WOMEN’S WATER POLO OYMPIC GAMES QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT

Trieste, Italy, 15th-22nd April 2012 – Aquatics Centre “Bruno Bianchi”

DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL

Report by Camillo Cametti

FINA Press Commission Chairman

IN GROUP A ALL TEAMS AT TWO POINTS

16.00 GAME 9

GREECE –KAZAKHSTAN (GROUP B) 16-8 (4-3, 6-1; 5-2, 1-2)

GREECE: Eleni Kouvdou, Christina Tsoukala (2), Antiopi Melidoni, Ilektra Psouni (1), Kyriaki Liosi © (1), Alkisti Avramidou, Alexandra Asimaki (4), Antigoni Roumpesi (2), Angeliki Gerolymou (2), Triantafyllia Manolioudaki (2), Stavroula Antonakou (1), Georgia Lara (1), Chrysoula Diamantopoulo. Coach: Georgios Morfesis.

KAZAKHSTAN: Galina Rytova, Lyudmila Chegodayeva, Aizhan Akilbayeva, Anna Turova, Darya Vassilyeva, Anna Zubkova, Natalya Alexandrova (1), Yekaterina Gariyeva (2), Assel Yakayeva © (1), Marina Gritsenko (3), Alexandra Rozhentseva (1), Kamila Marina, Kristina Krassikova. Coach Andrey Sazykin.

Referees: Dunli Cao (CHN), Alexey Krapivin (RUS).

FINA Delegates: Khosrow Amini (IRI), Nicola Firoiu (GER).

An unexpectedly balanced first quarter, when the Asian players answered almost all goals from the Hellenics (4-3 for the Greeks), was followed by a second period when the Greeks stormed the field at ease, with 6 goals for and just one against. Score at half time: 10-4. The 3rd quarter developed on the same track and ended with a 5-2 split in favour of Greece. In the last period the team of Kazakhstan showed a great temperament, confirmed their progress and managed to prevail 2-1.

The Greek goals were scored by nine different players. Asimaki emerged as the game best scorer with 4 goals. Gritsenko (KAZ) was the second best scorer with 3 goals. With this win Greece jumped on top of Group B, with 6 points.

Notes. Turova (K) was excluded for 3 majour fouls at 7:37 in the 2nd period. Superiorities: Greece 3/6 + a penalty converted and one saved; Kazakistan 2/7. Rytova (K) saved on Avramidou at 0:22 of the 4th quarter. Diamantopoulou (G) replaced Kouvdou at the start of the last period.

17.20 GAME 10

BRAZIL- CANADA (GROUP B) 4-11 (1-2, 2-4; 0-3,1- 4)

BRAZIL: Manuela Canetti, Cecilia Canetti (1), Marina Zablith (1), Marina Canetti © (1), Luciane Maia, Isabella Chiappini, Melani Palaro Dias, Luiza Carvalho, Viviane Bahia, Flavia Vigna (1), Mirella Coutinho, Diana Abla, Camila Gomes. Coach Roberto Chiappini.

CANADA: Rachel Riddell, Krystina Alogbo © (1), Katrina Monton, Emily Jean Csikos (2), Joelle Bekhazi (1), Carmen Camille Eggens (1), Rosanna Tomiuk (1), Dominique Perreault (2), Monika Catharina Eggens (1), Christine Robinson, Tara Campbell (2), Marina Radu, Serena Bredin. Coach Patrick Oaten.

Referees: Radu Matache (ROU), Brian Littlejohn (GBR).

FINA Delegates: Andrey Kryukov (KAZ), Evgeny Sharonov (RUS).

Canada’coach Patrick Oaten used this game as an opportunity to employ in the field those players wwho usually have to set on the bench for most of the time. The Canadian had always the edge and the quiet control of the operation. They won the 1st quarter by one goal, the 2nd by two goals, the 3rd and the 4th by three goals. For its part the Brazilian side, whose backbone is formed by the three Canetti sisters and by Zablith, tried its best to provide some effective opposition, managing to score 4 goals in the match. Notes. In the 3rd quarter Cecilia Canetti (B) at 4:50 and Coutihno (B) at 6:30 were excluded for three major fouls. Superioritie: Brasil 0/1 + a penalty converted; Canada 3/9 + a penalty saved. Gomes (B) saved a penalty on Carmen Eggens at 4:30 in 4th period. Gomes (B) and Brendin (C) replaced respectively Manuela Canetti e Riddell at the start of the 4th period.

