Second Round Women’s Water Polo: Russia and Australia Clean House

BARCELONA, Spain, July 19. THE second round of women's water polo is underway. Following are the summaries of the games completed so far.

AUSTRALIA 12 JAPAN 1
Quarters: 3-1, 4-0, 2-0, 3-0

Olympic champion Australia collected the win it required to set up a rematch of Sydney 2000 with the United States of America in the quarter-finals.

Australia began well through captain Naomi Castle but Aya Kakoshi leveled at 4:49 on extra. Kate Gynther and Nikita Cuffe both scored off rebounds for 3-1 at the break.

A 4-0 second quarter had Australia in command with two coming on counter and another from center forward Jodie Stuhmcke. Castle scored a penalty at the start of the third quarter but Japan denied the Aussies for nearly six minutes, thwarting every attack. Then Melissa Byram scored on counter from a cross pass for 9-1. Stuhmcke scored again from two meters, Cuffe gained a second on counter and Melissa Rippon finished the scoring at 12-1 from deep right-hand catch.

GREAT BRITAIN 5 VENEZUELA 6
Quarters: 1-0, 1-2, 2-2, 1-2

Venezuela took a big leap forward with its first win of the tournament, over Great Britain, ensuring it will play off for 13th place in two days' time.

Frances Leighton opened the scoring for Great Britain with an excellent turn at center forward for the only score of the period. Almedia Aldana scored twice from the top for Venezuela, including one from 10m to go 2-1 up. Siobhan Winter replied at 1:56 from right-hand catch.

The third period couldn't separate the teams with both scoring twice, Yesvia Alvarado scoring from in front three seconds from time. Rocio Galue scored on right-hand catch for 5-4 to Venezuela but Kate Lewis replied from eight meters at 4:17. Stephany Rivero scored from the top at 3:01 and despite several extra-man chances, Great Britain couldn't bridge the gap.

FRANCE 4 KAZAKHSTAN 9
Quarters: 1-3, 0-2, 2-3, 1-1

Kazakhstan did what it had to get to the 13th-14th play-off by winning this game. France put up more resistance than in previous games, showing the value of top-class internationals.

Kazakhstan led 3-1 at the quarter with the first coming in 19 seconds from a penalty. This became 5-1 at halftime with Kazakhstan looking to pull away.

However, Jenny Ritz pulled one back fro France. Svetlana Koroleva scored her second as Kazakhstan went to 7-2. Myriam Argaud threw a hopeful long shot at the end of possession and was surprised as the ball lobbed over Galina Rytova's head. Marina Gritsenko scored her second off a cross pass to finish the period 8-3 up.

Laure Gauthreau scored her second, a penalty goal, early in the fourth and then the game slowed as both teams defended solidly. Gritsenko scored her third on penalty 14 seconds from time for 9-4.

BRAZIL 2 RUSSIA 12
Quarters: 0-4, 1-2, 1-3, 0-3

Russia eased into the quarter-finals, as expected, holding off Brazil and earning a clash with World Cup champion Hungary in the quarter-finals.

Russia started strongly with a 4-0 first quarter with shooting sensation Olga Turova, who scored seven goals two days earlier, grabbing the first two from center forward. The second period was much harder for Russia as Brazil stepped up its defense and even gaining a goal at the other end. It came from a set play after a timeout, Camila Pedrosa converting.

Turova scored her third with Sofia Konoukh and Ekaterina Salimova taking the score out to 9-1. Pedrosa took a cross pass on the post and converted late in the period. Konoukh with a lob, Svetlana Bogdanova on extra and Elena Smurova on right-hand catch completed the scoring.

(Courtesy: Fina)

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