World League champion United States of America, Canada, Olympic champion Netherlands and Italy advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s water polo competition.

The four moved through second-round play with USA defeating China 12-9, Canada downed Germany 13-7; the Netherlands struggled to beat New Zealand 9-7 and Greece upset Italy 10-9 in front of 3500 people.

While three games looked settled early, the Dutch had to come back from two down late in the final quarter to avoid the biggest upset of the tournament.

Kiwis are normally flightless birds but they were flying, having to equalise three times and go ahead just before the final break.

The margin became two and could have been three except for a missed opportunity. A Dutch triple in two minutes put paid to New Zealand’s valiant assault.

Dutch star Noeki Klein said: “We started badly. We were not aggressive enough, as usual. New Zealand didn’t have anything to lose, so they risked more than us. We were a bit unlucky but we could not be defeated by New Zealand. In the end we succeeded in reversing the result.”

It makes for some interesting match-ups to see who will progress to Wednesday’s semifinals with USA taking on Group D winner Spain, Greece earning a shot against Group C winner and World Cup champion Australia; the Netherlands against Group B winner Russia and Canada to play Group A winner Hungary.

In the 13-15 semifinals, Kazakhstan beat Uzbekistan 16-4 and Brazil bettered South Africa 16-2.

Men’s competition on Sunday involves the second round in which features Canada against China at 11:40, Germany-Montenegro at 15:30, Australia-Romania at 16:50 and the feature game, Italy-Serbia, at 21:00.

South Africa and Brazil play in the 13-15 semifinals at 09:00 followed by Kazakhstan-Macedonia at 10:20.

Greece stunned the 3500-strong largely Italian crowd with the opening two goals but then the Italian hero CASANOVA knocked one in from two metres and then outswum the field on counter for her second less than a minute later.

The scene was set and two ANTONAKOU goals had Greece one ahead before BOSURGI spun one in on extra four seconds from the first break. Italy’s youngest player, EMMOLO, drilled one from seven metres while ROUMPESI did the same for Greece. BOSURGI  scored on extra for 6-5 and an opportunity for Italy to go two up went begging when captain DI MARIO had her penalty attempt swatted away by TSOURI.

Italy went two ahead after the turn but Greece came back to lead 8-7 and Italy rebounded for a 9-8 edge. GEROLYMOU replied with a penalty goal to end the third quarter at 9-9. TSOUKALA sent Greece ahead from a seven-metre shot at 4:55.

Neither side could score and Greece took two timeouts late with Italy having a final shot after going to a timeout at eight seconds but an incorrect shot by DI MARIO sent Italy out of the championship.