Two upsets in the quarters as both third placed team from the prelims managed to beat the higher ranked sides: Hungary ousted 2012 bronze medallist Australia in a real thriller, ending in a shootout (Australia misses the SF for the first time since women’s water polo made its debut in 2000). Russia eliminated London runner-up Spain and will return to the top flight after 2000. Title-holder USA, just as in all four previous editions, cruised to the semis with ease. Italy returns to the medal round after eight years with a fine win over China.
Game 1, 14.10 – Quarterfinals: Brazil v United States 3-13 (0-5, 0-3, 0-5, 3-0)
Referees: Diana Dulith-Dumas (NED), Tadao Tahara (JPN)
BRAZIL: Tess Oliveira, Diana Abla, Marina Zablith, Marina Canetti, Lucianne Barroncas, Izabella Chiappini 1, Amanda Oliveira, Luiza Carvalho, Camila Pedrosa, Viviane Bahia, Mariane Duarte 1, Gabriela Mantellato 1, Victoria Chamorro. Head coach: Patrick Oaten
USA: Ashleigh Johnson, Madeline Musselman 1, Melissa Seidemann 1, Rachel Fattal, KK Clark 1, Maggie Steffens 2, Courtney Matthewson 1, Kiley Neushul 2, Aria Fischer, Kaleigh Gilchrist 2, Makenzie Fischer 2, Kami Craig 1, Sami Hill (GK). Head coach: Adam Krikorian
BRA vs USA
Extramen
Brazil: 0 for 3
USA: 3 for 6
Penalties
Brazil: none
USA: 1 for 1
It was a one-sided contest, the world champions did a professional job, and won the game in the way a favourite has to do: not letting the opponent enter the game, no easy goals for them to smell blood, execute the game plan perfectly so energy can be spared towards the end, something really useful in a demanding tournament.
The US girls took a commanding 0-5 lead in the first, didn’t slow down that much in the second and kept up dominating in the third – both in offense and in defence they were overwhelming. After three periods they led 0-13, the hosts had to wait for 26:11 minutes to score – then they could add two more to have a nicer score-line.
Adam Krikorian, head coach, USA
“No one likes to talk about defence, it's not sexy. I thought our defence was great in the first three quarters but I'm not happy with how we played the fourth. I thought we relaxed. It was a little disappointing as we've got to play a better defence. We got a little lazy and we know in the next two games we've got to be sharp for a full four quarters otherwise we're not going to get the job done. We know there are bigger tests ahead.”
“I can't say enough about these Brazilian fans, they were awesome and some of the best I've ever seen. To continue supporting their team when they are down 13-0, just how loud it was, it was just incredible. I didn't like to see their three goals scored at the end but I did enjoy listening to the enthusiasm from the crowd.”
Game 2, 15.30 – Quarterfinals: Australia v Hungary 8-8 (3-1, 2-2, 2-3, 1-2), pen: 3-5
Referees: Xevi Buch (ESP), Vojin Putnikovic (SRB)
AUSTRALIA: Kelsey Wakefield, Gemma Beadsworth, Hannah Buckling, Holly Lincoln-Smith, Keesja Gofers, Bronwen Knox 1, Rowie Webster 2, Glencora McGhie 2, Zoe Arancini, Ash Southern 3, Isobel Bishop, Nicola Zagame, Lea Yanitsas (GK). Head coach: Greg McFadden
HUNGARY: Edinga Gangl, Dora Czigany 1, Dora Antal 1, Hanna Kisteleki, Gabriella Szucs, Orsolya Takacs 1, Anna Illes, Rita Keszthelyi 2, Ildiko Toth 1, Barbara Bujka 2, Dora Csabai, Krisztina Garda, Orsolya Kaso (GK). Head coach: Attila Biro
Extramen:
Australia: 1 for 5
Hungary: 2 for 10
Penalties
Australia: 1 for 1
Hungary: none
2008, Beijing, bronze medal match, Australia beats Hungary in the penalty shootout. 2012, London, bronze medal match, Australia beats Hungary in extra-time.
