Hosts Japan just failed to pull off a shock on Thursday when they were edged out 7-5 by Australia, at the FINA Water Polo World League Men's Intercontinental Tournament.

USA maintained their perfect record in defeating Kazakhstan 19-7, while Brazil recorded a routine 17-4 victory over China, at Yokohama International Swimming Pool.

USA head the standings with three wins, followed by Australia and Brazil on two, Japan and Kazakhstan on one, while China are still looking to get off the mark.

The group stage ends on Saturday. The 5th/6th and 3rd/4th place play-offs, and the final, are on Sunday. 

The six teams are vying four places at the Super Final of the FINA Men's Water Polo World League in Huizhou, China, from June 21-26.

Away from the action, a plaque presentation took place between FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu, and Yuji Nishiyama, director general of Yokohama civic affairs.

 


FINA Executive Director and director general of Yokohama civic affairs

GAME 7: BRAZIL 17-4 CHINA

Quarters: 5-1, 5-1, 2-0, 5-2

Teams:

BRAZIL: Vinicius Antonelli, Jonas Crivella (1), Guilherme Gomes (2), Ives Alonso (2), Paulo Salemi, Bernardo Gomes (1), Adrian Baches (2), Felipe Silva (1), Bernardo Rocha (2), Felipe Perrone (2), Gustavo Guimaraes (1), Josip Vrlic (3), Bernardo Oliveira. Head Coach: Ratko Rudic

CHINA: Guozheng Wu, Chenghao Chu (1), Beiyi Wang, Yingyi Gao (1), Zhongxian Chen, Zekai Xie (1), Wenhui Lu (1), Yemen Chen, Gelin Zhu, Yu Liu, Zhenrui Lei, Wei Tang, Linfeng Li. Head Coach: Lingyun Mao

Brazil claimed a facile 17-4 win over a young and inexperienced Chinese team in the first of Thursday’s three matches.

Never out of third gear against a side that looks booked for bottom spot in the group, last year’s World League bronze medallists still built a 10-2 lead at the midway point, with Josip Vrlic's acrobatic backward fingertip flick on the stroke of half-time being the pick of the goals.

Vrlic also scored early in the third quarter, but Brazil added only one more, unable to fully cash in on the plentiful time and space afforded them. 

The Brazilians sprang back to life in the final few minutes, adding some gloss to the scoreline, and next face the unbeaten USA on Friday.


BRA-CHN

Coach Ratko Rudic had called for a back-to-basics approach by his players, worried by defensive frailties and a limp attack in Wednesday’s defeat by Australia, and was generally satisfied with their response.

“In some moments, I got some of the things that I had asked the players to do. As the game went on, there was no intensity and, automatically, the players lost some concentration,” said Rudic.

“But, overall, it was a positive display. I hope today’s game will have sharpened us up for the game against USA.”

China coach Lingyun Mao had sought better co-ordination in defence after Wednesday’s defeat by Kazakhstan. 

“In the first part of the first period, and through the third period, they achieved this. At halfway, we talked to the players and changed some tactics, and they did a little better,” said Mao.

Australia await China on Friday, and Mao has his strategy in place.

“Australia’s players swim very fast, so we have to try and stop their counter-attacks. Also, we will play a zonal defence system,” he said.

  

GAME 8: KAZAKHSTAN 7-19 USA

Quarters: 3-5, 1-4, 1-3, 2-7

Teams:

KAZAKHSTAN: Madikhan Makhmetov, Yevgeniy Medvedev (1), Maxim Zhardan (1), Roman Pilipenko, Miras Aubakirov, Alexey Shmider, Murat Shakenov (1), Yulian Verdesh, Rustam Ukumanov (4), Mikhail Ruday, Ravil Manafov, Altay Altayev, Valeriy Shlemov. Head Coach: Nemanja Knezevic

USA: Merrill Moses, Jackson Kimbell, Nikola Vavic, Alex Obert, Alex Roelse (1), Luca Cupido (2), Josh Samuels (2), Tony Azevedo (2), Alex Bowen, Bret Bonanni (9), Jesse Smith, John Mann (3), McQuin Baron. Head Coach: Dejan Udovicic

Bret Bonanni of USA, and Kazakhstan danger man Rustam Ukumanov, scored seven of the eight first-quarter goals in a sharp-shooting start to the day’s second clash.

