Montenegro, Hungary, Serbia and Greece will share the medals at the Men’s World U16 Championships in Volos.
The four teams advanced to the semifinals of the Platinium Round (1st-8th place).
Two quarterfinal matches were very exciting, one was a close battle, but without a thrilling ending, while one of the four matches was a one-sided contest.
Montenegro defeated Spain after a penalty shootout (14:13). Greece beat Croatia thanks to a late comeback (14:12). Hungary defeated Italy (12:9), and Serbia recorded a convincing win over Turkey 13:5.
Tomorrow, Hungary will play against Serbia, while Greece and Montenegro will face in the second semifinal.
The semifinals and battles for medals are approaching in the Gold and Silver rounds,too. Japan, Brazil, USA and Malta will play in the semifinals of the Gold Round.
2022 World Men’s U16 Championships, Day 5
Platinium Round (places 1st – 8th)
QUARTERFINALS
Montenegro – Spain 14:13 (2:2, 2:3, 3:2, 0:0, PSO 7:6)
Montenegro: Bacovic, Matijasevic 1, Moracanin, Petrovic, Milinic 1, Roganovic 1, Stupar 3, Janovic 4, Samardzic 1, Gojkovic 3, Vukanic , Vukasinovic. Head coach: Mirovic.
Spain: Diaz, S. Garcia 1, Nunez 1, Garrido 5, Feliu , Granados 1, Lema 2, Fernandez , Ferrando , Diaz 2, F. Garcia , Rodriguez 1,Vinuales.
The quarterfinals of the Platinium Round started with an exciting duel between Montenegro and Spain.
Montenegro scored the first two goals in the match, but Spain took control shortly after. The Spaniards led 4:2, 5:3, 6:4. Still, the sides were tied at 7:7 before the final quarter. After a goalless fourth period, the match entered the shootout. Before the fifth round of shots, Spain led 11:10. Then, Montenegro’s goalkeeper Vukasinovic saved a shot from Nunez Perez. At the other end of the pool, Spain’s goalie Diaz touched the ball after Roganovic’s shot. It seemed that he had saved, and the Spaniards started celebrating. However, after consultations, the referees said that the ball crossed the goal line. Montenegro leveled at 11:11, and the drama continued. In the eighth round of the shots, Vukasinovic saved, while his teammate Stupar found the net for Montenegro’s 14:13 win.
Italy – Hungary 9:12 (3:3, 4:4, 1:3, 1:2)
Italy: Poggi, Miraldi, Valle, Barigelli Calcari, Arco 1, Tresa, Pettonati 2, Gambacciani 3, De Vecchis 1, Demarchi 1, Salipante, Modica 1, Castrucci.
Hungary: Kiss, Balogh 5, A. Toth, Doroszlai, Mero 1, M.Z. Toth 1, Tatrai, Regos 1, Nagy, Haverkampf 4, Simon 1, Lugosi, Borbely. Head coach: Bisztritsanyi.
All photos by KOE
Italy dictated the pace in the first half. The young “Settebello’ led for most of the time. They had a 2-goal advantage twice (2:0, 6:4). Hungary equalized ten seconds before the middle break (7:7). The Hungarians played better in the second half. Still, Italy kept with a big rival. Italy reduced the gap to one early in the fourth (9:10), but the Hungarians scored the last two goals in the match.
Turkey – Serbia 5:13 (1:3, 1:3, 2:4, 1:3)
Turkey:Ozyorenti, Caliskan, Atam 1, Aral, Adiguzel, Erdag 1, Naipoglu 3, Ali Cinar, Ayaksiz, Karabulut, Alpman, Yener, Ozten. Head coach:Ozdurak.
Serbia: Dimkovic, Bodiroga, Novakovic 1, Krdzalin, Kojic, Lazic 1, Gladovic 3, Djokanovic 1, Stajic, Boskovic , Krstic 7, Dimic, Savic. Head coach: Korolija.
Serbia controlled the match from the beginning. The Serbs opened the game with two quick goals. Turkey halved the distance (1:2), but the favorites jumped to a 5:1 lead shortly after the first break. From that point on, the difference was never smaller than three goals. Serbia, led by unstoppable Strahinja Krstic, cruised to a 13:5 victory.
Croatia – Greece 12:14 (1:3, 5:3, 4:3, 2:5)
Croatia: Prizmic, Dragosevic, Kovacevic , Curkovic 3, Burburan, Raci, Prezzi 2 , Toncinic 2, Jerkovic 2, Galic 1, Djuho, Bucevic 2 , Batos. Head coach: Hrestak.
Greece: Mavriopoulos, Lykoudis 2, Kokkinos 4, Karatzas 3, Kapragkos, Laskaridis 3, Zervoudakis 1, Mitrakis, Zachopoulos, Siamas 2, Belesis 1, Chomatas , Kratimenos. Head coach: Lempesis.