2016, Rio, quarterfinal... And the Magyars were third time lucky this afternoon: they never led in the match but at the end they could celebrate a shootout win over their nemesis.
It was one of the most spectacular comebacks in women’s water polo at the Games, as the Aussies seemed to keep the process under firm control right from the beginning. They took a real flying start, late in the first they were 3-0 up while the Hungarians missed two extras – only a penalty 42 seconds from time put the Magyars on the scoreboard. Still, Ashley Southern added two more in the second, a man-up goal and a big one from the distance for 5-1. Since Hungary had a rather poor head-to-head against Australia in recent years, perhaps the players from Down Under had a thought in the back of their minds that this is going to be another game where they could be victorious. If they had, they surely erased it by half-time as the Magyars netted two in 45 seconds, a man-up by Dora Czigany, then a fine one from the centre by Ildiko Toth with 0:01sec on the clock (3-5).
In the meantime, the substitute goalie, Orsolya Kaso came in and began with two saves to give some backing for her team. The trend didn’t change in the third, Orsolya Takacs’s big bang brought the Magyars really close (4-5). Southern hit her third goal soon but Barbara Bujka pulled the ball in from a 6 on 5 and after another save and a steal from Kaso, the Hungarians could go for the equaliser which they got after a great drive of Rita Keszthelyi. The European champions even had a possession to take the lead but this time they couldn’t do any harm, unlike Glencora McGhie whose great shot hit the back of the net with 50 seconds remaining from the third.
The woodwork got into the limelight for a while early in the fourth, three shots hit the post in succession then the fourth one, sent by Bronwen Knox, bounced in, so the Aussies were 8-6 up again. But their momentum faded as 17 second later Bujka’s great left-handed shot from the centre made its way to the net. The goalies posted saves at both ends, then Hungary earned a 6 on 5 and even if they couldn’t finish it within 20 seconds, in the 25th Dora Antal managed to score, with 2:59 to go it was even again (8-8). Hungary had one more man-up after a time-out but Keszthelyi hit the post, Knox was close but her shot from the centre was brilliantly caught by Kaso and the last Hungarian attack ceased because of a bad pass.
So it was time for the first penalty shootout at these Games. Though nerves usually take over and we’ve seen more and more misses in the recent shootouts, this time only one occurred which decided the outcome. Knox’s ball came back from the post, otherwise everyone made her respective shot, the Magyars converted all five and reached the semis on the third consecutive occasion. After finishing fourth both in Beijing and London, they surely want more – and this time the Aussies won’t be in their way.
Ildiko Toth, player, Hungary
“We got our defence together for the second half of the match when we changed our goalkeeper, we had left Edina (Gangl) alone for too much of the match so we needed to be stronger without the ball and swap things around. This move confused Australia because they weren't prepared for this and when the match went to penalties, we always thought we were going to win with Orsolya (Kaso) in goal, I was sure. We knew she was going to make the saves and this victory gives us a great spirit going into the semifinals.”
“We can celebrate now but we have to regroup and come back stronger in our next match to beat the USA. Right now, we're just happy to be playing for the medals.”
Rowie Webster, player, Australia:
“We got off to a really good start and we did everything right. It was text book but they just kept fighting and I think good teams do that. Good teams come back from being under pressure and it comes down to a few millimetres here and there. They took a few opportunities they had and they got back into the game. As soon as it goes to penalties anyone can win it. Unfortunately we hit some woodwork and we are now out of the medals.”
“There is still pride on the line for everyone. Everyone has still trained for four years for this opportunity and we've got another two games to have that. You've got to finish your Olympic campaign on a win, so now we are going to come out and do that and finish off strong. I'm proud of the girls and how hard they worked.”
