The second day of the Men’s U16 Championships in Volos didn’t produce surprises.
There were several interesting games today, but all favorites recorded wins.
After two competition days, Montenegro, Spain, Italy, Malta, and Hungary secured top spots in their respective groups. Besides these five teams, Croatia and Slovenia mathematically qualified for the eighth finals. It’s almost certain that Greece, Serbia, Germany, and probably Japan will advance to the Round of 16. However, there are still five available tickets for the Platinium and Gold Rounds (places 1st -16th).
Day 2, results
Group A: Montenegro – Australia 14:12. Latvia bye.
Group B: Slovenia -Azerbaijan 17:3. Croatia bye.
Group C: Spain – Brazil 14:10. Poland bye.
Group D: Japan – Georgia 14:9, Greece – Switzerland 21:4
Group E: Italy – Egypt 7:4. Ukraine bye.
Group F: Kazakhstan – Malta 3:13. USA bye.
Group G: Hungary – South Africa 25:3.Turkey bye
Group H: Germany – Portugal 16:2. Serbia bye.
Group A
Montenegro – Australia 14:12 (3:4, 2:3,4:2, 5:3)
Montenegro: Bacovic, Matijasevic 2, Moracanin , Petrovic 1, Milinic, Roganovic 2, Stupar 2, Janovic 4, Vicevic, Samardzic, Gojkovic 3, Vukanic , Vukasinovic. Head coach: Mirovic.
Australia: Cole, Brown 1, Martin, Macic 3, Izzard 1, Lambert 1, Connors, Mordes, Saupin, Webber, Magasanik 4, Korac 2, Markart.
Photo: KOE
Montenegro secured 1st place in the group after a win over Australia in an exciting match, which was open until the final minutes. There were a few twists and turns in the first three periods, and before the fourth, the teams were tied at 9:9. Australia took a 10:9 lead early in the fourth. Montenegro responded with three goals and went ahead (12:10). However, the “Sharks” cut the deficit (11:12), and a big battle continued. But, the Montenegrins scored two goals in a row, and they earned a 14:11 advantage with 54 seconds left on the clock. After that, Australia scored only a consolation goal.
Standings: 1. Montenegro 4 points (2 games), 2. Australia 0 (1), 3. Latvia 0 (1)
Group B
Slovenia – Azerbaijan 17:3 (3:1, 6:0, 4:1, 4:1)
Slovenia: Karnicar, Santak 5, Policnik, Povhe 2, Lukic, Basic 1, Poznik, Kirasic 3, Klobucar 3, Laketic, Cetkovic 1, Stromajer 2, Udovc. Head coach: Hajdin.
Azerbaijan: Hassanzadeh Abbadi, Aliyev, Sadigov, Guliyev Mamaliyev 1, Huseynov, Dailyuk, Musayev 2, Aghababayev, Zhizhin, Baghirli, Ismaylov, Huseynov. Head coach:Lepeschenko.
Slovenia beat Azerbaijan with ease and qualified for the eighth finals. Tomorrow, it will play against neighbor Croatia in a match that will decide the group winner.
Standings: 1. Croatia 2 (1), 2. Slovenia 2 (1), 3. Azerbaijan 0 (2)
Group C
Spain – Brazil 14:10 (5:1, 3:1, 4:5, 2:3)
Spain: Diaz, Garcia 1, Nunez 3, Garrido 3, Feliu 1, Granados, Lema 2, Fernandez 1, Ferrando , Diaz 2, Garcia, Rodriguez,Vinuales.
Brazil: Dantas, Zibecchi, Martinelli, Siquera 1, Marinho, Capozzielli, Carraresi, Ribeiro 1, Muniz 2, Martins 1, L. Wulfhorst 5, Leme, G.Wulfhorst. Head coach: Dezani.
The Spaniards did a great job in the first half. They earned an 8:1 advantage. Since their win wasn’t in danger, they played relaxed in the second half.
