Spain beat Greece for fifth place on medal-finals day with a three-goal break in the final two minutes, heading off a penalty shootout with the 12-9 margin. Japan took out seventh classification by beating Kazakhstan 18-10. Yumi Arima (JPN) will leave Athens as the leading goal-scorer, with 23.
Japan had the better of Kazakhstan and pulled away in the final period for a more flattering 18-10 score, which was rewarded with seventh place and a more definitive answer to many questions it must be asking ahead of Tokyo 2020, where it is obviously the host nation.
Kazakhstan started in the scoring department before Japan went to 2-1 and 4-3 at the first break. Two Maiko Hashida goals took Japan from 2-2 to 4-2 in quick succession.
The second period turned the match in favour of Japan with two Yumi Arima goals. Anna Turova scored Kazakhstan’s sole goal and could have made it two if her penalty attempt was not stopped by Rikako Miura.
The third period was almost unbelievable and kept the secretary busy with 11 goals — 6-5, thus progressing Japan’s margin to five. Turova scored twice for Kazakhstan and Japan’s Fuka Nishiyama netted twice — her first goals in Athens — from the deep-right position and the second with a superb lob from an acute angle. Five times Japan went to a five-goal margin with Kazakhstan desperately trying to bridge the gap.
Anastassiya Yeremina narrowed it to four at the top of the fourth quarter on extra-man attack. Sadly, it was her team’s last goal as Japan slammed in the last four, including Arima’s fifth from five attempts and her 23rd of the tournament, gaining her the player-of-the-match award. Turova gained her third major foul with nearly seven minutes remaining, taking some punch from the team
“Next month my team will play the Olympics so we are preparing well. Our mission will be to win a medal.”
Japan was much sharper today than in recent matches and that speed and accurate passing prove fatal for Kazakhstan, who seemed to tire as the match progressed.
Kazakhstan did have the better percentage on extra-man attack though, netting 5/10 compared with Japan’s 6/14.
Full statistics — http://results.microplustiming.com/athens2021
Spain broke a 9-9 deadlock in the final two minutes with a three-goal burst that headed off what looked like being a penalty shootout against Greece but instead was 12-9.
This was an engrossing match in which defence played a major part, especially in the opening quarter that had a five-minute spell with no goal. Spain won the period 2-1 with Spain’s Judith Forca’s outside shot needing a VAR decision before it was awarded.
“Greece is always a very strong team to play. I’m satisfied we took the win today. We defended well and our attack was good, as well.”
Eleni Xenaki spearheaded Greece’s charge in the second quarter, netting twice, firstly on extra and then from centre forward with three players enveloping her. Maica Garcia provided Spain’s two goals from centre forward. Spain was 4-3 ahead until Eirini Ninou scored from right hand catch.
It was all power in the third period as both teams wanted to leave with fifth place after being disappointed at not making the main semifinals. Paula Leiton gave Spain the edge with her favoured backhand shot from two metres, then Eleftheria Plevritou netted identical goals from the deep right to give Greece its first lead at 6-5. Garcia and Forca redressed the imbalance and Xenaki made it 7-7; Forca scored from seven metres for 8-7 and with just six seconds remaining, Maria Myriokefalitaki backhanded from two metres to level the match heading into the final eight minutes.
“I’m so happy for my team. We are so tired now. Now we prepare for the Olympic Games and we are so happy with this game.”
Elena Ruiz (ESP) and Nikoleta Eleftheriadou (GRE) traded goals. Greece took a timeout for no added joy. And at 2:08, Anna Espar scored from deep left; Garcia gained her fourth with a high reach for the ball on extra on the left-post position. Greece took a timeout and goalkeeper Ioanna Stamatopoulou went up front to help in the scoring process, but the ball was turned over, Spain went on counter and Anna Espar put the ball into an empty goal for 12-9 and fifth position.
Full statistics — http://results.microplustiming.com/athens2021