USA—With Holland and Hungary In Its Wake—Rolls On in FINA Women’s Water Polo

Spain's Anna Espar Llaquet and USA's Kiley Neushul. Photo Credit: DeepBlueMedia

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If there was any suspense in Group B women’s water polo play at FINA Worlds, the United States ended it within eight minutes of its Tuesday morning match against rival Spain. That’s how long it took for the Americans to open up a 6-1 lead on their way to a more-convincing-than-the-final score-might-suggest 12-8 victory in the opening match of another day where favorites dominated.

Spain’s Beatriz Ortiz Munoz opened the scoring less than a minute into the match with a power play goal. Then the sky fell in on the Spaniards. Maddie Musselman hit on a weakside strike two minutes in, then connected again on the next possession to give Team USA a lead they would not relinquish. Rachel Fattal, Jamie Neushul, Kiley Neushul and Aria Fischer followed with first period scores to provide what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

With a match Thursday against New Zealand—an 8-6 winner over South Africa—there’s absolutely no doubt that the U.S. will clinch the top spot in Group B and a bye into the quarterfinals on Monday, July 24, as well as a tidy three-day rest. In fact, perhaps the only way to slow the Americans down is if they were to finish out the tournament under FINA’s recently-ratified rules for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—that is with a single goalie and a roster of 11. No matter their personnel, none of the other teams in contention want to face Team USA in the all-important quarterfinals.

As things stand now, that unenviable assignment will fall to the winner of a quarterfinal play-in match on Saturday between the second place team in Group D and the third team in Group C. The two best teams not sporting the stars and bars—Hungary and Holland—are in Group C and locked in a battle to avoid facing Team USA until as late as possible. The best way to achieve that is to finish on top of the group, and Tuesday both teams delivered convincing wins.

Behind four goals apiece from Dora Antal, Rita Keszthelyi—now with 8 goals in two games—and Barbara Bujka, the host Hungarians demolished the French 24-5, upping their point total to four and their goal differential a gaudy +28.

Holland is not far behind. In a 20-8 thrashing administered to Japan, Sabrina van der SLOOT notched six goals to lead all scorers for the day and increase her tournament-leading total to 9. The Dutch point total also stands at 4 and their goal differential is +27. No matter; the group will be decided on Thursday when Hungary and Holland meet in the afternoon’s—and the tournament’s thus far—featured match.

France vs. Japan on Thursday will determine Group C’s third place finisher; with an 8-5 win over Russia on the strength of Rowie Webster’s two goals and two steals, Australia is close to guaranteeing that it will not finish second in Group D. The Aussies, with four points, can clinch the group on Thursday against Greece, a 19-5 winner over Kazakhstan. The question is: will Russia—with a match Thursday against the hapless Kazakhstani—end up behind Greece. Both possess two points but the Russians own a first day victory over the Greeks.

After it’s loss, Spain will likely find its way to a win Thursday against South Africa—currently sporting a -24 goal differential in two games—and then see how Group A shakes out, as the second finisher in Group B is currently matched against Group A’s third place team in Saturday’s quarterfinal play-in round.

After another 18-4 win—this time over Brazil, Italy, with four points and a +28 goal differential, is clearly on track for the top spot in the group and a bye, while Canada and China will jockey for second place and a likely date Saturday with Group B’s New Zealand. The Canadians made a strong statement in that direction with a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Chinese, accomplished on a buzzer-beating goal by Christine Robinson after China’s Danyi Zhang had tied the score with eight seconds remaining.

Canada completes group play on Thursday with a match against Brazil while China will face an Italian squad that may rest some of its top players, leaving the second and third place finishers in Group A very much in doubt.

What’s not in doubt is that the Americans remain the team to beat, with a clear path through the quarterfinals.

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Kirsten Silvester Namesnik

6 years ago

Holland = the Netherlands ???

Author

Michael Randazzo

6 years ago

Reply to Kirsten Silvester Namesnik

Hi Kirsten: Thanks for your comment. You know, I like having MANY options for naming things but agree that consistency counts. So I changed to Holland through out.

Are you following the matches? Does it strike you as surprising that the Dutch / Hungarians are so close in the same group? I think it’s fantastic that they will meet tomorrow; luckily neither is in line to face the U.S. in the quarters as—IMO—it’s important that both teams have a real shot at a medal.

I’ll look for your comments tomorrow after I post the update for the final day of women’s group play.

Your correspondent

Brownish

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Randazzo

Nobody wants to play with US before the final.

Author

Michael Randazzo

6 years ago

Reply to Brownish

Agreed. Though if you’re a fan of the Magyar, you have to believe the phenomenal support for the Hungarian men’s / women’s team will be a factor. Of course, the Hungarian women’ need to get past the Dutch first!

Your correspondent

Brownish

6 years ago

The reply boy is sometimes missing as it is now, too.
As a Hungarian I’m fan of the Magyars, of course. Yesterday there were 7200 spectators/fans on the boy’s match against Italy. So the support will be there today, too.
Otherwise I’m really happy that you -as an author of an article- is folllowing her/his “child”. Not so much of, you by the way.
Congrats

Author

Michael Randazzo

6 years ago

Reply to Brownish

Well, how could I cover international water polo and NOT follow the Hungarians?! BTW, an interview w/your most famous (and successful) coach – Denes Kemeny – will go live soon (I was interrupted by the U.S. men’s shocking result against Japan).

The scene in Budapest looks brilliant! I will be there next week to experience real international polo for myself.

With thanks,

Your correspondent

Brownish

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Randazzo

That was really shocking. Enjoy your stay in Budapest, I wish you the best.

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Michael Randazzo

6 years ago

Reply to Brownish

Well, I suppose the America players (and coaches) are far more surprised about the outcome than I’ll ever be!

Many thanks for the good wishes – and I’ll have a coffee-colored straw hat on so please say hello if you happen to see me.

Your correspondent

Brownish

6 years ago

Boy-box…

Brownish

6 years ago

I’m from Debrecen, I won’t be in Budapest next week. We had much more possibilities when I had spent some weeks in Richmond, Queens, very close to Flushing MShSt, in Main str. Next time.

Author

Michael Randazzo

6 years ago

Reply to Brownish

Ah, you’ve been to my city so it’s only fitting that I come (near to yours)! I’m an American baseball fan so I know Flushing quite well.

Thanks for the comments and congratulations to your team in topping the Dutch!

Your correspondent