Egypt, Hungary, Montenegro and Georgia in semis in Soma Bay

Hungary, Egypt, Montenegro and Georgia reached the semifinals of the Beach Water Polo Qualification Tournament for the World Beach Games.

All four teams are still unbeaten at the qualification tournament in Soma Bay (Egypt). They won 1st places in their groups in the first phase and continued their winning streaks in the quarterfinal matches this afternoon.

Host Egypt demolished South Africa 19:9 in the quarterfinals. Hungary was better than Ukraine (10:6). Montenegro edged out Romania (14:13). Georgia beat Kazakhstan (12:9).

Tomorrow, Egypt will play against Georgia in the first semifinal. Hungary and Montenegro will face off in the second match of the semis.

The medal winners will qualify for the World Beach Games, which will be held in Bali in August.

The highlight of the morning session was an encounter between Romania and Serbia in the last round of Group C. Romania surprised Serbia with a 14:13 win and qualified for the quarterfinals. Serbia will play in the 9th – 11th place classification.

After two rounds of the women’s tournament, Greece is atop the table.

Qualifications for World Beach Games (Soma Bay, May 12 – 15), Day 2

Men

MORNING SESSION

GROUP A

Ukraine – Georgia 10:14 (2:3, 1:6, 2:1, 5:4)

Ukraine: Babskyi, Osyka 3, Mametyev 1, Diadiura 3, Kechedzhyi 3, Babaienko. Head coach: Dobush.
Georgia: Gvetadze, Kikaleishvili, Bazhinov, Magrakvelidze 7, Baraldi 3, Rusishvili 1, Jakhaia 3. Head coach: Tukvadze.

The duel that decided 1st place in the group was an even contest until 2:2. In the 5th minute, the man of the match, Giorgi Magrakvelidze, converted a man-up to give Georgia a 3:2 lead. Georgia added four goals in a row by the middle of the second period for 6:2 and that was crucial. By the middle break, the Georgians stretched the margin to six (9:6) and played calmly in the second half.

Standings: 1. Georgia 6, 2. Ukraine 3, 3. Kuwait 0.

GROUP B

Saudi Arabia – Montenegro 6:14 (1:1, 2:4, 1:4, 2:5)

Saudi Arabia: Barnawi, Aldughther 2, Gahal, Aljazzar 1, Alhawsawi 1, Almuraihel 1, Almalki 1. Head coach: Laitadze.
Montenegro: D.Cetkovic, P.Cetkovic 3, Markovic 1, Brkic 3, Korac 2, Porobic 3, Adzic 2. Head coach: Maslovar.

Montenegro started slowly. Saudi Arabia led 1:0 and 2:1. Montenegro took control in the middle of the second period, cruised to a convincing win, and confirmed 1st place in the group.

Standings: 1. Montenegro 6, 2. South Africa 3, 3. Saudi Arabia 0.

GROUP C

Romania – Serbia 13:12 (2:3, 3:3, 5:4, 3:2)

Romania: Stoenescu, Amarie, Costa 5, A.Gheorghe 1, Insinna 4, Zamfir, Radoi 3. Head coach: E. Georgescu.
Serbia: Risticevic, Andrin 1, Sulc 4, Rogac 2, N.Radulovic 1, Stojanovic 3, Jankovic 1. Head coach: Maljkovic.

Serbia is the only European team that failed to advance to the quarterfinals after two narrow losses in the most exciting matches of the group stage.

Yesterday, the Serbs lost to Egypt after a penalty shootout. Today, Romania was better than Serbia in another thriller.

The game produced a lot of twists and turns, but Serbia was more often in front. Neither of the teams built a 3-goal advantage. Serbia was the first side that earned a 2-goal lead after Sulc scored from a 3 on 2 in the 7th minute for 5:3. The Romanians leveled at 5:5. Still, Serbia rebuilt a 2-goal lead early in the second half (7:5). However, Romania responded with a 3:0 run, went to 8:7 and Serbia became the team that had to chase the rival. The Romanians went to 10:8, but the Serbs leveled at 10:10 with two goals in the last 34 seconds of the third quarter. They added one more goal at the start of the fourth quarter and went in front (11:10). The Serbs had a 12:11 advantage two minutes before the end, but they didn’t finish the match as they wished.

