAN) CABRAL Roberto (BRA)
Delegate: AMINI Khosrow TOYGARLI Haluk

Extra Man: NZL: 3/12, ESP: 4/7

Pens: ESP: 2/2

NEW ZEALAND: Carina HARACHE, Emily COX (1), Kelly MASON (2), Danielle LEWIS, Amy LOGAN (1), Alexandra BOYD, Ashley SMALLFIELD, Lauren SIEPRATH (2), Johanna THEELEN, Casie BOWRY, Kirsten HUDSON, Alexandra MYLES, Brooke MILLAR. Head
Coach: Eelco URI.

SPAIN: Ava COPADO, Blanca GIL (7), Ana ESPAR, Helena LLORET, Matilde ORTIZ, Paula CHILLADA, Lorena MIRANDA, Pilar PENA, Andrea BLAS (1), Ona MESEGUER (1), M. Carmen GARCIA (6), Marta BACH, Laura ESTER. Head Coach: Miguel OCA.

GIL is the name on everyone's lips and the powerful utility player stamped her name on the game. Along with GARCIA, they contributed an incredible 13 of the Spanish goals against a team desperately trying to make its mark on the game. GIL sent her scoring tally into the stratosphere. She started with 18 goals — three from penalties — and finished with 25 — 6 from penalties. Her contribution was immense to a team that was hoping for a better result than 11th. The strength of women's water polo is expanding past the five or six good teams of the past. GARCIA was also on fire with her activities at two metres, whether it be turning to shoot on action or on extra. Her use of strength and body positioning are technically perfect. She scored six goals by the last break and finished the tournament with 12 goals. GIL had a short sojourn on the bench from 3:30 in the third when she left with blood streaming from a cut on the top left of her nose. She returned soon after but it slowed her scoring by 10 minutes. Never mind, she grabbed a pair of goals, one from a bouncer and another from seven metres when guarded by two players. She attempted to equal Uzbekistan's HALIKOVA with an eight-goal haul from a single match but her two last shots were blocked. New Zealand played well throughout, especially in the first and fourth, with SIEPRATH and MASON double scorers. quarters. SIEPRATH took her tally to double figures at 10 and MASON to seven. Spain dropped three placings from Rome while New Zealand maintained its ranking.

Game 40 9th Place CUB 7 vs HUN 12

Quarters: 2-4, 3-2, 0-5, 2-1

Referees: Ursula WENGENROTH (SUI), Steven ROTSART (USA)
Delegate: Wahid FARID, John WHITEHOUSE

Extra Man: CUB: 2/8. HUN: 2/3

Pens: CUB: 1/1. HUN: 2/2

CUBA: Mairelis ZUNZUNEGUI, Daniela ESCALONA, Yeliana BRAVO, Hirovis HERNANDEZ (3), Danay GUTIERREZ (3), Mayelin BERNAL (1), Yanet LOPEZ, Yadira OMS, Dayana MORALES, Yordanka PUJOL, Lisbeth SANTANA, Neldys TRUFFIN, Arisney RAMOS. Head Coach: Francisco VEITIA.

HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Dora CZIGANY (3), Dora ANTAL (1), Anna ILLES, Gabriella SZUCS (1), Orsolya TAKACS (2), Rita DRAVUCZ, Rita KESZTHELYI (2), Ildiko TOTH, Barbara BUJKA (2), Rita KOSZPOLI, Kata MENCZINGER (1), Edina GANGL. Head
Coach: Andreas MERESZ.

