Day 5, World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship: Italy, Netherlands, Russia and Greece into semifinals
Greece will face world champion Russia and Italy will front against Netherlands in the semifinals of the FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship on Saturday at the Olympic Swimming Complex in Funchal.
Italy will take on Netherlands in the first semifinal. Italy beat United States and Netherlands won China in the fifth day of competition in the capital city of Portugal's island Madeira.
Russia will face Greece in the second semifinal. They played the final of the tournament two years ago, when the Russian junior team earned gold and the Greek junior squad took silver.
Greece closed the evening's matches with a win against Spain (10-8). Previously, Russia had surpassed Hungary 18-11.
United States, China, Hungary and Spain will battle for 5th-8th place.
In the round 9-12 semifinals, Australia came good against South Africa with a big 16-5 margin to advance to the play-off for ninth against Canada, who had some difficulties in sending off Brazil 9-7.
In classification matches, Japan left with 13th place thanks to a victory over New Zeland. Kazakhstan won Portugal 13-6 for 15th place.
Friday schedule
Finals - 15th place
Match 31, 09:00, KAZAKHSTAN 13 PORTUGAL 6
Finals - 13 th place
Match 32, 10:20, JAPAN 13 NEW ZEALAND 10
Round 9-12 Semifinals
Match 33, 11:40, BRAZIL 7 CANADA 9
Match 34, 13:00, AUSTRALIA 16 SOUTH AFRICA 5
Quarterfinals
Match 35, 16:00, UNITED STATES 8 ITALY 9
Match 36, 17:20, NETHERLANDS 8 CHINA 6
Match 37, 18:40, RUSSIA 18 HUNGARY 11
Match 38, 20:00, GREECE 10 SPAIN 8
Saturday schedule
Classification 11-12
Match 39, 10:00, BRAZIL v SOUTH AFRICA
Classification 9-10
Match 40, 11:20, CANADA v AUSTRALIA
Classification 5-8 semifinals
Match 41, 12:40, UNITED STATES v CHINA
Match 42, 17:20, HUNGARY v SPAIN
Semifinals
Match 43, 18:40, ITALY v NETHERLANDS
Match 44, 20:00, RUSSIA v GREECE
Photo credit: Duarte Paulini
Match reports
Quarters: 2-3, 2-1, 3-0, 6-2
Referees: Asumi Nishihara (JPN) and Ernesto Inesta Peralta (ESP)
Teams
KAZAKHSTAN: Azhar Alibayeva, Yelizaveta Rudneva, Dana Kydyrbekova, Viktoriya Khritankova (3), Anastassiya Yeremina (1), Anastassiya Kolomatskaya, Anna Novikova (3), Madina Rakhmanova (1), Shakhzoda Mansurova, Nadezhda Shapovalova (1), Anastassiya Murataliyeva (4). Head Coach: Marat Naurazbekov
PORTUGAL: Maria Sampaio, Alice Rodrigues, Carolina Fernandes, Fabiana Duarte, Jessica Teixeira (2), Ana Jardim (1), Joana Monteiro, Madalena Lousa (3), Ana Sousa, Beatriz Pereira, Ines Tavares, Maria Machado, Manuela Freitas. Head Coach: Miguel Pires.
Portugal leaves this World Championship with no victory to celebrate. The host team lost against Kazakhstan in its last game of the tournament and could not get the 15th position in the ranking. Portugal competed really well during the first quarter (2-3), but Kazakhstan tied before half time. "We lost the control of the game in the third period and our physical capacity wasn't enough to resist until the end", Portugal coach Miguel Pires said after the match.
Quarters: 3-2, 5-3, 2-3, 3-2
Referees: Lee-Anne Keet (RSA) and Eurico Moreira da Silva (POR)
Teams
JAPAN: Yuka Kawatashiro, Asuka Watada (2), Fuka Nishiyama (4), Eruna Ura (2), Kako Kawaguchi, Akari Danno, Maiko Hashida (1), Kaho Iwano (1), Kyoko Kudo, Hikaru Shitara (1), Chiaki Terakata (2), Manami Noda. Head Coach: Yoshinori Shiota.
NEW ZEALAND: Ella Harford, Elizabeth Gault, Gabrielle Milicich (1), Georgia Milne, Elizabeth Alsemgeest (3), Ella Pollock, Emmerson Houghton (4), Shinae Carrington (1), Lucia Doak, Gabriella Macdonald, Clodagh Weir, Sophie Shorter-Robinson (1), Charlotte Hooke. Head Coach: Megan Thomson.
Japan ended up its participation in this FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship as the 13th best team after its win 13-10 against New Zeland. Japan competed in Group A and could not go into the second round of the tournament. Finally, Japan occupied the 13th place. Nishiyama Fuka was with four goals the top scorer of the final game against New Zealand.
Quarters: 1-2, 2-2, 2-1, 2-4
Referees: Daniel Federico Daners Chao (URG) and Josko Prancic (CRO)
Teams
BRAZIL: Thatiana Pregolini, Ana Quesada, Alissa Pinciroli, Giovana Silva, Ana Amaral, Ana Dias (1), Kemily Leao (2), Luana Quinn, Leticia Belorio, Ana Alice Amaral (3), Mylla Pereira (1), Jennifer Cavalcante, Isabela Souza. Head Coach: Ricardo Crivella.
