Head Coach Mauro Maugeri, back on the bench after serving a one-match suspension on Sunday, was looking for excellence in his team and for everyone to get a feel for the ball in the back of the net.

While it wasn’t a record for scoring that the Dutch wanted, another one did come their way — the 19th different opponent for the Dutch at FINA World Championships, more than any other country.

The quarter statistics speak for themselves. It was a game that had to be played and hopefully Uzbekistan will have gone away knowing it had taken on an elite side at the elite level.

For the record, Lieka Klaassen top-scored with six goals to go with the three she netted on Sunday.

Match 15: 20:10, Group A, UZBEKISTAN 3 NETHERLANDS 30

Quarters: 1-7, 0-9, 1-6, 1-8
Referees: Kazuhiko Makita (JPN), German Moller (ARG).
Extra Man: UZB: 0/2. NED: 3/5.
Pens: UZB: 1/1. NED: 1/1.

Teams:
UZBEKISTAN:
Elena Dukhanova, Diana Dadabaeva, Aleksandra Sarancha (1), Angelina
Djumalieva (1), Evgeniya Ivanova, Ekaterina Morozova, Natalya Plyusova
(1), Anna Shcheglova, Ramilya Khalikova, Adelina Zinurova, Guzelya
Khamitova, Anna Plyusova, Natalya Shlyonskaya. Head Coach:
NETHERLANDS:
Ilse van der Meijden, Yasemin Smit (2), Marloes Nijhuis (1), Biurakin
Hakverdian (2), Sabrina van der Sloot (3), Nomi Stomphorst (1), Iefke
van Belkum (2), Vivian Sevenich (3), Carolina Slagter (4), Dagmar Genee
(3), Lieke Klaassen (6), Leonie van der Molen (3), Anne Heinis. Head
Coach: Mauro Maugeri.

FLASH QUOTES:

Biurakn Hakhverdian (NED):
“Our next game is against Russia; they are always on the top, they fight for the medals. They have good shooters. So we have to be focused on the match, like we were today. I think it is going to be an exciting game. ”

Lieke Klaassen (NED):
“That match was interesting. We did find ourselves. We have an important match against Russia and we think that we can win. Russia is a good team. We played in the past against them and sometimes we won and others we didn´t. So it will be equal.”

Elena Dukhanova (UZB):
“I see Russia as the strongest team in the championship, and also I see Hungary to be very strong on passing. Australia also has very important players as the centre forwards played a great game against New Zealand.”