Eight games on the second day of women's water polo tournament at Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex. Unites States beat Spain.

Second day of women’s water polo tournament at the 17th FINA World Championships /fina-budapest2017.com/

W9 Group B

United States-Spain 12-8 (6-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-3) 
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Dutilh-Dumas (NED), Naumov (RUS)

USA: Stone – Musselmann 3, Seidemann, Steffens 1, K. Neushul 3, M. Fischer. Subs.: Hauschild, Fattal 2, Raney, A. Fischer 1, J. Neushul 1, Williams 1. Head coach: Adam Krikorian

Spain: Laura Ester – A. Espar 3, B. Ortiz 1, M. Ortiz, C. Espar, Carrasco, L. Arrones 1. Subs: Pascual, L. Gomez 2, Forca 1, Barriga, Rovirosa. Head coach: Miguel Oca 

Extramen: 3/7 and 5/12
Penalties: 1/1 and 1/1
Excluded: M. Fischer (USA), M. Ortiz (ESP)

The clash of previous two golden medallists of the World Championships opened Tuesday's water polo session. The United States was more likely to win the game, especially as the team is the current Olympic title defender.

The Spanish team managed to gain the lead at the beginning of the match, however, by the third minute Americans succeeded to turn the game around with the help of two goals by Madeline Musselmann. The Spanish could shoot their next goal only after the score of 6-1 in the second quarter, yet they interestingly managed to claim this quarter.

The American team succesfully held their lead in the second half of the game, hence they won the match and practically finished first in their group.

For flash quotes click here.

W10 Group B

New Zealand-South Africa 8-6 (2-1, 1-2, 1-1, 4-2)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Garibaldi (ARG), Mercier (FRA)

New Zealand: Milicich – Mason 3, Lopes Da Silva, Stoneman, Bowry, Pye 2, Hudson 3. Subs.: Lewis, Ferigo, Boyd, Houghton. Head coach: Angela Winstanley-Smith

South Africa: Thomas – Penney 1, Paley, Schooling 2, Hallendorf 1, Barret 1, White. Subs.: Faulman, Wessels 1, Smit, Manson. Head coach: Samuel Gareth

Extramen: 3/11 and 2/7
Excluded: Hallendorf (RSA)

New Zealand's fight with South Africa may well be called a fight for prestige. One of the two weaker members of Group B will surely make its way through from the group which means a fight for getting amongst the best eight teams of the tournament.

The match was close all along. In the past few weeks the kiwis trained with the national teams of the USA, Australia and Hungary. In the last quarter the new zealanders had to fight to turn the match around, something they succeeded in by turning the score of 5-6 to 7-6. In the last few moments they even scored a goal that finally ended the match. 

For flash quotes click here.

W12 Group C

Japan-Netherlands 8-20 (0-7, 5-3, 2-5, 1-5)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Dykman (CAN), Brooks (NZL)

Japan: Aoki – Vakanove, Yamamoto 1, Inaba, Moro, Jokumoto 1, Suzuki 1. Subs: Arima 3, Kayama 1, Magariyama 1, Hosoya, Shioya (gk). Head coach: Hideo Katho

Netherlands: Willemsz – Smit 2, D. Genee, van der Sloot 6, Nijuis 2, Sevenich 4, Megens 3. Subs: Aarts (gk), A. Genee 1, Stomphorst, Klaasen 2, Joustra. Head coach: Arno Havenga

Extramen:2/11 and 5/10
Penalties: 1/2 and 1/1
Excluded: Moro (JPN), Jokumoto (JPN)

The Netherlands started the match by launching a strong offensive that resulted in an eight point lead for the Dutch team. The viewers in the Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex soon started to cheer for the Japanese team to achieve a breakthrough, something they did so well they even won the second quarter of the game with the score of 5-3.

The Dutch may have been so determined to beat Japan as much as they could because the fellow group member, Hungary defeated the Japanese team by nine goals, a margin that may soon be significant when it comes to the question: who will reach up to the first place in the group?

Sabrina van der Sloot was playing in Hungary in the last few years. The Dutch player shot six goals by halftime. A true demonstration of competence.

The final score was 20-8 which means the Japanese team scored just as many goals against the Asian team as the Hungarian national team did, with the slight difference of getting three goals less from them.

For flash quotes click here.

W13 Group D

Greece-Kazakhstan 19-5 (5-0, 4-2, 4-1, 6-2)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Daners (URU), Ivanovski (MNE)

Greece: Diamantopoulou – Tsokuala 1, Diamantopoulou 1, Avramidou, Asimaki 4, Manolioudaki 3, E. Plevritou 3. Subs: Kouvdou (gk), Eleftheriadou 3, M. Plevritou, Chydirioti 1, Kotsia 1, Xenaki 1. Head coach: Georgios Morfesis

Kazahsztán: Zharkimayeva – Akilbayeva 3, Tuvova, Zakirova, Myrzabekova 1, Murshina 1, Mussarova. Subs: Raitev, Roga, Novikova, Yevemina. Head coach: Andrey Sazykin

Extramen: 3/5, and 1/10
Penalties: 3/3, and 0/0
Excluded: Manolioudaki (GRE), Tuvova (KAZ)

For flash quotes click here.