Bonanni netted four times, and Ukumanov a hat-trick, in the opening exchanges. 

Ukumanov also netted the Kazakhs’ only goal of the second period, during which the Americans pulled 9-4 clear on the way to maintaining their flawless start with a 19-7 win.

Bonanni eventually won their personal shootout, bagging nine goals — the tournament’s best single haul so far — to Ukumanov’s four.


KAZ-USA

Brazil lie in wait for USA, and coach Dejan Udovicic highlighted defensive improvement and better focus, compared with Wednesday’s too-close-for-comfort 17-14 win over Japan.

“I think we made a little progress but we need to continue to improve our game because we want to raise the bar as high as possible. We’re trying to build the level of our game to the point where we can compete against anyone,” he said.

Next up for Kazakhstan come Japan, and Friday’s clash could well decide which of those two qualify for next month’s Super Final.

Coach Nemanja Knezevic had been concerned by Kazakhstan shipping 10 goals against China, and was encouraged by his players’ response against a physically stronger USA.

“My team is young, but this was good preparation for tomorrow — it’s a very important game against Japan. If we play tomorrow as we did today in the first half of the match today, then we have a chance.”

 

GAME 9: JAPAN 5-7 AUSTRALIA

Quarters: 1-3, 1-1, 1-1, 2-2

Teams:

JAPAN: Katsuyuki Tanamura, Seiya Adachi (1), Atsushi Arai, Mitsuaki Shiga, Akira Yanase (1), Atsuto Iida, Yusuke Shimizu, Yuki Kadono, Koji Takei (3),  Kenya Yasuda, Keigo Okawa, Shota Hazui, Tomoyoshi Fukushima. Head Coach: Yoji Omoto

AUSTRALIA: James Stanton, Richard Campbell, George Ford, John Cotterill, Nathan Power (1), Jarrod Gilchrist, Aidan Roach, Tyler Martin (1), Joel Swift (2), Mitchell Emery, Rhys Howden (2), Lachlan Edwards (1), Joel Dennerley. Head Coach: Elvis Fatovic

Australia held their nerve to earn a 7-5 success in a tense battle with the hosts, in which goalies James Stanton and Katsuyuki Tanamura produced the standout performances.

Having come close to upsetting USA the night before, there was more heartache for Japan as their battling display — they drew three of the quarters — was thwarted at the death.

The Aussies took a 4-2 halfway lead, thanks partly to a string of fine saves by Stanton.

He continually frustrated Japan’s rapid-fire counters, including a memorable point-blank stop towards the end of the second quarter when three of the hosts’ players ripped through Australia’s defence to leave them treading water.

Home fans urged on their team with chants of “Nippon, Nippon” and the players responded, drawing the third period 1-1. 


JPN-AUS

And the roof nearly came off when Akira Yanase reduced the deficit to 4-5 at the start of the final eight minutes. Stanton and Tanamura then made key saves as the tension mounted, before Tyler Martin struck for Australia.

Seiya Adachi converted a penalty conceded by George Ford, before Joel Swift stretched out a hand to push the ball home with his fingertips and seal victory in the final minute.

Australia coach Elvis Fatovic was shown a second yellow card, and excluded, for making his comments known a little too fiercely as the pressure built in the closing stages.

His players showed the patience he had demanded in their approach play but pointed out that they had been caught short when they had strayed from this state of mind.

“A couple of times when we were not patient they punished us on the counter. I think all five goals they scored were from counter-attacks, it is a big advantage in their play,” said Fatovic.

“In the first two quarters we missed some opportunities, but by the same token our goalie made a couple of good saves.

“The next games, against China and Kazakhstan, will give us some idea of where we need to improve.”

Japan coach Yoji Omoto was disappointed his team couldn’t quite get over the line.

“We have lots of scrimmage training with Australia so the teams know each other well. I told our players Australia is a team we have to beat, but in the last part of the game we made some mistakes, so the Goddess of Victory did not smile on us,” he said.

“Australia are a better team than us, but we had a fairly good chance to beat them. We have to review the mistakes we made.”

Japan face Kazakhstan on Friday, and Omoto added: “In order for us to qualify for the Super Final, this is a game we cannot lose.”