Attila Biro, head coach, Hungary
“We had a special mental strength which prevented us from letting the game go, even we were 1-5 and 6-8 down. We could get up twice, of course, the goalie substitution was a key decision and we became more focused in attack, scored from action and from 6 on 5s as well and it was enough to save the match to a tie. In a women’s match you can’t be sure in the outcome until the very end so I was relieved only after the last penalty was converted. Our basic goal was to play for the medals and we’ve reached that which gives an enormous boost for our team.”
Game 3, 19.30 – Quarterfinals: Russia v Spain 12-10 (2-3, 3-2, 5-3, 2-2)
Referees: Marie-Claude Deslieres (CAN), Nenad Peris (CRO)
RUSSIA: Anna Karnaukh, Nadezhda Glyzina 4, Ekaterina Prokofyeva 2, Elvina Karimova 1, Maria Borisova, Olga Gorbunova, Ekaterina Lisunova, Anastasia Simanovich 2, Anna Timofeeva 1, Evgeniia Soboleva, Evgeniya Ivanova 1, Anna Grineva 1, Anna Listyukhina (GK). Head coach: Aleksandr Gaidukov
SPAIN: Laura Ester, Marta Bach, Anna Espar 1, Beatriz Ortiz, Matilde Ortiz 1, Paula Leiton 2, Clara Espar, Pilar Pena, Judith Forca, Roser Tarrago 3, Maica Garcia, Laura Lopez 3, Patricia Herrera (GK). Head coach: Miguel Oca
Extramen
Russia: 1 for 7
Spain: 3 for 10
Penalties
Russia: 1 for 1
Spain: 1 for 2
If you recall how the Russians qualified this spring in Gouda, the story tends to turn into something of a fairy-tale. Back in April they were on the brink of elimination while playing with Greece in the decisive quarters, they conceded a goal with 19.3 seconds to go but managed to equalise 4.4 seconds from time and went on winning the shootout. They were almost out – and now they will play in the Olympic semifinal for the first time since 2000 after beating Spain in a wonderful match which offered fantastic entertainment for the water polo fans and loads of nerve-wrecking moments for the participating teams’ supporters...
Spain had much better years behind, with a world title from 2013, a European gold from 2014 while Russia hit an all-time low at home in Kazan, finishing 8th last year (though Spain had a worse spell as well, coming 7th last year). The first half mirrored that, Spain started strong, led 1-3 midway in the first period, but soon the Russians geared up, a couple of fine saves from Anna Karnaukh gave them some confidence, they levelled the score at 3-3 and after a missed Spanish penalty they went 5-4 up with a couple of great action goals. Still in the second the Spaniards hit back, Roser Tarrago was on target with a long range shot for 5-5, 10 seconds from time.
The third turned into a real thriller, or rather a showdown reminiscent of the Wild West. It was just shooting all the way, Spain took the lead twice, but at 7-7 Karnaukh stopped Laura Lopez’s shot from a 6 on 5 and Nadezhda Glyzina scored from the ensuing counter. The next extra was converted, just as at the other end, by Anastasia Simanovich, and 28 seconds the Russian lethal weapon stroke again, the fast counter was finished by Ekaterina Prokofyeva. Spain was in trouble as suddenly they found themselves 10-8 down before the last period.
A long battle began, Spain tried to narrow the gap but they were unable to score, missed their shots in succession (including one from an extra). Only 2:31 were remaining when Roser Tarrago managed to halve the deficit from a 6 on 5, but there came the key moment, an immediate reply from Ekaterina Karimova, a great action goal for 9-11. And after a missed shot by Spain it was all over: Ekaterina Prokofyeva’s blast from 7m also made its way to the net, in a span of 59 seconds Russia took a three-goal lead for the first time in the game (9-12). Laura Lopez’s hit from a 6 on 5 arrived way too late as only 56 seconds were left – and once those seconds ran down the clock, the joyful celebrations could begin on the Russian bench.