CANADA: Hana Truchla, Blaire McDowell, Ava Morrant, Briana Utas (1), Adrien Van Dyke (1), Verica Bakoc (2), Valeria Rojas, Daphne Guevremont (3), Apryl Gonzalez (1), Florranne Carroll (1), Myriam Lizotte, Paige Donald, Marianne Bouchard Cote. Head Coach: Cyril Dorgigne.
Out of the fight for 1st to 8th position, Canada is still fighting for the ninth place in Funchal, the capital city of Portugal's island Madeira. Canada beat Brazil by a margin of two goals (7-9) and will compete against Australia in its last game in this FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship.
Quarters: 4-1, 5-2, 1-1, 6-1
Referees: Giovanni Ungaretti Gallotti (BRA) and Damir Temyrkhanov (KAZ)
Teams
AUSTRALIA: Claire Durston, Jamie Oberman (2), Glenda Morgan, Ruby Swadling (6), Sophie Milliken, Abby Andrews (3), Carla Traplin, Nioka Thomas (1), Kasey Dalziel (2), Tenealle Fasala, Jessica Emerson (2), Charlize Andrews, Isobelle Pamp. Head Coach: Georgina Kovacs
SOUTH AFRICA: Daniella Passoni, Paige Tancrel (1), Jennifer Everett, Boati Motau, Astrid Faustmann, Hanna Muller, Shakira January, Kate Hinrichs (1), Hanna Weppelman, Jordan Wedderburn (2), Chloe Meecham, Lucy Miszewski (1), Zanne Smit. Head Coach: Delaine Mentoor
When Australia lost against Spain in their cross over finals, Tenealle Fasala said it was important that they battled all of the frustrations they had that they weren't in the top eight, and put that into their next games. The Australian national team appeared back at the swimming pool this Friday morning prepared to face South Africa in the semifinals for ninth to 12th place. Australia won this game 16-5.
Quarters: 3-4, 2-1, 3-2, 0-2
Referees: Spyridon Achladiotis (GRE) and Ursulla Wengenroth (SUI)
Teams
UNITED STATES: Georgia Phillips, Noelle Wijnbelt, Sarah Klass, Abrielle Hill (1), Honnie Vandeweghe, Bayley Weber, Jewel Roemer (4), Rozanne Wheaton, Jenna Flynn (1), Ryann Neushul (2), Valeria Ayala, Ava Johnson, Isabel Williams. Head Coach: Natalie Benson.
ITALY: Caterina Banchelli, Nicole Zanetta (1), Anna Repetto, Giorgia Amedeo (1), Elena Borg, Lucrezia Cergol (1), Sofia Giustini, Isabella Riccioli (1), Francesca Colletta, Carlotta Meggiato, Agnese Cocchiere (3), Dafne Bettini (2), Marzia Imperatrice. Head Coach: Paolo Zizza
Italy earned a place into semifinals following a 8-9 win over United States during the opening game of the evening session in the Olympic Swimming Complex in Funchal. Dafne Bettini scored a heroic goal with 1:33 to play in the fourth quarter. She delivered the game-winner with time winding down and Italy secured the win. USA will now play for 5th-8th place.
Natalie Benson (USA) - Head Coach
I think that both teams played very hard and had many chances to be successful both in offense and defense. We left some goals on the table, missed some shots and allowed some shots to go in. We should have stopped some of them. Both teams were hard. You are playing this tournament and you are playing this game to see your team in the semifinals and in the finals. My team is hungry to do well. We are disappointed with this result but we still have two more matches and hopefully we will finish as high as we can.
Paolo Zizza (ITA) - Heac Coach
We are working really hard in this tournament and it is a special moment for us. The game was very difficult for us. We played against USA, the country where the best school of water polo in the world is. My team played in a very strong defense, all the players were together, fighting for every ball and stopping their shots agressively.
Dafne Bettini (ITA) - Player of the match
I am very happy and in this moment I am very proud of being an Italian player because my team-mates are very good and I love them. Reaching the final is our dream. We want to win against Netherlands and to win the title, but saying this it is too simple because the other teams are good. We were sixth last year in the European u19 Championship, and it is very important for us to win the title or at least one medal this time in Funchal.
Quarters: 3-1, 1-0, 1-1, 3-4
Referees: Sergey Krizhanovskiy (RUS) and Marjay Zsolt (HUN)
Teams
NETHERLANDS: Sarah Buis, Lieke Rogge, Rozanne Voorvelt (2), Marit van der Weijden, Isis Keijzer, Simone van de Kraats (2), Nina Ten Broek, Maxine Schaap (4), Lot Stertefeld, Laura Schinkel, Sam Jutte, Storm Willemsen, Janieke Oosting. Head Coach: Evangelos Doudesis.