Insinna made it 12:12 at 01:50. Just 12 seconds after Romania gained a penalty shot, which the best scorer, Maximilian Costa, converted to a 13:12. In the dying seconds, Serbia’s goalkeeper Dimitrije Risticevic helped his teammates in the attack and tried to score an equalizer. First, Romania’s goalkeeper Dragos Stoinescu, one of the best players of the game, saved a shot from Risticevic, who managed to take the ball after the save and tried to score again. Still, Risticevic had his shot blocked.

Standings: 1. Egypt 5, 2. Romania 3, 3. Serbia 1.

GROUP D

Hungary- Kazakhstan 12:5 (4:0, 1:4, 2:1, 5:0)

Hungary: Karos, Kolozsi 1, Bencz 3, Kereszturi 4, Pellei 1, N.Nagy, Boros 3. Head coach: Petovary.
Kazakhstan: Makhmetov, Tsoy 2, Akhmetov 2, Yeremin, Shonzhigitov 1, Pustovalov, Temyrkhanov. Head coach: Ukumanov.

Yesterday, Hungary beat Kazakhstan by six goals (12:6). Today’s encounter was similar. The score was almost the same. Hungary opened the game well, with a 4:0 first quarter. Kazakhstan came close before the middle break (4:5) and kept up with the Hungarians in the third quarter. The favorite dominated in the final five minutes.

Standings: 1. Hungary 6, 2. Kazakhstan 0.

AFTERNOON SESSION

QUARTERFINALS

Montenegro – Romania 14:13 (2:4, 3:2, 4:1, 5:6)

Montenegro: D.Cetkovic, P.Cetkovic, Markovic 2, Brkic 3, Korac 5, Porobic 4, Adzic . Head coach: Maslovar.
Romania: Stoenescu, Amarie, Costa 5, A.Gheorghe 5, Insinna 1, Zamfir, Radoi 2. Head coach: E. Georgescu.

The afternoon session started with a very exciting duel between Montenegro and Romania.

The Romanians opened the match excellently and were on a good way to surprise another big water polo nation after they beat Serbia in the morning. Late into the first quarter, Romania had a 4:1 lead and maintained a 3-goal distance until 6:3. Montenegro closed the first half with two goals for 5:6.

Romania took a 7:5 lead early in the third quarter. But, after that, the Montenegrins kept the rival goalless for five minutes. They scored four quick goals (Porobic 3 and Brkic 1) to earn a 9:7 advantage. Romania’s Insina opened the fourth period (8:9). However, Montenegro responded strongly and widened the gap to four (12:8). After that, the teams traded the goals. A minute and a half before the end, Montenegro led 14:10. But, the contest wasn’t over yet.

Romania scored three straight goals at the finish of the game. Fifteen seconds before the end, Maximilian Costa scored his fifth goal – Romania came very close (13:14). Eight seconds before the buzzer, Montenegro had a chance to secure a win from a penalty shot. Porobic missed and gave a chance to Romania to equalize in the last attack, but the final shot went wide and Montenegro secured a ticket for the semifinals.

Georgia – Kazakhstan 12:9 (4:2, 2:4,3:2, 3:1)

Georgia: Gvetadze, Kikaleishvili, Bazhinov, Magrakvelidze 5, Baraldi 1, Rusishvili 3, Jakhaia 3. Head coach: Tukvadze.
Kazakhstan: Makhmetov, Tsoy, Akhmetov 5, Yeremin 2, Shonzhigitov 2, Pustovalov, Temyrkhanov. Head coach: Ukumanov

The first quarter belonged to Georgia (4:2). Kazakhstan equalized in the middle of the second (5:5). In the following minutes, the teams exchanged goals. Georgia took a one-goal lead three times, and Kazakhstan caught up with the rival three times – until 8:8. The Georgians entered the final quarter leading 9:8. They broke the rival’s resistance with two back-to-back goals within 39 seconds. Magrakvelidze converted a penalty in the 17th minute. Shortly after, Jakhaia scored from a distance, and Georgia went to 11:8, which was the turning point.

