Semifinal Round Underway In Women’s Water Polo

BARCELONA, Spain, July 23. THE World Championships water polo tournament is wrapping up with the semifinal round of the women's matches today and the final round on Friday. Below are the summaries of the games played so far today.

JAPAN 4, BRAZIL 3
Play-off for 11th & 12th

Japan 0-0-2-2—4
Brazil 1-1-1-0—3

Brazil let the play-off for 11th slip from its grasp after leading 2-0 at halftime and 3-2 at the three-quarter mark.

The first half was very tight with excellent goalkeeping from Akiko Inagaki (JPN) and Claudia Graner (BRA). The intensity shown by both teams was equal to the semifinals to be played later in the evening. Mariana Roriz scored the only goal of the first quarter. Flavia Fernandes scored from well out the top for 2-0 late in the second. Brazil took a timeout but couldn't convert the extra.

Then the third period opened up with Mika Yagahi and Mayu Mimaki each scoring to tie the game at 2. Camila Pedrosa scored off a cross pass on extra.

Japan made the most of the last period, with Akane Yamazaki scoring from eight meters, outside the post at 5:15 for 3-3. Then Yamazaki scored the game winning goal when she drove down the right for 20m and scored at 2:39.

GREECE 10, GERMANY 5
Play-off for 9th & 10th

Greece 4-1-2-3—10
Germanay 0-2-2-1—-5

Greece finished its campaign in style with a comfortable win over Germany. The Greeks scored four unanswered goals in the first quarter but lost the second 2-1 as the Germans settled in. Stavroula Kozomboli scored twice in the first as three of Greece's first-half goals came from extra. Monika Kruszona started the second for Germany and Katrin Dierolf scored her sixth goal of the championship with a direct shot from 10m.

Ekaterini Oikonomopoulou and Antigoni Roumpesi scored their second goals of the match as the third was tied 2-all. Lina Rohe blasted both Germany's goals with the second from eight meters. Greek skipper Eve Moraitidou scored on extra, Roumpesi netted her third of the match and 14th of the championship and Stavroula Antonakou lobbed for the 10th goal.

HUNGARY 6, AUSTRALIA 3
Classification 5th to 8th

Hungary 0-3-1-2—6
Australia 2-0-0-1—3

World Cup champion Hungary came from two down to defeat Olympic champion Australia with more accurate shooting and strong defense. Australia had the shots but many failed to get through to the keeper or were shot high and wide.

Kate Gynther scored to get Australia ahead on the scoreboard first and center forward Jodie Stuhmcke scored her 10th of the championship on a cross pass after a rebound to make it 2-0. Agnes Primasz, the outstanding player for Hungary, scored twice on extra to tie the game. Australia took a timeout but no score, and then Agnes Valkay converted a counter-attack goal for 3-2 at halftime.

Both sides took a minute break in the third but couldn't score. However, Kristina Szremko back-handed in a goal off the left-hand post for 4-2 late in the third. Jo Fox scored on extra and Primasz fired in goal No 14 on extra in the last thirty seconds.

Statistics will show Australia had a multitude of shots, which could not penetrate Hungary's stiff defense. Australia is now assigned to play off for its worst finish at a World Championship since winning the first in 1986 in Madrid.

NETHERLANDS 7, SPAIN 3
Classification 5th to 8th

Netherlands 2-2-1-2—7
Spain 1-1-1-0—3

The Netherlands returned to the leading group of nations after an embarrassing finish at the previous World Championships, blocking it from playing last year's World Cup.

The Netherlands appeared in control at 2-0 late in the first despite Jorieke Oostendorp having her penalty attempt get all but over the line. Jennifer Pareja received a cross pass to score for Spain at 0:27. Anna Pardo levelled from the top and had hopes running high for the host nation. Oostendorp was given another chance with the penalty and scored with Simone Koot following up on extra for 4-2 at halftime.

Danielle de Bruin scored one for the Dutch and Spain’s Pareja, scoring her second, took the game to 5-3 at the final break.

Dutch coach Peter Paul Metz took a timeout and de Bruin scored her second just after the exclusion time had expired. Koot lobbed her second goal at 2:59. Despite a time out by Spain, it could not catch up and must now play Australia for seventh.

(Courtesy: Fina)

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