CHINA: Wenxin Dong, Shiyun Wang, Yizhen Zhu, Xiao Chen (2), Bozhou Lu (1), Qingwei Wang, Wen Su, Rui Xu (2), Xinyan Meng (1), Yujia Bai, Ziyan Xiao, Siya Yan, Yuting Xie. Head Coach: Jun Lin.
Netherlands claimed bronze in 2017 and two years later will have the chance to compete for medals again after beating China 8-6. It wasn't its most brilliant win, but Netherlands is in the semifinals of the FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championship. In fact, head coach Evangelos Doudesis showed his disappointment after the game. "We need to refocus if we want to achieve something better in the tournament", he said. Netherlands will face Italy. The winner will achieve the final round of the event.
Evangelos Doudesis (NED) - Head Coach
We achieved the semifinals and we are very happy but our performance today was awful. Our performance was awful and we need to refocus if we want to achieve something better in the tournament. We are happy to qualify but our performance was awful. China did a very good game.
Zhiyu Wu (CHN) - Assistant Coach
The girls played very good. Netherlands is a good team, but today my team was solid in defense. We only scored six goals. We scored no goals in the second quarter. It was a pity.
Maxine Schaap (NED) - Player of the match
We did a really good job with the girls as a team. We played really well. Now into the next game I hope we will make a big game too. It is going to be tough but I think we have a pretty good chance. If we play well and if the trust each other it will be fine.
Quarters: 6-2, 6-3, 4-2, 2-4
Referees: Darren Brown Spirito Santo (USA) and Alessia Ferrari (ITA)
Teams
RUSSIA: Evgeniia Golovina, Polina Kempf (2), Elizaveta Zaplatina (3), Margarita Pystina (2), Anastassia Diachenko (3), Polina Popova (1), Daria Chagochkina (4), Anastasia Leonova, Regina Galimzianova, Tatiana Tolkunova (2), Anastasiia Shapkina (1), Nadezhda Lipskaia, Svetlana Stepakhina. Head Coach: Sergey Markoch.
HUNGARY: Alda Magnon Magyari, Zita Armai (1), Vanda Valyi (4), Luca Petovari, Natasa Rybanska, Janka Utassy, Fanni Muzsnay (2), Kamilla Farago (1), Eszter Lara Kiss (3), Berta Farago, Panna Kudella, Panna Petik, Lila Maczko. Head Coach: Tamas Farago.
The Russian junior team won the previous edition of the World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships in Volos (GRE) in 2017. Two years later, in Funchal (POR), Russia is still on the fight for gold medal. This Friday the Russian team achieved the semifinals thanks to the greatest victory of the day. Russia beat Hungary 18-11. The difference between both squads was big in every period (6-2, 6-3, 4-2, 2-4).
Sergey Markoch (RUS) - Head Coach
It was a good game, with maximum concentration. Against Italy we played at 70 per cent of our maximum. Against Hungary, at 90 per cent. It was perfect. Every game we are playing better and it is what I want.
Margarita Pystina (RUS) - Player
We are happy, of course. It was a very difficult game but we won. We want to win again tomorrow.
Natasa Rybanska (HUN) - Player
I believe we could win and we didn't do what we could. We could play much more better. I think we should win. I am very disappointed in our game.
Quarters: 6-1, 3-4, 0-3, 1-0
Referees: Sander Paul Gransjean (NED) and Anna Goncharenko (UKR)
Teams
GREECE: Marina Kotsioni, Effrosyni Katsimpri, Anastasia Loudi, Eleni Elliniadi (4), Elisavet Protopapas, Maria Anna Mastrokalou, Eirini Ninou, Maria Myriokefalitaki (3), Iliana Kokkinaki, Vasiliki Douli (1), Ioulia Anna Kontoni (1), Eleni Kanetidou (1), Emmanouela Archontaki. Head Coach: Stefanos Leandros.
SPAIN: Sandra Domene, Paula Camus (1), Paula Leiton (3), Ruth Ariño, Silvia Morell (1), Alba Bonamusa, Berta Seto, Elia Montoya (1), Lucia Gomez de la Puente, Helena Dalmases (1), Sofia Diaz (1), Alejandra Aznar, Paula Nieto. Head Coach: Javier Aznar
The screen showed a final margin of two goals, 10-8. But the game was amazing. Greece had the match in its hands from the first quarter, when leading 6-1 against an apathetic Spanish team. However, as the great squad that it is, the Spanish national team reacted in the second (3-4) and in the third period (0-3) giving the fans some reasons to believe in its comeback. With 9-8, a 5m shot failed by Alejandra Aznar and a counterattack missed by Helena Dalmases helped Greece to resist and to win the game.
Marina Kotsioni (GRE) - Player of the match
I am gonna cry... You cannot imagine what this victory means for us. This is the first time for myself that I go into the final 4 of a World Championship. The girls did it very well; very good defense, very good offense. We were waiting for this moment a long time.
Paula Leiton (ESP) - Player
It was a very big difference, 6-1 in the first quarter. Maybe we lacked attention and we lacked tension, I don't know ... Then in the third quarter it is true that we were able to overcome. You see the possibility to win, but you see it far. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. In life it is only a quarterfinal match.