W14 Group D

Australia-Russia 8-5 (1-2, 2-1, 3-1, 2-1)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Severo (ITA), Buch (ESP)

Australia: Yanitsas – Gofers 2, Buckling 2, Halligan, Bishop 1, Ridge 1, Webster 2. Subs.: Zimmerman, Arancini, Mihailovic, Baxter, Steere. Head coach: Athanisos Kechagias

Russia: Karnaukh – Prokofyeva, Karimova 1, Simanovich, Tolkunova, Ivanova 1, Ryzhkova 1. Subs.: Vakhitova, Borisova 2, Gorbunova, Serzhantova, Timofeeva. Head coach: Alexander Gaidukov

The expectations were high before the clash of the two unbeaten teams in the group of death. Australia win easily in the first round and Russia had a tough game against Greece. There was no favorite in this game, but maybe the experts leaned towards Russia.

The game started accordingly, Ivanova scored the first goal and Russia’s defence was great in the first quarter, they took the lead to half time. Everything changed in the third quarter, Australia became more and more accurate and they capitalized on their opportunities. They were leading by two after the third period and when Isobel Bishop scored another goal, is was over.

With this win, Australia jumps to the top of the group alone, but their next opponent will be Greece, that match is going to be really exciting as well. Russia has a must win game against Kazakhstan on Thursday.

For flash quotes click here.

W15 Group A

China-Canada 8-9 (1-1, 4-2, 0-5, 3-1)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Adrian Alexandrescu (ROU), Vojin Putnikovic (SRB)

China: Lin Peng – Xiaohan Mei, Dunhan Xiong 2, Guannan Niu 1, Ning Guo, Cong Zhang 1, Zihan Zhao. Subs: Yanan Bi, Sanfeng Nong, Danyi Zhang 1, Xiao Chen 1, Jing Zhong 2, Yieng Shen. Head coach: Dali Gong

Kanada: Jessica Gaudreault – Emma Wright 2, Monika Eggens 2, Joelle Bekhazi, Hayley McKelvey 2, Christine Robinson 1, Shae Fournier 2. Subs: Krystina Alogbo, Avelle Crevier, Kyra Christmas, Elyse Lenay-Lavoie, Kelly McKee, Ymane Hage. Head coach: Haris Pavlidis

Extramen: 4/4 and 2/3
Penalties: 0/0 and 1/1

The audience had to wait for the first goals until the last two minutes in the first quarter, but then both teams were able to score in a matter of 30 seconds. The teams went neck-to-neck, but after 3-3, China was able to take the lead and there was 5-3 on the scoreboard at the half.

The game took a huge turn in the third quarter, where Canada dominated and scored five straight goals. China started a comeback with two goals from Jing Zhong and Danyi Zhang was able to equalize 8 seconds before the final whistle. But the thrills came only one second before the game was over, Christine Robinson was able to score at the very end winning this amazing game for Canada.

For flash quotes click here.

W11 Group C

France-Hungary 5-24 (0-7, 2-7, 3-6, 0-4)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Natacha Florestano (BRA), Shiwei Ni (CHN)

France: Counil – Millot 2, Bachelier 1, Guillet, Mahieu, Valverde. Subs: Sacre Aurore 1, Battu, Sacre Adeline 1, Deschampt, Barbieux, Derenty. Head coach: Florian Bruzzo

Hungary: Kasó – Antal 4, Szűcs 1, Takács 2, Keszthelyi 4, Tóth 2, Szilágyi 2. Subs: Gangl, Czigány 2, Gurisatti 1, Illés 1, Bujka 4, Csabai 1. Head coach: Bíró Attila

Extramen: 3/6 and 6/7
Penalties: 1/2 and 0/0
Excluded: Dóra Czigány (HUN) and Ildikó Tóth (HUN)

Hungary scored on their very first opportunity, captain Rita Keszthelyi was the goalscorer, who doubled the host team’s lead shortly after that. Hungary turned the first quarter into a goal festival, there was 7-0 on the scoreboard after the first period. France’s first goal came on a penalty. At half time it was 14-2 and these 14 goals were scored by 10 difference Hungarian players.

Hungary controlled this game all the way, the only question after the half was the final score. In the fourth quarter, Hungary took a little step back on offense, but the defense worked perfectly. The top goalscorers were Barbara Bujka, Dóra Antal and Rita Keszthelyi with four goals each.

For flash quotes click here.

W16 Group A

Italy – Brazil 18-4 (5-1, 6-1, 4-1, 3-1)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Schwartz (ISR), Salnichenko (KAZ)

Italy: Gorlero – Garibotti 1, Queirolo 1, Radicchi 2, Aiello 3, Bianconi 2, Emmolo 4. Subs: Tabani, Picozzi 1, Palmieri 4, Cotti, Dario. Head coach: Fabio Conti

Brazil: Chamorro – Abla 1, Zablith 2, Souza, Dias, Bahia, Duarte 1. Subs: Ferreira, Belorio. Head coach: Eduardo Abla

The Italian team living up to their favorite’s status, and led the whole play and won by far the match.

fina-budapest2017.com