Hungary took the gloss off United States of America's glittering Olympic record with a shock 10-9 victory in their Group B encounter. USA has not lost an Olympic match since the Beijing 2008 final and now has to regroup ahead the quarterfinals. Centre forward Rebecca Parkes was the star for Hungary, sealing the victory with a near-impossible shot in the final minute. It was USA's first loss in a major tournament since 2015 when it lost by the same score to Italy and went on to win the world title.
GROUP B: HUNGARY - USA
It was not unexpected that one day the all-conquering United States of America would meet its match. Today was that day as Hungary emerged a 10-9 victory after tying the first two periods, losing the third 3-1 and winning the last by a withering 4-1 of their Group B clash.
Hungary lost a three-match series with the United States of America in California in May, going down 14-9, 14-7 and 12-6. At the FINA World League Super Final gold-medal match in Athens in June, USA led Hungary 4-2 at the quarter, 6-3 at halftime and 9-7 at the final break before finishing 14-8.
Those margins have been trimmed and surpassed as Hungary dug deep, nullified the two-goal deficit early in the fourth, slid one behind and netted the last two for an historic victory.
USA has had a couple of draws since last losing an Olympic match — the gold-medal final of 2008 to Netherlands — but come up trumps when the gold medals were handed out in 2012 and 2016.
It is a long way to go in this tournament and anything can happen, as it did today. USA will still be there at the sharp end and Hungary will be hoping that it, too, can make the final and win the gold.
It was no flash in the pan for Hungary as it dispensed with Netherlands 13-11 to claim gold at the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Trieste earlier in the year, putting the icing on the cake after beating Italy 13-10 in the semifinals for the all-important airline ticket.
For the second time this tournament, USA found itself 4-2 down. On Monday, China had USA in trouble before being almost shut out in the second half following a 6-6 halftime impasse. USA won 12-7.
Enough of the statistics. Now for the match.
Centre forward Rebecca Parkes, the former Kiwi-turned-Hungarian, was the inspiration with her three goals, including the first 20 seconds into the match, the first of the final quarter for 8-7 down and then the winning goal at 0:45 with an exceptional “back-flip” over the head of goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson. USA head coach Adam Krikorian requested a VAR decision, but it was clearly well into the goal.
USA went 2-1 in the first, Hungary went 4-2 ahead in the second and 5-4 with USA levelling by halftime.
Maddie Musselman opened the second half, Dorottya Szilagyi (HUN) gained the equaliser and Mackenzie Fischer with her second and Musselman again, regained the USA lead at 8-6 nearly three minutes from the final break. It was Musselman’s third goal of the match and lifts her all-time Olympic tally to 19 goals.
“This is a just a group game. We’d like to stay in first or second position. After this game we have a chance to take our goal — to finish first or second. Rebecca Parkes is one of the best (centre forwards) not just in Europe, but the world. I’m really happy for her performance.”
Parkes and Vanda Valyi brought the match to 8-8 by 5:37. From here USA had many opportunities and the fantastic goalkeeping of Alda Magyari (11 saves) gave USA players second thoughts. That second-guessing led to at least five positive chances not taken, such was the defence. Finally, Mel Seidemann (USA) broke the eight-minute drought from the top for 9-8. Hungarian captain Rita Keszthelyi fired a beauty, for her second, from the top for the leveller at 1:53 and it was left to Parkes to etch another story into Hungary’s already burgeoning record book.
Rachel Fattal was deadly with consecutive goals in the second quarter in a match where USA only converted four from 11 on extra-man attack, compared to Hungary’s three from five.
Match 11, 14:00, Group B, HUNGARY 10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 9
Quarters: 2-2, 3-3, 1-3, 4-1
Referees: Nenad Peris (CRO), Xevi Buch (ESP).
Shots: HUN: 10/26. USA: 9/19.
Extra Man: HUN: 3/5. USA: 4/11.
Pens: Nil.
Flash Quotes
Alda Magyari (HUN) — Goalkeeper with 11 Saves
"This is a very great achievement and experience. It gives us huge energy and confidence for the future and for the next matches. It was a very, very great thing for us. It was a huge thing to beat the world champions, but we mustn't believe that we are better than anyone else. We have to take this tournament step-by-step."
Adam Krikorian (USA) — Head Coach
"I thought we played hard, we played so tough. It was similar to the China game when we had a really difficult time just putting the ball in the back of the net. We wish we would have finished off the game, but we'll learn from this and move on. The game was super physical, the most physical game that we played in the last 13 or 17 games that we've had leading up to this. There's always doubt and to think otherwise is a lie, even for the best in the world. I don't think that (was the reason we didn’t score more), I just think the energy and the excitement gets to us a little bit. We need to settle down and find our legs, and find a little bit more patience and composure in those opportunities.”
Melissa Seidemann (USA) — Dual Olympic Gold Medallist
"We're going into every game taking our competitors seriously. We haven't lost a lot but the way the media portrays that discredits our opponents as everyone’s so good. It's not a surprise to us (the result). We knew it was going to be a battle and we look forward to the next time we get to see them.” On the FINA World League Super Final win against Hungary in June: “We went into the fourth quarter I think tied, or maybe up by one or something like that (9-7), and we were able to run away with it in the fourth quarter, but you know, we expected that game again here at the Olympics and we certainly got it.
GROUP B: CANADA V SOUTH AFRICA 21-1
Canada gained its first win of the tournament at the expense of South Africa — 21-1.
It was a chance for Canada to regain some composure after two tough losses — 8-5 to Australia and 14-10 to Spain.
“We are getting stronger and better every single game. Kudos to South Africa for putting a team in the competition, gaining them visibility in their country. One more nation playing high-level water polo is good for the game.”
While Canada had the total match under control, South Africa was happy with Georgia Moir’s score at 2-1.
South Africa worked hard and probably the best thing was that it was another match on the international scene, something it has been lacking, not just because of the Covid pandemic, but because of the international isolation. Playing against class opposition allows it to go home and spread the experience.
Canada completed the sweep of the quarters — 5-1, 4-0, 4-1 and 8-0. That South Africa could limit Canada to four goals in each of the first three periods was exceptional under the circumstances. Canada had won its group at the recent FINA World League Super Final.
Three months on the road has finally secured Canada an Olympic victory on its return to the fold, with all field players scoring and Gurpreet Sohi netting four.
Kindred Paul, playing her 100th international, scored twice straddling the final break.
Meghan Maartens, the South African goalkeeper, stopped 12 shots including the third-period penalty attempt by Hayley McKelvey.
Canada will now hunt a second victory to improve its position in the quarterfinals.
Match 9, 15:30, Group B, CANADA 21 SOUTH AFRICA 1
Quarters: 5-1, 4-0, 4-0, 8-0
Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), John Waldow (NZL).
Shots: CAN: 21/42. RSA: 1/19.
Extra Man: 5/8. RSA: 1/4.
Pens: CAN: 0/1.
Flash Quotes
Gurpreet Sohi (CAN) — Four Goals
“It felt good. Unity is what we are after. It gains momentum and gives us a boost and we’ll ride that confidence.”
Delaine Mentoor (RSA) — Head Coach
“I felt we were solid on defence and forced them into errors. We’re not good on execution. We have to find the slot and put it away.”
Georgia Moir (RSA) — Goal Scorer
“It was my first Olympic goal and a great feeling. I’ve been working hard on shooting.” On the Olympic experience: “There’s no sightseeing. There’s lots of energy around us in the Olympic Village with the best athletes in the world — a tremendous experience.”