Hungary took the victory but the manner in which it was won could prove some concern back home. Hungary looked excited to win at 3-0 in less than three minutes but then it turned to custard for Hungary as Cuba played above itself to bring the game to 5-6 by halftime. It was true that Hungary worked its bench but then so did Cuba. The game broke open in the third period in favour of the Europeans and the surge to victory was like a slow-breaking wave. Cuba scored twice in a row to get the game back to 2-3 and by 5:39 in the second period it was 4-4. As one journalist intoned when he arrived late for the game: "Is the scoreboard correct?" It was correct that Cuba would be considered close to one of the top nations in water polo. Hungary went to 6-4 but the indomitable Hernandez pulled one back on penalty at 1:36 to close the half. Hernandez scored Cuba's next goal at 6:33 in the fourth after Hungary claimed the third period 5-0 with CZIGANYI gaining her third.

The final quarter was testament to Cuba's guts and determination all tournament, outscoring Hungary 2-1. Cuba last played at this level in 2007 and finished 15th so will be very happy with 10th place. Hungary, on the other hand, slipped from seventh place after finishing third in Melbourne in 2007.

Game 41 5th-8 Place: USA 8 vs CAN 4

Quarters: 2-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-1

Referees: NAUMOV Sergei (RUS) MENENDEZ Juan (CUB)
Delegate: BADREDDINE Boukezouha KRYUKOV Andrey

Extra Man: USA: 2/6. CAN: 1/8

Pen: CAN: 1/1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI (2), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA (1), Lauren WENGER (1), Margaret STEFFENS (1), Courtney MATHEWSON (1), Jessica STEFFENS, Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES (1), Kameryn CRAIG (1), Tumuaialii ANAE. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO (1), Katrina MONTON, Emily CSIKOS (2), Joelle BEKHAZI (1), Whitney GENOWAY, Stephanie VALIN, Dominique PERREAULT, Monika EGGENS, Christine ROBINSON, Tara CAMPBELL, Marina RADU, Marissa JANSSENS. Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

Outgoing world champion USA was in control from the start and only allowed Canada to level twice in the opening quarter. Canada had chances but could not score and two goals in particular proved too much for RIDDELL in goal. PETRI scored consecutive goals early in the third period with one bouncing shot from the top literally slipping through RIDDELL's hands. The final goal from MATHEWSON for 8-4 with so accurate into the top left while her body position was wide of the left post.

RIDDELL's fingertips were within a coat of paint thickness. The USA wanted the victory and went out and got it. VILLA opened with a keen-eyed shot from the top and CSIKOS replied from top left. STEFFENs regained the lead for the USA and BEKHAZI levelled on penalty. CRAIG and WENGER scored extra-man goals for 4-2 by 1:26 of the second quarter. Canada called a timeout but no joy in the scoring department. PETRI's pair started the third and CSIKO converted extra for 6-3. DRIES opened the fourth with a flash goal, immediately after the exclusion was called, sending it in from the top. ALOGBO scored on extra, the ball just getting over the line. MATHEWSON sent in her gem and USA had the game wrapped at 5:20. Both teams took timeouts with no change to the score.

Greg Mescall United States Water Polo

Shanghai, China - July 27 - The USA Women's National Team will play for fifth place at the FINA World Championships after defeating Canada 8-4 in the 5th-8th place semifinals. The team now moves on to meet either Australia or the Netherlands in a match on Friday at 10:55am local time - 7:55pm pst (Thurs). Team USA tied the Netherlands 7-7 to open the tournament on July 17. In the win over Canada the resilient United States was led by Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC) who tallied two goals and goalie Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) who stopped 12 shots across four quarters.

It was a slow start as the the North American neighbors got settled in over the first four minutes. It was was then at the 4:05 mark that Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) skipped home a shot for a 1-0 lead. Canada answered less than a minute later with a skip shot goal of their own that went bar down and in for a 1-1 match. With 2:49 left in the period Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Monte Vista HS/Diablo) scored a fancy shot gathering the ball in front of the net on a rebounded shot and tipping it from her left hand to her right and then past the goalie for a 2-1 lead. Armstrong was whistled for a penalty as the period wound to a close and Canada scored on the five meter shot to again tie the match, this time at 2-2, headed to the second.

