Women's Youth World Championships, Belgrade, Day 7

Quarters:  2:2, 2:4, 1:2, 1:2
Referees: Mr Hinds, Mrs Daskalopoulou

RUSSIA
Diana Khamraeva (0/1, 4/14, 28,6%), Anastasia Panfilova (0/7), Regina Galimzianova (3/5), Margarita Pystina (0/4), Elizabeta Ivanova (0/1), Polina Popova (1/5), Yulia Lapteva (0/4), Daria Chagochkina (0/1), Nadhezda Lipskaia, Anastasia Shiriaeva (2/3), Alena Topychkanova (0/2), Anna Kochetova (0/1), Polina Zabalueva. Coach: Sergey Markoch

USA
Thea Walsh (14/20, 70%), Chloe Harbitas (2/3), Valeria Ayala (3/7), Abrielle Hill (3/7), Skyler Jones, Bayley Weber (1/2), Jewel Roemer, Carson Broad, Honnie Vandeweghe - O'Shea (0/1), Hannah Constandse (1/1), Sophie Wallace (0/1), Ava Johnson, Georgia Phillips. Coach: Ethan Damato
 
Shots:
RUS: 6 - 34
USA: 10 - 22

Extrawomen:
RUS: 1 - 5
USA: 3 - 12

Penalties:
RUS: 0 - 1
USA: 2 - 3
MVP: Abrielle Hill

A deserved triumph for the US team. Thea Walsh was excellent in front of the North American goal, as well as Valeria Ayala and Abrielle Hill in front of the Russian goal. The match was balanced in the first 11-12 minutes (4:4), but then USA scored four goals in a row and the seventh place was secured.

Quarters:  2:2, 3:1, 1:5, 2:3
Referees: Mrs Goncharenko, Mrs Drury

HUNGARY
Alda Anon Magyari (8/19, 42,1%), Kinga Peresletgi Nagy (1/2), Zita King Armai (0/2), Lucca Petovari (1/3), Morika Pap (1/3), Janka Kata Utassy (0/5) , Fanny Muzsnay (0/2), Vanda Hugzti (1/1), Panna Kudella (1/2) , Berta Farago (0/3), Natasa Rybanska (1/3), Dalma Domsodi, Barbara Papadi. Coach: Tamas Farago.

NETHERLANDS
Sarah Buis (9/17, 52,9%), Lieke Rogge (0/5), Rozanne Voorvelt (3/8), Marit van der Weijden (1/1), Jasmin Entezar, Simone van der Kraats (2/4), Nina ten Broek (4/6), Maxine Schaap (0/1), Cznthia Mulder (0/1), Isis Keijzer (0/1), Lot Stertefeld (0/1), Yara Galje (1/1), Sanne Keilver. Coach: Schothans Gerrit-Jan.

Shots:
HUN: 8 - 19
NED: 11 - 29

Extrawomen:
HUN: 2- 7
NED: 3 - 6

Penalties:
HUN: 1 - 1
NED: 1 - 1
MVP: Nina ten Broek

Hungarians were far better in the first two quarters. From the third period on, a completely different match unfolded. Netherlands scored five goals, so after a 3:5, the result evolved into a 8:5 for the Dutch team in few minutes. Their excellent attack proved efficient and the absence of mistakes was decisive for getting the fifth place.

Quarters:  1:1, 2:1, 3:0, 1:1
Referees: Mr Golikov, Mr Bianco

GREECE
Emmanouela Archontaki (7/10, 70%) , Fountotou Eleftheria, Ninou Panagiota (0/1), Anastasia Loudt (1/2), Eleni Kanetidou (0/4), Dimitra Athina Giannopoulou, Ninou Eirin (0/3), Maria Myriokefalitaki (5/5), Effrosyni Katsimpri (0/2), Vasiliki Douli (1/3), Anna Ioulia Kontoni (0/3), Margarita Bitsakou, Angeliki Giannakea. Coach: Dimou Konstantinos

AUSTRALIA
Lily Hawton (14-21, 66,7%), Jarnie Oberman (1/3), Nioka Thomas (0/1) , Ruby Swadling , Sophie Milliken (0/1), Abby Andrews (1/5), Carla Traplin (0/4), Hayley Ballesty (0/2) , Kasey Dalziel (0/3), Maisie Newell (0/1) , Matlinda Kearns (0/6), Charlize Andrews (1/2), Allysa West . Coach: Dusan Damjanovic
 