Both teams had ups and downs in the last match of the day, but Greece booked a ticket for the semifinals thanks to a good opening and an excellent finish.
The Greeks led 3:1 and 4:2. But Croatia took control midway through the second quarter and earned a lead (5:4 and 6:5). Still, Greece leveled at 6:6 with a man up four seconds before the middle break.
The teams exchanged goals in the third period. Just two seconds from time, Croatia’s Bucevic gave his squad a 10:9 lead before the final period.
The Croats built an 11:9 lead early in the fourth. In the middle of the quarter, they were still in front (12:11). However, Greece, which had big support from the fans in the stands, made a comeback, scored three goals in two minutes, and recorded a 14:12 win.
Day 6 (August 26), semifinals (5th – 8th): Spain – Croatia (16:45), Italy – Turkey (18:00), Semifinals (1st – 4th): Montenegro – Greece (19:15), Hungary – Serbia (20:30).
The schedule of the semifinals is subject to change.
Gold Round (places 9th – 16th)
QUARTERFINALS
Japan – Slovenia 13:3 (3:2, 3:0, 2:0, 5:1)
Japan: Ogami, Yoneda, Kozaka, Inoue 6, IIjima, Okamoto, Shoyama 1, Goto, Morikawa 1, Miyama 3, Minagawa 2, Yamanaka.
Slovenia: Karnicar, Santak, Policnik 1, Povhe 1, Lukic 1, Basic, Poznik, Kirasic, Klobucar, Laketic, Cetkovic , Stromajer, Udovc. Head coach: Hajdin.
Brazil – Australia 10:9 (1:1, 2:3, 3:1, 4:4)
Brazil: Dantas, Zibecchi, Martinelli 1, Siqueira, Marinho, Capozzielli, Carraresi, Ribeiro 4, Muniz 1, Martins 1 , L. Wulfhorst 2, Leme 1, G.Wulfhorst. Head coach: Dezani.
Australia: Cole, Brown 2, Martin, Macic 3, Izzard 1, Lambert 1, Connors, Mordes, Saupin 1, Webber, Magasanik, Korac 1, Markart.
Germany – USA 8:9 (2:2, 4:1, 1:4, 1:2)
Germany:Roessel, Marcinczak, Taubert 5, Kugler, Hofmann, Mergenthaler, Janke, Zelmer, Klaffke, Kammermeier 1, Tick 1, Bruns 1, Heinrich.
USA: Pavoggi, Brinkema 3, Appeldorn, Arlett 1, Banos, Blum, Bradley 1, Forer 4, Francisco, Ohl, Whitehead, Kim, Lacy.
Malta –Egypt 8:6 (2:1, 0:3, 3:2, 3:0)
Malta: Galea, Dimech, Engerer, Bonavia, Cassar, Bugeja, Cutajar Licari 2, J. Cutajar 5, Schembri 1, C.M.Cutajar,Montebello Brownrigg, Mallia, Schembri. Head coach:Farrugia.
Egypt: Elessawy, Rafeek 1, Ahmed, Anwar 1, Hegazy, Haytham, Tarek 2, Seody, Majed, Elhelaly, Khalaf 1, Hamdy 1, Osman.
Japan defeated Slovenia convincingly. The other three quarterfinal games in the Gold Round were very exciting.
Brazil opened the game better and earned a 3:1 lead. However, Australia responded with a 3:0 rush and went ahead (4:3). The South Americans entered the final quarter with a 6:5 advantage. They doubled their lead early in the final period (7:5), but new turns were yet to come. Australia produced a new 3:0 series and gained an 8:7 lead two minutes before the end. In the remaining time, Brazil earned a 9:8 advantage, Australia leveled at 9:9, and, finally, the South Americans scored a winner with 29 seconds to go.
Germany built a 3-goal lead in the second period (5:2 and 6:3), but the Americans started coming back in time. They leveled at 7:7 before the final quarter. Team USA earned a 9:7 advantage in the fourth period. After that, Germany scored just a consolation goal.
Egypt played excellently in the middle two quarters against Malta. The Africans entered the final minute of the third period with a 6:3 lead. However, the Maltese scored two goals in the last 17 seconds of this quarter and added three in the final period for an 8:6 win.
Day 6 (August 26) – Semifinals (9th – 12th place): Japan – Brazil (11:30), USA – Malta (12:45), Semifinals (13th – 16th place): Slovenia – Australia (9:00), Germany – Egypt (10:15).
Silver Round (17th – 25th place)
GROUP I
Georgia – Switzerland 15:4 (4:0, 3:0, 1:1, 7:3)
Georgia: Kakhiani, Gujaraidze, Iobidze 1, Tsereteli, Veshaguri 1, Giorgobiani 2, Khubulashvili 1, Kurashvili, Khutsianidze 2, Chkheidze 4, Mchedlishvili 3, Todua 1, Matchavariani. Head coach: Kutivadze.