The second quarter opened and closed with a United States goal and in between there was nothing but defense. Less than a minute into the period Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) got free inside and took a great pass from Villa on a power play to find the cage for a 3-2 lead. Then with a little over a minute remaining in the quarter Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) tossed one in from distance on a power play to put the United States up 4-2 at halftime. Most of the third quarter belonged to Petri and she struck early with a cross cage skip shot for a 5-2 lead some ninety seconds into the quarter and then came back at the 5:22 mark with a skip shot from downtown for a 6-2 score, the largest lead of the game for the USA at that point. With 1:11 left in the quarter Canada got one back scoring on a power play goal to cut the deficit down to 6-3 with play moving to the fourth quarter.

In the last quarter the United Stats kept attacking, after Maggie Steffens drew a power play it was Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) beating the goalie from four meters for a 7-3 lead. Canada scored a power play goal on their next possession to move the score to 7-4 but Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) closed out the scoring for the United Stats with an outside shot to build the lead to 8-4 with 5:27 remaining. The United States defense held down the fort the rest of the day and they came away victorious. Team USA shot 3/5 on power plays while not attempting a penalty shot and Canada went 3/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots.

Flash Quotes

"I was very happy with our effort and our ability to come back. I think that shows alot of character and alot of toughness and that's what this team is all about. As disappointing as it was two days ago we know that we are going to learn from it and bounce back and it showed we had one bad quarter here." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

"I don't know if anything will really kind of take the sting away from that loss. For us it's important we feel the sting, it's not something we've felt and it's not something I've felt in a long time. It makes you appreciate just how difficult it is to win games at this level. I've been saying this all along, this women's water polo tournament, the parity in women's water polo is incredible. I think we have a little bit more respect for that now." - Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

Game 42 5th-8 Place: NED 7 vs AUS 12

Quarters: 1-4, 2-4, 3-3, 1-1

Referees: Alan BALFANBAYEV (KAZ), Gyorgy JUHASZ (HUN)
Delegate: Alexsandar SOSTAR, Niculae FIROIU

Extra Man: NED: 5/11. AUS: 1/3

Pen: NED: 1/1

NETHERLANDS: Ilse VAN DER MEIJDEN, Yasemin SMIT, Frederike CABOUT, Biurakn HAKHVERDIAN, Catharina VAN DER SLOOT, Nomi STOMPHORST, Iefke VAN BELKUM, Robbin REMERS, Jantien CABOUT, Nienke VERMEER, Lieke KLAASSEN, Simone KOOT, Anne HEINIS. Head Coach: Mauro MAUGERI.

Australia turned in its best performance of the tournament to defeat Olympic champion Netherlands. It was built in exacting play, top-class passing and aggressive man-down defence. The shooting attributes of the Aussie Stingers were all on display against a Dutch side struggling to get a foothold in the game. The win came from only three chances on extra-man attack while the Netherlands had 11 opportunities and converted five plus one penalty meaning just the one action goal with VERMEER slotting a backhander from two metres to start the game. It looked like the Aussie Stingers were in for another bad start. However, the similarity to other matches ended there as they played a crisp game with tight man-down marking and superb passing. The score moved to 6-1 midway through the second quarter, 8-2 a minute before halftime and 10-3 two minutes into the third. Australia was in control but the Dutch still had the fighting spirit alive and well and brought the game to a threatening position at 10-6 by 1:44 of the third. However, time was against the Dutch. Another fault of Australia's is allowing a four-goal margin evaporate to one, as against Hungary. Centre forward KNOX showed some of the wares that earned her inclusion in the All Star team at the Beijing Olympic Games, scoring on extra for 1-1 and from two metres at 1-4.

