Greece, one of the main contenders for the title in Madrid, finished first in Group B after defeating Japan, scoring 16-3 in a match showing a clear supremacy of the European team. The spirited Italian team finished with the same points after beating Brazil 8-15, but the better goal-average of the Greeks secured them first spot.

Meanwhile in Group C, Spain searched for the epic in their attempt to beat China by more than 11 goals, which was the difference scored by the Netherlands on the first competition day in their match against China. Finally, the host team achieved their aim of winning the match and finishing the qualifying stage in first place of their group after scoring 4-16 thanks to a lob shot by Irene Gonzalez 50 seconds before the end of the match. The Netherlands took second after beating Puerto Rico with a 3-25 score.

In Group D, Canada got three victories in as many matches after beating Russia with a tight 10-9 score, which gives Russia the second place in this group after its two previous victories against New Zealand and Australia. The match between these two teams finished with the Australian victory in a 9-15 score.

FLASH QUOTES:

David Paradelo (Canada coach): “We have begun pretty well, and have remained faithful to our defensive plan. Nevertheless, after the 4-0, Russia has become more present, obliging our players to defend with a greater intensity in order to correct mistakes.”

Eszter Gyory (Hungary assistant coach): “This match has been a good training session for us. We have tried to get things ready for our next match.”

Jan Vos (The Netherlands coach): “There was a great difference in our playing during the match. We had lots of chances to score, yet we still have things to improve.”

 

 

Game statistics from Day 3:

Group C, Game 17: PUERTO RICO 3-25 NETHERLANDS
Quarters: 1-5, 0-6, 1-6, 1-8
Referees: Keisuke Shimizu (JPN and Peter la Marque (RSA)

Teams:
Puerto Rico: Nichole Colon, Allison Fernandez (2), Maria Quiles, Cara Mullery, Anagabriella Guerra, Alexandra Guerra, Cristina Lugo, Nathalia Melendez (1), Claudia Ramos, Daniela Fuertes and Andrea Guerra. Head coach: Ricardo Cuevas.
Netherlands: Laura Aarts, Maud Megens (4), Bieigitte Sleeking (1), Aan Femke (3), Maartje Keuning (3), Lizette Rozeboom (4), Brigit Mulder (4), Maud Koopman (1), Kitty Joustra (1), Ilse Koolhaas, Anouk Bergsma (1), Bente Rogge (3) and Jalou Vanhelsuwe. Head coach: Jan Vos.

Action goals: PUR (3) / NED (24)
Man up goals: PUR (0/4) / NED (0/4)
Penalty goals: PUR (0/0) / NED (1/1)

Group C, Game 18: CHINA 4-16 SPAIN
Quarters: 1-4, 2-5, 1-5, 0-2
Referees: Natacha Florestano (BRA) and Fabio Collantoni (ITA)

Teams:
China: Xueying Wang, Ying Zhai, Yanan Bi, Zewen Deng, Chenying Li, Xiaohan Mei, Yiwen Lu, Jing Zhang (3), Dunhan Xiong (1), Yini Cai, Huan Wang and Jingying Wu. Head coach: Dali Cong.
Spain: Ana Sabugal, Paula Crespi (2), Anna Gual, Carla Abellán (1), Carla Tohá, Irene González (4), Marina Cordobés (2), Hana Vilanova, Judith Forca (6), Amanda Triviño (1), Marta Mota, Julia Tazueco and Inmaculada Bello. Head coach: Juan Carlos Sanchón.

Action goals: CHN (2) / ESP (15)
Man up goals: CHN (2/12) / ESP (0/11)
Penalty goals: CHN (1/1) / ESP (1/1)

Group D, Game 19: CANADA 10-9 RUSSIA
Quarters: 4-0, 1-3, 2-4, 3-2
Referees: Zsolt Marjay (HUN) and Joseph Peila (USA)

Canada: Ymane Hage, Taylor Vijh, Amy Yute, Emma Wright (2), Joëlle Nacouzi (1), Axelle Crevier (2), Auriel Bill, Hayley McKelvey (2), Sarah Myers, Kelly Matthews (1), Kindred Paul, Kyra Christmas (2) and Alicia Magliocco. Head coach: David Paradelo.
Russia: Alina Litovchenko, Daria Gerzanich (1), Maria Borisova (3), Elena Kotanchyan, Aleksandra Zelenkovskaia, Anastasiia Khargina, Olga Koryakina, Ekaterina Iakusheva, Anna Karvchenko (3), Taisiia Sorokina, Bella Khamzaeva, Alena Serzhantova (2) and Polina Iushkova. Head coach: Aleksandr Naritka.

Action goals: CAN (8) / RUS (9)
Man up goals: CAN (2/4) / RUS (0/10)
Penalty goals: CAN (0/0) / RUS (0/0)

Group D, Game 20: NEW ZEALAND 8-15 AUSTRALIA
Quarters: 1-5, 4-3, 2-5, 1-2
Referees: Konstantinos Kyranis (GRE) and Marcela Mauss (GER)

Teams:
New Zealand: Selina Duggan, Liana Dance (1), Emma Ballard (2), Paige Walls, Abigail Cartmell (1), Annabel Harman (1), Breanna Ward, Katie McKenty (1), Grace Tobin (1), Holly Brown, Charlotte Valentine, Brogan Houghton (1) and Antonia Young. Head coach: Davor Carevic.
Australia: Tess Hosking, Amy Ridge (2), Bronte Halligan, Georgia Mllonville (3), Monique Rebelo, Pla Rodgers, Chelsea Allen (3), Emily Mlgowan, Georgia Hole (1), Ellodie Ruffin (1), Lena Mihailovic (3), Maddy Steere (2) and Octavia Bellekens. Head coach: Jack Lusic.