South Africa – Egypt 9:19 (0:5, 3:3, 3:6, 3:5)

South Africa: Hashatse, Stewart 3, Redemeyer 2, Coryndon-Baker, MacDonald, Neser 3, Margro 3. Head coach: Mantle.
Egypt: Reda, Abdalarahman 1 , Salah Farag 4, Elsapagh 5, Atef 4, Seif , Ghounim 5. Head coach: Mansour.

Egypt took the tournament in Soma Bay seriously. Yesterday, the hosts beat Romania and Serbia in the group stage. Today, Egypt demonstrated its power in the African derby.

Egypt stormed to a 6:0 lead in the first six minutes of the game. The fans in the packed stands and the boat near the pool were delighted. South Africa got on the scoreboard after seven minutes of play (1:6). At halftime, it stood 8:3. Egypt had an excellent percentage of extra player shots. But, the hosts missed three penalty shots in the second half. Still, despite that fact, they doubled the advantage from halftime. The game ended 43 seconds before the end when Salah Fareg made it 19:9. The beach water polo match is finished before the final buzzer if one team earns a 10-goal advantage in the second half.

Ukraine – Hungary 6:10 (3:3, 1:3, 0:2, 2:2)

Ukraine: Babskyi, Osyka, Mametyev 1, Diadiura 4, Kechedzhyi, Babaienko. Head coach: Dobush.
Hungary: Kardos, Kolozsi, Bencz 2, Kereszturi 3, Pellei 1, Nagy 1, Boros 3. Head coach: Petovary.

Ukraine was a tough opponent for Hungary. Still, the favorites recorded a victory. Ukraine led 3:1 at the finish of the first quarter, but the Hungarians equalized before the first break (3:3), and opened the second quarter with three straight goals and went to 6:3. Ukraine didn’t surrender and managed to reduce the gap (4:6) in the last minute of the first half. The Hungarians’ defense was up to the task in the second half, which was the key to the victory. Hungary produced a 3:0 run to gain a 9:4 lead. A minute and five seconds before the end, Ukraine scored its first goal in the second half (5:9).Each team scored a goal apiece in the dying seconds.

Women

ROUND 2

Zimbabwe – South Africa 6:8 (2:4, 2:2, 2:1, 0:1)

Zimbabwe: Meyer, Bond 4, Harris, Wood, Chitsurura, Ashwin, Gentlemen 2. Head coach: Manthe.
South Africa: Laguma, Tancrel 2, Caswell 2, Hannan, Van den Bosch, Vd Loosdrecht 2, De Beer 2. Head coach: Meecham.

Czech Republic – Greece 6:11 (2:5, 3:4, 0:0, 1:2)

Czech Republic: Remisova, Busauerova 1, Fugnerova, Kilianova 1, Javurkova 1, Hola 1, Hlavata 2. Head coach: Fugner.
Greece: Mavrota, Chaldaiou 3, Koureta 3, Berikou 2, Galanopoulou, Tsimara 3, Kalaitzi. Head coach:: Karagianni.

Greece won the points in the European derby and practically secured one of the first two places and a spot in the gold-medal match. Greece built a 5:1 lead. However, the Czech Republic cut the deficit (4:5 and 5:6). Greeece closed the first half with three goals and regained a 4-goal lead (9:5). The third quarter was the first one in the tournament that no goals were scored. Greece’s defense did a good job in the fourth period, too.

South Africa missed too many chances with a power-play advantage and from penalty shots, but it led for most of the time in the African derby. Midway through the second period, South Africa was 5:2 up. Zimbabwe started coming back step by step and leveled at 6:6 in the 15^th minute. Still, De Beer gave South Africa a 7:5 lead from a counter-attack just five seconds before the final break. At the finish of the game, Tancrel scored with an extra player for the final score.

Standings: 1.Greece 6, 2. Czech Republic 3, 3. South Africa 3, 4. Zimbabwe 0.

Sunday, May 14: Czech Republic – Zimbabwe (14:30), South Africa – Greece (15:20)

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