She blasted in on counter for 2-8 and generally was the outstanding player that she is. ZAGAME sent in a slide from nine metres at the end of possession time for 7-12 after a period where the Dutch re-emerged, mainly through the aid of VAN BELKUM, the team's standout player. She brought up the 2-6 and 3-8 goals in the first half and converted a penalty at 5-10 three minutes after VERMEER scored on extra. REMERS made it three in a row, also on extra, at 6-10. WEBSTER closed the third period at 6-11 with Jantien CABOUT bouncing in an extra-man goal for 7-11 at 6:58 in the last. The chance was still there for the Dutch but the Stingers played hard to the end with ZAGAME's slider from nine metres the killer. Australia had earned a shot at the USA for fifth place. The Dutch will play Canada for seventh.

Game 43 Semifinal RUS 12 vs CHN 13 Webcast on Demand

Referees: MARGETA Boris (SLO) FLAHIVE Daniel (AUS)
Delegate: IBERN Manuel SHAW Bill

Quarters: 3-4, 3-3, 3-2, 2-4

Extra Man: RUS: 3/9. CHN: 5/10

Pens: CHN: 1/1

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA (2), Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA, Sofia KONUKH (2), Alexandra ANTONOVA (1), Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA, Ekaterina LISUNOVA (2), Evgenia SOBOLEVA, Ekaterina TANKEEVA (3), Olga BELYAEVA (1), Evgenia IVANOVA, Yulia GAUFLER, Anna KANAUKH. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei (1), LIU Ping, SUN Yujun, HE Jin, SUN Yating (4), SONG Donglun (1), CHEN Yuan, WANG Yi (4), MA Huanhuan (3), SUN Huizi, ZHANG Lei, WANG Ying. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

China lifted a nation with a stirring 13-11 victory over Russia with an almost-all-the-way effort. China lost way in the third quarter and early fourth but came back thanks to the services and remarkable strike power of centre forward SUN Yating, who scored four goals and turned the game when needed. China started like a bat out of hell with three goals in the first three minutes. WANG on extra, MA left free at the top and SUN Yating taking in a high pass as the goalkeeper came out to her. FEDOTOVA scored ono extra from deep right but MA was at it again at 2:36 from the top. At 4-1 China was sweetbut KONUKH lanced one in from the top and TANKEEVA swept in a shot from centre forward to close an exciting first quarter at 4-3 in China's favour. WANG scored off a cross pass on extra four minutes into the second quarter with SUN Yating scoring a second with a backhand from two metres. China had a three-goal margin. However, Russia tipped the scales back in its direction with FEDOTOVA with a lob when not properly marked by MA and LISUNOVA with a conversion of extra at 1:52. WANG made it three for her with a score from the deep left on extra. With the clock ticking down, TANKEEVA accepted a short pass from her captain KONUKH on the near post for 6-7. The Russian attack continued in the third period with LISUNOVA and KONUKH scoring from the deep left with the latter only just managing to retain the ball in hand to score for the 8-7 lead. WANG took her scoring total to four for the match and 16 for the championship with another strike from the left at 5:13 for 8-8. Russia called a timeout at 2:24 after several unlucky shots. Left-hander ANTONOVA scored four seconds after the exclusion time for 9-8. China looked hesitant on attack but TENG lobbed hopefully and succeeded for 9-9 at 0:55. China had its first extra-man attack of the final period blocked by KOVTUNOVSKAYA. TANKEEVA, who scored just two goals going into the semifinal, succeeded with her third on a cross pass for an extra-man goal. MA converted a penalty foul with a bouncer and a fist pump for 10-10 at 6:30. SUN Yating, the tournament's superior centre forward and a favourite for the Media All Star team, scored another backhand goal, this time creasing the underside of the crossbar for 10-11 at 5:50. SUN Yating scored from two metres, this time by turning and sending the ball into the bottom right for her fourth goal and 15th for the tournament. FEDOTOVA kept the crowd quiet for a minute when she scored on extra for 11-12 at 3:51.

