Gwangju, South Korea.— Defending champion United States of America crushed Greece 15-5 to gain the first semifinal berth on the fifth day of the FINA World Championship women's water polo tournament at the Nambu University Grounds in Gwangju.

Australia blocked Russia at every turn to shoot into the semfiinals with a 9-7 victory after 4-4 at halftime in which Russia was never allowed to compete. Australia's success earns a shot at reigning champion USA.

Spain came out of the blocks faster than a 50m freestyle sprinter, shooting to 6-0 in the opening quarter — the fulcrum on which it steered the ship to 12-8 by full time.

The final qualifier was Hungary who dispensed with group winner Italy 7-6 after leading all the way and fending off a determined but mistake-ridden Italy. Hungary now plays Spain for the right to go to the gold-medal final. 

In the 9-12 classification semifinals, Canada won a 14-shot, sudden-death penalty shootout win over China 17-16 after the match was tied 10-10 at full time. The second match finished with the same score, Kazakhstan coming back from two, forcing another shootout. Kazakhstan was perfect with four shots and New Zealand missed twice for the 14-12 Kazakhstan victory.

In lower classification matches, Japan defeated South Africa 21-2 for 13th position and Cuba left with 15th place after shutting out Korea 30-0.

Monday Women’s Schedule:

Classification 15-16
Match 31, 08:00, KOREA 0 CUBA 30

Classification 13-14
Match 32, 9.30, SOUTH AFRICA 2  JAPAN 21

Classification 9-12 Semifinals
Match 33, 11:00, CANADA 17 CHINA 16 in sudden-death penalty shootout (FT: 10-10. Pens 7-6)
Match 34, 12:30, NEW ZEALAND 12 KAZAKHSTAN 14 in penalty shootout (FT: 10-10. Pens 2-4)

Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 35, 14:00, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15 GREECE 5
Match 36, 15:30, RUSSIA 7 AUSTRALIA 9
Match 37, 17:00, SPAIN 12 NETHERLANDS 8
Match 38, 18:30, ITALY 6 HUNGARY 7

Tuesday Men’s Schedule

Classification 15-16
Match 31, 08:00, KOREA v NEW ZEALAND

Classification 13-14
Match 32, 09.30, BRAZIL v KAZAKHSTAN

Classification 9-12 Semifinals
Match 33, 11:00, MONTENEGRO v JAPAN
Match 34, 12:30, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v SOUTH AFRICA

Classification 1-8 Quarterfinals
Match 35, 14:00, SERBIA v SPAIN
Match 36, 15:30, CROATIA v GERMANY
Match 37, 17:00, HUNGARY v AUSTRALIA
Match 38, 18:30, ITALY v GREECE

Wednesday Women’s Schedule

Classification 11-12
Match 39, 09.30, CHINA v NEW ZEALAND

Classification 9-10
Match 40, 11:00, CANADA v KAZAKHSTAN

Classification 5-8 Semifinals
Match 41, 14:00, GREECEv RUSSIA
Match 42, 15:30, NETHERLANDS v ITALY

Classification 1-4 Semifinals
Match 43, 17:00, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v AUSTRALIA
Match 44, 18:30, SPAIN v HUNGARY