Post by Admin on Oct 11, 2021 6:26:19 GMT
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There was high-pressure action on the opening day of the FINA Women’s Junior Water Polo World Championships in Netanya, Israel.
The biggest came in the opening match when Group A hot-shots Italy and Greece decided what will probably be the group’s first position.
What started as a close match with the score level with only a few minutes to quarter time between these powerhouse nations, turned into a Greek feast, shooting to 7-3 at halftime and 10-4 at the final break before closing at 12-6.
It was a shaky start for Italy, in particular, resorting to long outside shots while Greece was secure in the knowledge it could convert from close in, especially with its two national senior squad members Eirini Ninou and Ioulia Kontoni.
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Ninou has played at the elite level and her skills from right-hand-catch position proved invaluable, scoring three, including one from nine metres. Kontoni went two better, proving her future in the game is on the right track.
Captain Maria Myriokefalitaki was brutal in her attack, scoring on counter in the first quarter, from two metres in the second and then with a one-person counter that the goalkeeper deflected into the back rope, giving the captain the corner and then the drive to baulk and score for the final nail in the coffin.
A goal earlier, pure skill came from Christine Siouti, who drove deep right, turned one defender, nudged off the second, baulked the goalkeeper and lanced the ball into the left of the cage.
For Italy, it was an upsetting loss, as long shots failed to find their mark. The halftime chat from coach Carlo Silipo — 1992 Olympic champion — had some effect, especially on Sofia Giustini who scored all three of Italy’s second-half goals. Unfortunately, she watched as her penalty attempt was blocked — Italy’s second miss from the five-metre line.
In the other Group A match, Germany and Slovakia had a close tussle with Germany breaking the shackles late in the third period and then shooting to 12-7 before claiming the encounter 12-8. Jamie Haas was Germany’s leading scorer with five goals and Nela Mesterova netted four for Slovakia. Slovakia is being coached by 2004 Olympic champion Cinzia Ragusa of Italy.
Day 1 Match results:
Group A: Greece 12 Italy 6 (2-3, 1-4, 1-3, 2-2), Slovakia 8 Germany 12 (2-2, 3-3, 2-4, 1-3).
Group B: Netherlands 30 South Africa 4 (4-2, 9-0, 11-1, 7-1), France 5 Spain 15 (1-4, 2-5, 1-5, 1-1).
Group C: Serbia 9 Israel 14 (1-1, 2-4, 2-5, 4-4), Argentina 15 Peru 4 (1-1, 2-4, 2-5, 4-4).
Group D: Russia 19 Brazil 4 (5-0, 5-3, 5-1, 4-0), Hungary 22 Uzbekistan 1 (6-0, 3-0, 6-0, 7-1).
Progress points:
Group A: Greece 2, Germany 2, Slovakia, Italy 0.
Group B: Netherlands 2, Spain 2, France, South Africa 0.
Group C: Argentina 2, Israel 2, Serbia 0, Peru 0.
Group D: Hungary 2, Russia 2, Brazil 0, Uzbekistan 0.
Full results can be accessed at: fina.microplustiming.com/wpwomenwc2021 and all matches are streamed on the FINA Youtube channel.