SONG came to the party with a rocket cross cage, catching a deflection on the way for 11-13 at 3:30. KOVTUNOVSKAYA stopped a point-blank shot from SUN Yujun. Russia again lost the ball on attack and China called a timeout at 2:01. The ball was stolen and Russia went on attack, gained extra man and BELYAEVA scored from centre forward with the ball just dribbling across the line. SUN Yating's backhand was saved and the ball stolen at the far end. China wasted time but turned the ball over. KONUKH went for the five-metre foul, gained it but her shot went into the body of YANG. The game was China's and the host nation had lifted it's world ranking into the top two.

Game 44 Semifinal GRE 14 vs ITA 11 Webcast on Demand

WATER POLO PLANET.COM: the Alternative Voice www.waterpoloplanet.com

Referees: TULGA Erhan (TUR) BORRELL Sergio (ESP)
Delegate: MARTIN G.O. FOSTER Richard

Quarters: 3-2, 4-3, 3-3, 3-3

Extra Man: GRE: 1/7. ITA: 3/9

Pens: GRE: 1/1. ITA: 3/3

GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA, Antiopi MELIDONI, Ilektra Maria PSOUNI (1), Kyriaki LIOSI (1), Alkisti AVRAMIDOU, Alexandra ASIMAKI (2), Antigoni ROUMPESI (3), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (3), Triantafylla MANOLIOUDAKI (1), Stavroula ANTONAKOU (3), Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (2), Elisa CASANOVA, Francesca POMERI, Martina SAVIOLI (1), Allegra LAPI (1), Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI (3), Giulia EMMOLO (1), Giulia RAMBALDI (3), Alessandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI, Elena GIGLI. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

When ASIMAKI scored twice from the two-metre line to start the game, the writing was on the wall for Italy. The Roman wall was defenceless at times and the superior strength of the advancing horde called Greece proved too much. Greece had moved one step closer to collecting its first medal at a FINA World Championship. A medal has been won but what colour we will not know until Friday. The win brings into mind glory days of the past seven years — silver at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games; gold at the 2005 FINA World League Super Final and silver at the 2010 European Championships. In Rome two years ago, Greece was fourth so battled for a medal at least. A gold medal would top that collection nicely. After ASIMAKI scored twice, GEROLYMOU netted twice and in between ABBATe scored a pair for Italy. The Greeks slipped to 6-2 halfway through the second period and goals were swapped as Italy came back. ROUMPESI scored twice from the left and the margin had slipped out to 10-5 three minutes into the third quarter. Things started to get a little shaky for Greece as the fouls mounted and two penalty goals were gifted to Italy, thanks to BIANCONI's arm. ROUMPESI took it to 11-7 but RAMBALDI, either side of the final break, scored for 11-9 and the game was becoming interesting. RAMBALDI scored one goal in the previous four matches and rattled in three today. However, ANTONAKOU scored her third and ninth for the tournament from seven metres. But the real sealing point was captain LIOSI when she scored at 3:53 form about one mtre outside the line and to the right of the right post. With three players bearing down on her, she managed to scrape the ball into goal. It was the defining moment and she said after the match that: "every Greek goal is important to me. I cheer my team-mates when they score". Modest lady. It was the winner in a world championship semifinal. Italy was desperate for goals A long shot failed to make its mark. but at 2:38 SAVIOLI rifled in a shot from six metres for 13-10. Greece called a timeout but the resulting shot by ROUMPESI, looking for a 13th of the championship, sent the ball narrowly left of the goal. Another quick shot by Italy came after a timeout but again the Greek defence was stout. GEROLYMOU scored her third from deep left on extra for 14-10. FRASSINETTI drew a penalty foul on PSOUNI and EMMOLO converted for 14-11 at 0:51. Italy's final attack saw a lob shot miss and Greece was through to the final.