Action goals: NZL (3) / AUS (14)
Man up goals: NZL (5/7) / AUS (0/5)
Penalty goals: NZL (0/1) / AUS (1/2)

Group A, Game 21: SOUTH AFRICA 3-24 HUNGARY
Quarters: 0-6, 0-4, 2-6, 1-8
Referees: Along Meng (CHN) and Martin Murray (CAN)

Teams:
South Africa: Nicole Schumann, Amber Penney (2), Yamkela Latila, Emma Hardham, Tayla Louw, Nina Cressey, Cara Ann Stubbs, Alex van der Walt, Anne Versfeld (1), Caitlin Schreuder, Erin Sims, Megan-Jame Thompson and Nicole James. Head coach: Bevan Manson.
Hungary: Gabor Kincso, Dorottya Szilagyi (4), Csenge Toth (1), Greta Gurisatti (7), Brigitta Horvath (3), Tamara Farkas, Viktoria Tamas, Dora Leimeter (1), Szonja Kuna (5), Orsolya Hertzka (1), Viktoria Varga (1), Zsusanna Mate (1) and Alexandra Kiss. Head coach: Mattyas Petrovics.

Action goals: RSA (3) / HUN (21)
Man up goals: RSA (0/3) / HUN (0/7)
Penalty goals: RSA (0/0) / HUN (3/4)

Group A, Game 22: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 24-4 GERMANY
Quarters: 4-1, 7-1, 5-0, 8-2
Referees: Gideon Reemnet (NED) and Charissa Hackshaw (TRI)

Teams:
USA: Carlee kapana, Christiana Manzella (3), Haley Wan, Madison Berggren (3), Jordan Raney, Devin Grab (3), Katherine Klass (2), Aria Fischer (4), Makenzie Fischer (2), Brianna Daboub (2) and Maddeline Mussleman (5). Head coach: Ethan Damato.
Germany: Jule Lissner,Belen Muriel Vosseberg, Charlotte Huber, Franzisca Dregger, Ira Deike (2), Sophia Eggert, Jamie Verebelyi (2), Aylin Fry, Lilian francesca Adamski, Maren Hinz, Julia Eggert, Victoria Fischer and Ronja Kersenboom. Head coach: Heike Kohnen-Whalil.

Action goals: USA (22) / GER (4)
Man up goals: USA (2/5) / GER (0/5)
Penalty goals: USA (0/0) / GER (0/0)

Group B, Game 23: BRAZIL 8-15 ITALY
Quarters: 1-3, 4-4, 1-3, 2-5
Referees: Cesar Rivera (PUR) and Cesar Rivera

Teams:
Brazil: Victoria Chamorro, Ana Amaral (1), Mariana Ribeiro, Camila Barros, Yasmin Oliveira, Mariane Cardoso (2), Marina Araujo (1), Daniela Vidal, Sofia Rivas, Mariana Duarte (4), Lorena Borges and Raquel Sa. Head coach: Pablo Cuesta.
Italy: Divina Nigro, Giusy Citino, Martina Gottardo, Silvia Avegno (2), Chiara Ranalli (3), Maddalena Fisco (3), Luna di Claudio, Arianna Gragnolati (4), Carlotta Nencha (1), Elena Altamura (1), Carolina Ioannou (1) and Maria Maiorino. Head coach: Paolo Zizza.

Action goals: BRA (6) / ITA (15)
Man up goals: BRA (1/5) / ITA (0/6)
Penalty goals: BRA (1/1) / ITA (0/0)

Group A, Game 24: GREECE 16-3 JAPAN
Quarters: 4-1, 5-1, 4-1, 3-0
Referees: Stvetlana Dreval (RUS) and Juan Carlos Colominas (ESP)

Teams:
Greece: Eirini Patra, Eleftheria Plevritou (4), Ioanna Chydirioti (1), Nikoleta Eleftheriadou (3), Vasiliki Plevritou (3), Eleni Xenaki (2), Michaela Vasiliki Kalogerakou (1), Maria Patra, Anthia Papanastasiou, Maria Sora, Maria Eleni Mimidi, Virginia Niarchakou (1) and Ioanna Stamatopolou. Head coach: Georgios Morfesis.
Japan: Minami Shioya, Marina Tokumoto (1), Yuri Kazama, Kana Sasaki, Chiaki Sakanoue, Misaki Noro, Kotori Suzuki (1), Shiori Ogawa, Aki Izumi, Minori Yamamoto and Yumi Arima (1). Head coach: Hideo Katoh.

Action goals: GRE (12) / JPN (3)
Man up goals: GRE (4/7) / JPN (0/2)
Penalty goals: GRE (0/0) / JPN (0/0)

 

Courtesy of Rodrigo Gil-Sabio, RFEN