Three derby games were played this evening, on Day 3 of the women’s European Championships in Budapest.
Host Hungary defeated Russia in a fierce battle 9:8 and successfully passed its first big test at the Championships.
The Netherlands, the reigning champion, convincingly beat Italy 10:4.
Two neighbors, that are still far from the European top – Serbia and Croatia faced off in Group A. The Croats celebrated a narrow 9:8 win and they are now very near to advancing to the quarterfinals.
The women’s tournament, Day 3
Group A: Hungary – Russia 9:8, Serbia – Croatia 8:9, Greece – Slovakia 18:2.
Ranking: 1. Greece 9, 2. Hungary 9, 3. Russia 6, 4. Croatia 3, 5. Serbia 0, 6. Slovakia 0.
Group B: Netherlands – Italy 10:4, Spain – Israel 18:2, France – Germany 17:5.
Ranking: 1. Netherlands 9, 2. Spain 9 3.France 6, 4. Italy 3 , 5. Israel 0 , Germany 0.
34th European Championships, women, Day 3
Evening session
Group A
Hungary – Russia 9:8 (4:3, 2:0, 2:3, 1:2)
Hungary: Keszthelyi-Nagy 4, Szilagzy 1, Illes 1, Leimeter 1, Gyongyossy 1.
Russia: Gorbunova 3, Karimova 2, Bersneva 1, Serzhantova 1, Timofeeva 1.
Extra player shot: Hungary 2/5, Russia 6/11.
The Hungarians dominated the first half. After a 4:3 first period, they tightened defense in the second quarter and didn’t let Russia a single goal, while they scored two and had a 6:3 lead at halftime.
But, Russia didn’t give in. After the middle break, the Russians started climbing back. They produced a 3:0 rush and equalized – 6:6 in the 21st minute. However, Hungarians hit the back of the net twice in the last 83 seconds of the third period and earned an 8:6 lead before the last period.
In the fourth period, Russia reduced the gap to one twice (7:8 and 8:9), but it didn’t manage to level the score. The Russians’ last attack ended with Gorbunova’s miss 16 seconds from the end. After that, Hungary kept a minimal but important 9:8 win.
As usual, Rita Keszthelyi Nagy was the best scorer in the winning team. She netted four goals (three in the first quarter). Russian best player Ekaterina Prokofyeva had a bad realization this time – 0 goals of 5 shots
Serbia – Croatia 8:9 (1:2, 3:2, 3:3, 1:2)
Serbia: Mandic 2, Milicevic 2, Josifovic 1, Miskovic 1, Ilic 1, Jakovljevic 1.
Croatia: Miljkovic 2, I. Butic 2, Miroslavic 1, Carevic 1, Lordan 1, Skelin 1, D. Butic 1.
Extra player shot: Serbia 2/6, Croatia 4/9. Penalty shot: Serbia 0/1, Croatia 0/1.
The encounters between water polo national teams of Serbia and Croatia are always derbies. Even if the ladies face off. Unlike the men’s squads, the female teams of Croatia and Serbia aren’t the medal contenders, but these sides are on a similar level. Their match brought a lot of excitement. After a hard-fought battle, Croatia edged out Serbia – 9:8 and that could be a crucial win in a hunt for the 4th place in the group.
Croatia started better and earned a 4:2 lead deep into the second period. The Serbs responded with a 3:0 and had a 5:4 advantage early in the third quarter. Then came a new turn. Croatia scored two goals in 63 seconds to go ahead (6:5). Miskovic and Milicevic put the Serbian team in front again (7:6). However, Croatia’s Matea Skelin punished a confusion in Serbia’s defense and hit the back of the net 16 seconds before the last break for 7:7.
Emmi Miljkovic scored two opening goals in the fourth quarter and Croatia earned a two-goal lead (9:7) once more with four minutes to go. Serbia cut the deficit 42 seconds from the end (8:9) and had the last possession in the match, but they didn’t shot to a goal, because of a bad pass.
Croatia’s defense did a great job, they managed to stop Serbia’s best scorer Jelena Vukovic, who didn’t find the net today.
Domina Butic (CRO) Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo
Greece – Slovakia 18:2 (4:0, 4:2, 6:0,4:0)
1 Greece 3 – 9
2 Hungary 3 – 9
3 Russia 3 – 6
4 Croatia 3 – 3
5 Serbia 3 – 0
6 Slovakia 3 – 0
Group B
Netherlands – Italy 10:4 (2:2, 4:2, 3:0, 1:0)
Netherlands: Megens 5, Genne 1, Stomphorst 1, Rogge 1, Keuning 1, Joustra 1.
Italy: Bianconi 3, Marletta 1.
Extra player shot: Netherlands 2/4 , Italy 2/4. Penalty shots: 1/2.
After a 10:16 loss to Spain two days ago, Italy suffered another disappointing defeat and has no chance to reach 1st place in the group.
The titleholder Netherlands kept the Italians scoreless for more than two quarters and secured a win thanks to a superb defense in the second half of the match.. Maybe the Italians still haven’t recovered from the food poisoning on Sunday. Anyway, the Netherlands was too strong for Italy today.
Rosaria Aiello (ITA) Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo
Italy, the runner-up from the 2016 Olympics, had a 2:1 advantage in the middle of the first quarter. The Netherlands struck back with four goals in a row and went 5:2 up. The Italians last hope was Roberta Bianconi’s goal for 4:6 in the 15th minute (4:6). After that, they couldn’t find the back of the net, while the Dutch scored three goals in the third period, for a comfortable 9:6 before the final period.
Both teams missed a few very nice opportunities for a goal in the fourth period before Maud Meggens, the best player of the match, netted her fifth goal 66 seconds before the final buzzer for the final score – 10:6.
Maud Megens (NED) Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo
The Dutch will battle with Spain for the first place in the group.
Spain – Israel 18:2 (3:0, 4:1, 7:1, 4:0)
France – Germany 17:5 (7:1, 3:1, 3:1, 4:2)
1 Netherlands 3 – 9
2 Spain 3 – 9
3 France 3 – 6
4 Italy 3 – 3
5 Israel 3 – 0
4 Germany 3 – 0
Day 4 (January 17th): Germany – Spain, Netherlands – France, Italy – Israel.