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July 29

Friday, July 29

Game 45 CAN 7 vs NED 8

Quarters: 2-0, 1-3, 3-4, 1-1

Referees: KORYZNA Radoslav (POL) PINKER Guy (RSA)
Delegate: AMINI Khosrow WHITEHOUSE John

Extra Man: CAN: 1/6. NED: 2/5

CANADA: Rachel RIDDELL, Krystina ALOGBO, Katrina MONTON, Emily CSIKOS (3), Joelle BEKHAZI (2), Whitney GENOWAY, Stephanie VALIN, Dominique PERREAULT (1), Monika EGGENS (1), Christine ROBINSON, Tara CAMPBELL, Marina RADU, Marissa JANSSENS. Head Coach: Pat OATEN.

NETHERLANDS: Ilse VAN DER MEIJDEN, Yasemin SMIT, Frederike CABOUT (2), Biurakn HAKHVERDIAN, Catharina VAN DER SLOOT (2), Nomi STOMPHORST (1), Iefke VAN BELKUM (2), Robbin REMERS, Jantien CABOUT (1), Nienke VERMEER, Lieke KLAASSEN, Simone KOOT, Anne HEINIS. Head Coach: Mauro MAUGERI.

With no major title on the line or qualifying place, one could expect a wonderful game but it was not to be. Neither coach would be satisfied with the quality of the play. Canada dropped a long way from silver in Rome two years ago, taking seventh while the Netherlands was fifth in Rome. The Canadians were unbreachable in the first quarter but the Dutch were nearly the same in the second period, scoring three straight before Canada leveled through CSIKOS. It was thequarter of the bouncer with VAN DER SLOOT bouncing in from deep right, Jantien CABOUT bouncing from the same position for the go-ahead goal. CSIKOS did the same from the other side of the pool. It was VAN DER SLOOT with her second at 2-2 that came from the top on extra. VAN BELKUM bounced the 3-4 goal at the start of the third period. Canada retook the lead through PERREAULT and CSIKOS on extra. STOMPHORST and CSIKOS traded goals with the latter from the unnatural position of centre forward. The Dutch shot back through Mieke CABOUT with a cross-cage shot and VAN BELKUM with a skip shot to close the quarter at 6-7. Mieke CABOUT repeated her earlier shot for 6-8 at 5:20 and Canada was in trouble. The Dutch went to a timeout but no joy eventuated. BEKHAZI, who scored Canada's first goal, score her team's last with a lob off a long cross pass at 1:27. Canada tried to work a plan on timeout at 0:30 and part of it worked with ALOGBO earning an exclusion on VAN BELKUM but VALIN's last shot was blocked, giving the Olympic champion the match. It was possibly the lowest-fouling match of the tournament with just 11 calls.

Game 46 USA 5 vs AUS 10

Quarters: 2-1, 0-4, 2-4, 1-1

Referees: DESLIERES Marie (CAN) PERIS Nenad (CRO)
Delegate: BADREDDINE Boukezouha MARTIN G.O.

Extra Man: USA: 1/8. AUS: 1/6

Pen: USA: 0/1

AUSTRALIA: Alicia McCORMACK, Gemma BEADSWORTH (1), Sophie SMITH, Rebecca RIPPON, Jane MORAN, Bronwen KNOX (4), Rowena WEBSTER (1), Kate GYNTHER (1), Glencora RALPH (2), Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Melissa RIPPON, Nicola ZAGAME (1), Victoria BROWN. Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI, Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA (2), Lauren WENGER, Margaret STEFFENS, Courtney MATHEWSON (1), Jessica STEFFENS, Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES (2), Kameryn CRAIG, Tumuaialii ANAE. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.