18.40 GAME 11

RUSSIA-SPAIN (GROUP A) 12-11 (3-2, 3-3; 3-4, 3-2)

RUSSIA: Maria Kovtunosakaya, Nadezhda Fedotova (2), Ekaterina Prokofyeava (3), Sofya Konkh ©, Alexandra Antonova, Olga Belova (1), Ekaterina Lisunova (1), Evgeniia Khokhriakova (1), Ekaterina Tankeeva, Olga Baliaeva (1), Evgeniya Ivanova (1), Diana Antonova, Anna Karnaukh. Coach: Alexander Kabanov.

SPAIN: Laura Ester, Marta Bach, Anna Espar (1), Roser Tarragò (1), Matilde Ortiz, Jennifer Pareja © (1), Lorena Mirando, Pilar Pena, Andrea Blas (2), Ona Meseguer (1), Maria Carmen Garcia (3), Laura Lopez (1), Ana Copado. Coach: Miguel Oca.

Referees: Hans Klopper (NED), Marie Claude Deslières (CAN).

FINA Delegates: Andrey Kryukov (KAZ), Nicola Firoiu (GER).

With 3 goals per quarter Russia won the tightest and most exciting match of the tournament so far. Both teams battled bravely and would have deserved victory or, at least, not being defeated. The last and winning goal was scored by Russia’s #7 Ekaterina Lisunova with less than three seconds missing to the end!

In the 1st quarter the Russians prevailed 3-2. The 2nd quarter was more exciting, with both teams trading goals: 3-3 the score at the end of the period. Spain’s center Maria Carmen Garcia prompted two penalties: Pareja threw both, converting the first and missing the second missed (saved by Russian goalie). In the same period Garcia scored two spectacular goals. In the 3rd quarter Tarragò missed a penalty on 9-8. Before going into the last quarter the score was 9-9. In the 4th quarters both teams traded goals, with Garcia scoring her 3rd , until Lisunova netted the winning goal for Russia. Garcia was the best player of the game and, with Prokofyeava, the game top scorer with 3 goals.

Notes. Excluded for 3 major fouls Khokhriakova (R) at 2:34 of the 3rd period and Konukh (R) at 6:02 of the 4th period. Superiorities: Russia 3/6 + a penalty missed; Spain 5/9 + a penalty converted and two missed. Spain’s coach Oca was given a yellow card for protests at 5:28 of the 3rd quarter. Karnaukh (R) saved a penalty on Pareja (S) at 0:25 of the 2nd quarter; Tarragò (S) hit the bar on penalty at 5:40 in the 3rd quarter, on 9-8. Ester (S) saved a penalty on Antonova at 5:38 of the 4th quarter, on 10-10.

Goal highlights.

1st Q.: 5:12 and 3:23 Fedotova (R) and Blas (E) both in superiority; 2.10 Fedotova scored again; at 1:17 Prokofyeava followed up; at 0:45 Pareja (E) on penalty narrowed the gap to one goal. Score at the end of the quarter: 3-2;

2nd Q.: 7:39 Pareja(E) missed a penalty; 7:24 Khokhriakova (R ); 6:07 Garcia from 2-metres; at 3:49 Prokofyeava (R ) and then Garcia again at 3:09; 1:32 Belova (R ) on extra-man.

3rd Q.: 7:24 Balieva (R ) netted on a lob shot from 2 metres; 6:41 Prokofyeava shoot from the long distance and netted her 3rd goal;5:07 Tarragò (E); Blas (E) scored her 2nd goal on a direct throw; 3:19 Espar (E) scored to tie 8-8; at 2:35 Russia up again one goal Ivanova on extra man; 1.34 Meseguer tied for Spain again: 9-9 the score at the end of the period.