Switzerland: Muszely, Bozzo 1, Luethi , Catillaz, Brambillasca, Geser, Flueckiger,Valsangiacomo, Rutz,Ravetta 2, Pizzoli 1, Xantippe.
Poland – Latvia 19:2 (6:0, 3:1, 5:1, 5:0)
Poland: Goik, Bankowski 2, Kedzior 2, Guzy 1, Bloch 2, Staniszewski 2, Grabinski 5, Broniecki 1, Rozycki, Pyrek 3, Ciula, Greif 1, Ksiazkiewicz. Headcoach: Bar.
Latvia: Smorodovs, Kopitovs, Saveljevs, Levsuks Grinovs, Ivanovs, Pasko 1, Jegorovs 1, Suharevs, Adukonis, Mihnovics, Blusins.
Latvia – Georgia 3:24 (0:7, 1:6, 1:8, 1:3)
Latvia: Smorodovs, Kopitovs 2, Saveljevs, Levsuks Grinovs, Ivanovs, Pasko 1, Jegorovs, Suharevs, Adukonis, Mihnovics, Blusins.
Georgia: Kakhiani, Gujaraidze 1, Iobidze 3, Tsereteli 1, Veshaguri 3, Giorgobiani 1, Khubulashvili 1, Kurashvili 5, -Khutsianidze 4, Chkheidze 3, Mchedlishvili, Todua 2, Matchavariani. Head coach: Kutivadze.
Azerbaijan – Poland 6:16 (1:5, 3:1, 0:6,2:4)
Azerbaijan: Hassanzadeh Abbadi, Aliyev, Sadigov, Guliyev Mamaliyev 2, Huseynov, Danilyuk 1, Musayev 3, Aghababayev, Zhizhin, Baghirli, Ismaylov, Huseynov. Head coach:Lepeschenko.
Poland: Goik, Bankowski 1, Kedzior, Guzy 1, Bloch 2, Staniszewski 2, Grabinski 2, Broniecki 1, Rozycki, Pyrek 1, Ciula 1, Greif 5, Ksiazkiewicz. Headcoach: Bar.
Standings: 1. Georgia 6 (3), 2. Poland 6 (4), 3. Switzerland 2 (3), 3. Latvia 2 (3), 5. Azerbaijan 0 (3).
GROUP J
South Africa – Ukraine 8:6 (3:2, 2:3, 2:1, 1:0)
South Africa: Du Plessis, Marais 1, Melleng Williams 1, October 1, Pryce, Cicero, Smith, Malhrebe, Wilson, Ditz 1, Fall 4, Mamaregane 1, Srauss.
Ukraine: Khytryi, Len, Artsyshevskyy 2, Karasov, Levin 2, Symyk, Yarmoluik 1, Nakonechnyi 1, Grybov, Chernykh, Rudnyk, Chyzhuk, Borboskyi.
Portugal – Kazakhstan 6:8 (1:2, 1:1, 2:3, 2:2)
Portugal: Costa, M.Santos, G.Santos 3, Amorim, Viriato, Magalhaes 1, Jarreta 1, Ferras 1, Almeida, Sampaio, Morais, Branco, Palhares.
Kazakhstan: Ozerov, Babenko 2, Ossipov, Sarajov 2, Yurtayev 1, Karyukin 1, Sazonov 2, Fedorovich, Ali 2, Bakmukhamedov, Aday.
Ukraine – Portugal 15:3 (3:1, 5:0, 4:1, 3:1)
Ukraine: Khytryi, Len, Artsyshevskyy 2, Karasov 2, Levin 1, Symyk, Yarmoluik 3, Nakonechnyi , Grybov 1, Chernykh 2, Rudnyk, Chyzhuk 4, Borboskyi.
Portugal: Costa, M.Santos, G.Santos 1, Amorim, Viriato 1, Magalhaes, Jarreta 1, Ferras, Almeida, Sampaio, Morais, Branco, Palhares.
Kazakhstan – South Africa 7:11 (3:1, 1:3, 1:4, 2:3)
Kazakhstan: Ozerov, Babenko, Ossipov, Sarajov, Yurtayev, Karyukin 1, Sazonov 3, Fedorovich 1, Ali, Bekmukhamedov 2, Aday.
South Africa: Du Plessis, Marais, Melling Williams, October 1, Pryce, Cicero, Smith 3, Malhrebe 1, Wilson 1, Ditz, Fall 4, Mamaregane 1, Srauss.
Standings: 1. South Africa 6 (3), 2. Ukraine 4 (3), 3. Kazakhstan 2 (3), 4. Portugal 0 (3).
South Africa and Ukraine advanced to the semifinals for places 1st – 4th in the Silver Round (17th – 21st). Kazakhstan and Portugal will battle for 23rd place. They will find out their rivals after tomorrow’s morning session and the last round in Group I.