Who would have taken money on Australia leading the USA by five goals on several occasions in a World Championship match? It happened, with the Aussie Stingers firing for possibly one of the few times in Shanghai. Not only five goals but six. Despite another slow start, the Stingers lifted their game and KNOX was a the forefront showing why she made the All Star team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Her best goal was a looping centre-forward effort for 2-2. At 2-5, she backhanded the ball over the right shoulder of ARMSTRONG. From the left-hand-catch position she had a shot deflected by a defender and fumbled by ARMSTRONG into goal. Just for a change she charged in and bounced in a shot from six metres for 4-9. Her third and fourth goals were the five-goal margin shots. In the wilderness, seemingly, the USA was making minor contributions to the scoreboard. RULON had her opening penalty shot blocked by McCORMACK. VILLA took the early lead. DRIES had the USA 2-1 ahead. It was nearly 12 minutes later before DRIES scored the USA’s third goal from centre forward. VILLA scored straight after with a great shot into the top right. ZAGAME opened the fourth from centre forward with a lot of USA attention. The margin was staggeringly six. MATHEWSON drew one back at 5:12. Remarkably in such a remarkable match, no further score came and neither team bothered with a timeout. For Australia it was one step up from Rome while the outgoing world champion will be ruing lost opportunities and how its Olympic preparation has been temporarily derailed. Less than a year ago, this match was the World Cup final!

Greg Mescall United States Water Polo

Shanghai, China - July 29 - The USA Women's National Team claimed sixth place at the 2011 FINA World Championships following a 10-5 loss to Austraila in the fifth place match. The loss officially moves the team's ranking in the world from first to sixth, a perch they held for the past two years. The sixth place finish is the team's lowest finish since an eighth place mark at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, Australia. In the match against Australia the Aussies used six straight goals spanning the second and third quarters to turn a one goal deficit into a five goal advantage to spur the victory. Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) and Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) led the USA offense with two goals each.

The United States started off quickly looking to score in the opening minute when Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) drew a five meter penalty but Kelly Rulon's (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC) shot was off the mark on the penalty try and it remained scoreless early. Team USA broke through with 4:13 to go in the period as Villa bounced home a shot in transition for a 1-0 lead. Australia answered with a power play goal shortly thereafter and the match was tied at 1-1. The United States came back with a counter attack goal when Dries was able to go with a cross-cage skip to beat the keeper for a 2-1 lead.

That was the score to open the second quarter when Australia started to take over. At the 5:39 mark the ball went inside and the Aussies delivered with a hook shot from two meters to tie the match at 2-2. From there they rattled off a power play goal, a shot clock beating lob shot, and a back hand shot on a counter attack to take a 5-2 lead into halftime. Out of the gates in the third quarter it was more of the same as less than thirty seconds into the period Australia skipped home a shot for a 6-2 lead and then a minute after that skipped in another for a 7-2 lead. The United States halted the run as Dries turned with her left hand and buried a shot for a 7-3 game. A rally seemed in the works when Villa hit for her second shot in transition at the 4:26 mark to make it 7-4 Australia. That idea was snuffed out when the Aussies scored a power play goal and then followed with a counter attack score to take a 9-4 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Early in the fourth the United States looked to try and get back in the match but a power play try went by the boards at the 6:08 mark. Australia tacked on another score with 5:49 remaining to go up 10-4. On the next possession for the United States Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) got the red, white, and blue back on the board with a power play goal to get within 10-5. Over the final five minutes the United States was able to kee Austraila scoreless but also failed to generate any offense and came away defeated 10-5. The United States went 2/8 on power plays and 0-1 on penalties while Australia was 3/6 on power plays and did not attempt any penalties. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) and Tumua Anae (Newport Beach, CA/USC/SoCal) split time in cage with Armstrong working the first three quarters and Anae the fourth. They combined to record four saves.

Saves - USA - B. Armstrong 3, T. Anae 1

Flash Quotes

"I think we have to take a hard look at how we performed in this tournament. Obviously make some improvements and corrections and I think the hard reality right now is that we are the sixth best team in the world. We certainly have alot of work ahead of us to get back to where we want to be. At the same time our focus all year has been to perform at Pan Ams, that has been our number one goal and we haven't lost that opportunity. That opportunity is not too far away and we need to make these improvements in a short period of time in order to get ready for the biggest tournament of the year." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach

"I never felt like we were arrogant going into this. I think we've always had a tremendous amount of respect for everyone and understand that it is extremely competitive now. I think there is alawys something inside that makes you work a litle bit harder and pour a little bit more into it, and now we have this to help us motivate moving forward." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach on gaining humility in losing