4th Q.: 7:36 and 7:11: Russia’s #11 Ivanova and Spain’s #11 Lopez traded goals (10-10); 2:22 Antonova (R ) missed a penalty (Ester saved); at 1.34 Garcia netted her 3rd goal form 2 metres and put Spain in the lead by one goal; at 0:29 left-handed Antonova equalized for Russia; with just 0:03 seconds from the end Lisunova scored the winning goal for Russia on a direct throw from nearly midfield. Finale score 12-11.

20.00 GAME 12

ITALY-HUNGARY (GROUP A) 11-9 (1-3, 4-2; 4-4, 2-0)

ITALY: Elena Gigli, Simona Abbate (1), Elisa Casanova, Rosaria Aiello, Martina Savioli, Allegra Lapi, Tania Di Mario (4), Roberta Bianconi (3), Giulia Emmolo (1), Giulia Rambaldi (1), Aleksandra Cotti (1), Teresa Frassinetti, Giulia Gorlero. Coach: Fabio Conti.

HUNGARY: Flora Bolonyai, Dora Csabai, Dora Antal (1), Hanna Kisteleki (1), Gabriella Szucs (3), Orsolya Takacs, Rita Dravucz ©, Rita Keszthelyi (2), Ildiko Toth, Barbara Buika (1), Dora Czigany (1), Kata Menczinger, Edina Gangl. Coach: Andras Krisztina Meresz.

Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Denis Carvalho (BRA).

FINA Delegates: Evgeny Sharonov (RUS), John Whitehouse (AUS).

At the end of the 3rd period Italy and Hungary were on a tie 9-9. This spectacular and tight game was resolved in the last quarter by two unanswered goals of the Italians Cotti and Emmolo; for his part, Italy’s goalie Gigli, with some great saves, denied the Hungarians any chance for a new tie. All four teams in Group A now stand at 2 points (each with one win and one loss).

Notes. No exclusion for major fouls. Superiorities: Italy 2/9 + a penalty missed; Hungary 4/6 + a penalty missed. Gigli (I) saved a penalty on Szucs at 6:19 of the 3rd quarter, on 8-8. Bianconi (I) hit the post on penalty at 7:31 of the 3rd quarter, on 9-8.Italy’s coach Conti received a yellow card for protest at 2:37 of the 4th quarter.

Goal highlights.

1st Q.: Buika (1) and Szucs (2) scored three straight, unanswered, goals to give Hungary a comfortable lead before Italy could narrow the gap with one goal from Abbate, at 14 seconds from the expiration of the period. Score at the end of the period: 1-3.

2nd Q.: At 4:19 Rambaldi scored the first goal of the period and the second for Italy on a blaze from the long distance (2-3); 3:23 Kisteleki (H) blazed from the distance on a direct throw (2-4); 2:43 Italy’s Di Mario netted a super goal with an impromptu and swift throw from the long distance (3-4); at 1:56 Di Mario scored again on breakaway action and tied 4-4 for Italy, sending the home crowd wild; 1:28 Hungary up again with Antal on superiority (4-5); at 1 second from the expiration of the period, on a spectacular direct throw from outside Di Mario scored her 3rd goal, prompting a new tie, at 5-5.

3rd Q.: At 6:44 and 8:18 the two #8, Bianconi and Keszthelyi exchanged goals (6-6) but at 5:35 Czigany scored again for Hungary (6-7); at 4:48 Bianconi scored her 2nd goal to tie again at 7-7; 4:38 Szucs’ 3rd goal gave put Hungary up one goal again (7-8); at 2:08 Di Mario netted her 3rd goal and tied once more for Italy (8—8); 1:.41 Gigli saved a penalty on Kisteleki; 1:20 Bianconi completed a hat-trick and gave Italy a new lead (9-8); 0:30 on a penalty throw Bianconi missed a penalty (hit the post); 0:04 Keszthelyi equalises on superiority. Score at the end of 3rd quarter: 9-9.

4th Q.: At 4:47 a fantastic lob shot from 2 metres on the left by Cotti put Italy up one goal again (10-); at 2.56 left handed Emmolo blazed from the long distance giving Italy a decisive 2-goal lead (11-9);