Ekaterina Prokofyeva, player, Russia
"It wasn't a lucky victory, we prepared hard for this and put all our emotions into this game. Of course the Spanish girls are crying, they are not in the semifinals. If we had lost, I would be crying.
"Maybe they underestimated us because we haven't played so well yet at this tournament. We are not weaker than anyone but we just haven't shown what we are capable of until now. We figured out Spain's weak points and managed to exploit these areas. When we went two goals ahead, that's when we knew we had a chance of winning and there was no way we were going to allow them back into the game.""We need to put our emotions aside as we still have a great deal to do to reach the final. That is our goal. This team wants to compete for the Olympic gold for the first time.
"Today this was emotional for our younger players, many of whom are playing at their first Olympics, so we were never sure about how they would handle the pressure but they stuck together and did it. This team is like a family, we support each other and we fight for Russia and for ourselves."
Roser Tarrago, player, Spain
"The way we lost today is the worst way you can lose. It was stupid, we lost it because they scored goals from the centre and counter attacks. We just cannot make these kind of mistakes.
"We started well and we were playing well but in the third quarter we cannot defend like we did and expect to win. This just can't happen when you play against the best teams in the world at an Olympic Games."
Game 4, 20.50 – Quarterfinals: Italy v China 12-7 (1-1, 3-1, 4-2, 4-3)
Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Adrian Alexandrescu (ROU)
ITALY: Giulia Gorlero, Chiara Tabani, Arianna Garibotti 2, Elisa Queirolo, Federica Radicchi 1, Rosaria Aiello 1, Tania di Mario 2, Roberta Bianconi 3, Giulia Emmolo 2, Francesca Pomeri, Aleksandra Pomeri, Aleksandra Cotti, Teresa Frassinetti 1, Laura Teani (GK). Head coach: Fabio Conti
CHINA: Yang Jun, Ma Huanhuan 2, Mei Xiaohan, Siong Dunham, Niu Guannan, Sun Yating, Song Donglun, Zhang Cong 3, Zhao Zihan 2, Zhang Weiwei, Wang Xinyan, Zhang Jing, Peng Lin (GK). Head coach: Rick Azevedo
Extramen
Italy: 2 for 7
China: 0 for 2
Penalties
Italy: 1 for 1
China: none
For a while it was an even game, it stood 1-1 after eight minutes but deep into the second the Italians netted two in 1:29min and from that point their confidence grew a lot. Soon they added one more from action, when Gulia Emmolo scored from the distance for 4-1. China pulled one back before the middle break and a great goal from Zhang Cong from the first attack in the third pushed them closer at 4-3. But in 50 seconds it was 6-3, thanks to connecting goals from Roberta Bianconi and Federica Radicchi and this seemed to break the Chinese a bit.
They worked hard but all the time it was felt that Italy was the superior side here. And the same scenario happened soon, a double reply to a Chinese goal, this time in 43 seconds for 4-8, and that put an end to the story. The fourth quarter produced seven goals for the delight of the crowd but Italy’s comfort while sitting in the driving seat was never disturbed. With this convincing performance, the Setterosa has returned to the semis after 2004 – in fact that was the only time when Italy reached the top four but remember, once they were there, they clinched the title.
Fabio Conti, head coach, Italy
“It was a tough game, China played really well. My team also gave a great performance, they responded well to the new pool, they didn’t lose in the arena, played focused, according to the game plan. I’m really satisfied with that, for most of the time they were in the right position, in the right time.”
Rick Azevedo, head coach, China
“We began the game well, according to our plans but after a while our shots lost their quality. Maybe our players were scared, playing against Italy, playing a new pool, I don’t know. While the Italians made their shots, targeting the top corners, our shots were targeting the stomach of the goalkeeper. We created fine opportunities but our finishes didn’t go well, which is a pity, as it wasn’t a game with 4-5 goals difference.”
Semi-finals
United States v Hungary
Italy v Russia
For places 5-8th
Brazil v Australia
China v Spain