"Nothing is ever going to be constant, change is always going to be what will happen. For our team our ability to deal with change whether it is momentum during a game (etc), that is the type of thing we'll take away from this tournament. Looking forward we are really excited for the Pan American Games. When you are going into a type of tournament like the Pan American Games to qualify for the ultimate, the Olympic Games, what better than to face adversity and the challenges we faced in this tournament." Annika Dries, USA Center

Game 47 WOMENS BRONZE MEDAL GAME ITA 7 vs RUS 8 Webcast

Quarters: 4-0, 2-1, 2-6, 0-0

Referees: JUHAZ Gyorgy (HUN) ROTART Steven (USA)
Delegate: FARID Wahid SHAW Bill

Extra Man: RUS: 3/12. ITA: 0/13

Pens: ITA: 1/1

RUSSIA: Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA, Nadezhda FEDOTOVA, Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (2), Sofia KONUKH (2), Alexandra ANTONOVA, Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA (1), Ekaterina LISUNOVA, Evgenia SOBOLEVA, Ekaterina TANKEEVA, Olga BELYAEVA (3), Evgenia IVANOVA, Yulia GAUFLER, Anna KANAUKH. Head Coach: Alexander KABANOV.

ITALY: Giulia GOLERO, Simona ABBATE (1), Elisa CASANOVA (2), Francesca POMERI, Martina SAVIOLI (1), Allegra LAPI, Marta COLAIOCCO, Roberta BIANCONI (2), Giulia EMMOLO, Giulia RAMBALDI, Alessandra COTTI, Teresa FRASSINETTI (1), Elena GIGLI. Head Coach: Fabio CONTI.

Russia wanted to make up for finishing outside the medal round at the recent FINA World League Super Final in Tianjin. With an unblemished opening quarter reaping four goals and a fifth without response early in the second period, Russia had a foundation for success. The silver (or bronze) lining had been laid. Italy awoke to the game too late. It is tough to give up five goals and expect to win. However, that deficit inspired the team and the mood of the match and the crowd changed as goals started flowing. A 6-2 third period to the Italians brought the game to life and set up a fine climax. PROKOFYEVA and captain KONUKH led the way for Russia with two goals each in the first quarter. BELYAEVA scored an unusual counter-attack goal after she was left stranded in the Italian half only for a team-mate to steal the ball and toss it upfield. She turned and scored for 5-0. On the next attack Italian captain CASANOVA backhanded a shot at centre forward. Italy took a timeout but no score and two minutes later RHYZOVA-ALENICHEVA found herself unguarded deep right to score for 6-1, the halftime score. What followed was almost a massacre. BIANCONI scored down the left lane; FRASSINETTI traded goals with BELYAEVA from two metres; BIANCONI scored from the penalty line and BELYAEVA muscled in a goal for 8-4 at just 5:38. CASANOVA, who had earned a couple of ejections earlier, once again scored with a backhand for 8-5. Italy called time when KONUKH gained her third exclusion and the resulting play saw SAVIOLI score after the excluded player returned to the pool. Less than a minute later ABBATE scored her ninth goal of the tournament with a bounce shot on the left-hand-catch position. The score was now 8-7. Italy was back and raring to go. With the clock moving into the last two minutes, four Russians and two Italians had finished the match. BIANCONI had a shot tipped over the back line at a time when head coach CONTI gained a yellow card. On the next attack BIANCONI was free as a bird after a drive left but RAMBALDI shot high. On the Russian attack, CASANOVA was ejected and gained a suspension foul on the way out. Russia called a timeout at 0:18 and played the ball around to win its fourth bronze medal at this level. Russia’s extra-man count, scoring three as opposed to Italy’s none, proved crucial.

Game 48 WOMENS GOLD MEDAL GAME CHN 8 vs GRE 9 Webcast