Shots:
GRE: 7 - 23
AUS: 3 - 28

Extrawomen:
GRE: 2 - 9
AUS: 3 - 14

Penalties:
GRE: 3 - 3
AUS: -
MVP of the bronze medal match: Emmanouela Archontaki (Greece)

On the same day the Greek male water polo team (U-19), in Belarus, won gold medal at the European Championships, the Greek women's junior team won the world bronze. A completely deserved victory in the match against Australia, in which the defence was decisive for the final outcome. The Greek goalkeeper Emmanouela Archontaki was fantastic one more time. The first quarter was quite balanced, but the Greek team had some problems with man-up situation (0-4). The only goals in that period of game were scored by Greece on penalty and by man-up for Australia. Defence still dominated in the second quarter with a minimal lead of Greece at the end of second period (3:2). The decision concerning the winner came in the third quarter when Greece scored three goals and took a 6:2 lead before the last eight minutes, which proved crucial.

Dimou Konstantinos, National Head Coach of Greece:
“We were better and deservedly won. Every honour to the girls, they did their best. When we secured the advantage at the end of the third quarter, it was clear that we were getting it. I am very happy both with my girls and all the technical staff”.

Quarters:  1:2, 3:2, 2:1, 2:2
Referees: Mrs Kunikova, Mr Aimbetov

SPAIN
Sandra Domene (9/16, 56,3%), Andrea Arias, Clara Diaz (1/3), Mireia Guiral (1/2), Silvia Morell (0/1),  Elena Camarena, Gisella Farre (0/1), Ariadna Ruiz (0/1), Olga Descalzi (0/1), Paula Camus, Ruth Arino (2/5), Alejandra Aznar (4/8), Paula Nieto. Coach: Javier Aznar

ITALY
Caterina Banchelli (5/13, 38,5%), Sofia Guistini (0/4), Carlotta Meggiato (0/2), Giorgi Grazia Armedeo, Sara Cordovani, Lucrezia Cergol (2/3), Chiara Tori (0/3), Francesca Colleta (1/3), Dafne Bettini(1/5), Beatrice Clementi (0/3) , Isabella Riccioli (3/8), Roberta Santapaola (0/1), Teresa Mairmone. Coach: Paolo Ziza

Shots:
ESP: 8 - 22
ITA: 7 - 32

Extrawomen:
ESP: 2 - 6
ITA: 0 - 3

Penalties:
ESP:  1 - 1
ITA: 1 - 1
MVP of the golden medal match. Alejandra Aznar (Spain)

Spain is the new world champion! Wonderful final match and exciting time concerning the decision of the world crown. The match displayed quality, tension and toughness from the first to the last minute. Favourite team of Spain was never scared by Italy. In the first quarter, the Italians were even better, presenting a more efficient game. The initial goal was scored by penalty shot, while Aznar immediately equalised for Spain. Riccioli, at 1.16 minutes to go before the end of the first period gave Italy a tangential advantage (2:1).

Spain was much better in the second period of game when Diaz, Arino and Aznar turned the result into a 4:2 lead for Spain. Italy responded with two goals of excellent Riccioli, so the result after first 16 minutes was balanced - 4:4.

The first action in the third quarter belonged to Italian team and was concluded by a fantastic goal of Dafne Bettini (5:4 for Italy), but on the other side, a beautiful move by Ruth Arino, who scored at 3.25 to go, equalised at 5:5. The best player of the final match, and also MVP of the tournament, Alejandra Aznar scored from penalty at 1.50 to go (6:5 for Spain before the decisive quarter).

In the second minute of the last quarter, Mireia Guiral scored in a man-up situation for Spain (7:5). Exactly five minutes to the end, Claudia Cergol gave some hope for Italy, scoring a goal (7:6). Two minutes later, Aznar scored again (8:6), but Italy successfully replied with 49 seconds to go (Francesca Colletta, 8:7). The last attack was on the Italian side, but Megiatto did not succeed.

Alejandra Aznar (ESP), MVP of the tournament:
“We are very happy, we have accomplished a dream. I'm so proud also and for this MVP Award, but that belongs to the whole team. Congratulations to Italy too, they were a strong rival, but we were better”.

Paolo Ziza, Italian national team head coach:
“I'm happy with this match, with the whole competition. This result is remarkable for us. We lost the final by the minimal difference, it hurts, but makes us proud”.