Germany will play against Kazakhstan, while Romania will face China in the playoff matches of the Men’s World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Division 2 in Berlin.
The winners of these two European-Asian clashes will qualify for the World Cup Super Final in Los Angeles (June 30 – July 2).
The last round of the group stage was played in the capital of Germany today. Romania confirmed 1st place in Group A, where Kazakhstan finished 2nd, thanks to a narrow 7:6 win over Iran.
Germany and China met in the derby of today’s program. Germany defeated the Chinese 16:11 and will have a less demanding task than China in tomorrow’s last qualification game.
2023 Men’s World Aquatics World Cup, Division 2, Berlin, Day 2
Group A
New Zealand – Romania 7:16 (0:4, 4:5, 2:3, 1:4)
New Zealand: Gould 2, Paterson 2, Wicken 2, O’Neill 1.
Romania: Vancsik 4, Fulea 3, Georgescu 2, Neamtu 1, Tepelus 1, Prioteasa 1, Bota 1, Gergelyfi 1, Antipa 1, Iudean 1.
Kazakhstan – Iran 7:6 (1:2, 2:3, 3:0, 1:1)
Kazakhstan: Tsoy 3, Shonzhigitov 2, Berbelyuk 1, Panteleyev 1.
Iran: Almasi 3, Yazdankhah 2, Mehirkohneshahri 1.
Kazakhstan secured 2nd place by beating Iran 7:6 after a big comeback. Iran had a 4:1 advantage midway through the second quarter. Kazakhstan produced a 5:1 series in 12 minutes and entered the final quarter leading 6:5. Iran leveled in its first possession in the fourth quarter. After that, there were no goals for a long. Shonzhigitov scored a winner for Kazakhstan 96 seconds before the end.
Romania continued its winning streak with an easy win over New Zealand.
1.Romania 3 games – 9 points
2. Kazakhstan 3 – 6
3. Iran 3 – 3
4. New Zealand 3 – 0
Group B
Germany – China 16:11 (6:2, 3:5, 5:2, 2:2)
Germany: Bozic 4, Strelezkij 4, Cuk 3, Schuetze 3, Jungling 1, Chiru 1.
China: Z.Chen 5, C.Zhang 3, Z.Xie 2, Z. Hu 1.
Malta – South Africa 15:8 (3:4, 5:3, 5:1, 2:0)
Malta: Galea 3, Gialanze 3, Cachia 2, N.Zammit 2, D.Zammit 1, Castillo 1, Bugelli 1.
South Africa: Swanepoel 2, Laurenson 1, Howard 1, Van Zyl 1, Tucker 1, Faber 1, Bungane 1.
Germany’s flying start set the tone of the derby. The hosts earned a 6:2 lead in the first quarter of the derby against China. They added two action goals in the first minute and a half of the second quarter (Bozic and Schuetze) and jumped to 8:2.
The persistent Chinese didn’t give up. The Asians reduced the gap to two goals (6:8, 7:9, 8:10). In the last three and a half minutes of the third period, the Germans secured a win. In that interval, they scored four, conceding only one goal, so they had a fine 14:9 advantage before the last eight minutes. The game’s ending was peaceful, each team scored two goals apiece in the final quarter.
Malta defeated South Africa for 3rd place in the group
1.Germany 3 – 9
2. China 3 – 6
3. Malta 3 – 3
4. South Africa 3 – 0
Classification matches (May 7)
For 7th place: New Zealand – South Africa (14:00)
For 5th place: Malta – Iran (15:45)
Match for the Super Final berth 1: Romania – China (17:30)
Match for the Super Final berth 2: Kazakhstan – Germany (19:15)
More articles about the World Cup and the former World League
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