Standings:1. Spain 4 (2), 2. Brazil 0 (1), 3. Poland 0 (1)
Group D
Japan – Georgia 14:9 (4:2, 2:4, 3:2, 5:1)
Japan: Ogami, Yoneda 1, Kozaka, Inoue 4, Hombe, Iijima, Okamoto 1, Shoyama , Goto, Morikawa 2, Miyama 4, Minagawa 2, Yamanaka.
Georgia: Kakhiani, Gujaraidze, Iobidze 2, Tsereteli, Veshaguri 2, Giorgobiani, Khubulashvili 1, Kurashvili, Khutsianidze, Chkheidze 2, Mchedlishvili 2, Todua, Matchavariani. head coach: Kutivadze.
Greece – Switzerland 21:4 (6:0, 7:2, 4:1, 4:1)
Greece: Mavriopoulos, Lykoudis 4, Kokkinos 1, Karatzas 3, Kapragkos , Laskaridis 3, Zervoudakis 1, Mitrakis, Zachopoulos 3, Siamas 1, Belesis 2, Chomatas 2, Kratimenos. Head coach: Lempesis.
Switzerland: Muszely, Bozzo, Luethi 1, Catillaz, Brambillasca, Geser 2, Flueckiger,Valsangiacomo, Rutz,Ravetta 1, Pizzoli, Xantippe.
Japan and Georgia had ups and downs in the first half. They were in a neck-and-neck race until 7:7. Then, Japan produced a 7:1 rush for a 14:8 lead. Georgia scored its last goal a second before the end from a penalty shot.
Photo: KOE
Greece dictated the pace from the first whistle of the match against Switzerland. The hosts built a 7:0 lead before the Swiss found the net for the first time. Greece needs a point in the match against Georgia tomorrow to keep 1st place. Even in a case of a loss with a small difference, the hosts will stay atop the group.
Standings: 1. Greece 4 (2), 2. Japan 2 (2), 3. Georgia 2 (2), 4. Switzerland 0 (2)
Group E
Italy – Egypt 7:5 (2:2, 1:1, 2:1, 2:1)
Italy: Poggi, Miraldi 1, Valle, Barigelli, Arco, Tresa, Pettonati, Gambacciani 2, De Vecchis 1, Demarchi 2, Salipante 1, Modica, Castrucci.
Egypt: Elessawy, Rafeek, Ahmed, Anwar 2, Hegazy, Haytham, Tarek 1, Seody, Majed, Elhelaly 1, Khalaf, Hamdy 1, Osman.
The Africans didn’t surprise Italy, but Egypt played very well and proved that it could upset some of the favorites. Egypt led 2:0. Italy answered with three goals to go to 3:2. Still, Egypt leveled at 3:3 before the middle break. In the middle of the fourth quarter, the sides were tied at 4:4. After that, Italy netted three straight goals (7:4) and secured the win.
Standings: 1. Italy 4 (2), 2. Egypt 0 (1), 3. Ukraine 0 (1)
Group F
Kazakhstan – Malta 3:13 (0:3, 1:3, 0:4, 2:3)
Kazakhstan: Ozerov, Babenko, Gribov, Ossipov, Sarajov, Yurtayev, Karyukin 1, Sazonov 1, Kubaidolla, Fedorovich 1, Ali, Bakmukhamedov, Aday.
Malta: Galea, Dimech 1, Engerer 1, Bonavia, Cassar 1, Bugeja, Cutajar Licari 2, Cutajar 4, Schembri 2, Cutajar 2,Montebello Brownrigg, Mallia, Schembri. Head coach:Farrugia.
After defeating Team USA on Day 1, Malta beat Kazakhstan with ease and qualified for the eight-finals as the group winner.
Standings: 1. Malta 4 (2), 2. USA 0 (1), 3. Kazakhstan 0 (1)
Group G
Hungary – South Africa 25:3 (5:0, 8:1, 7:1, 5:1)
Hungary: Kiss, Balogh 2, Toth 2, Doroszlai 1, Mero 4, Toth 2, Tatrai 3, Regos 3, Nagy 1, Haverkampf 5, Simon 1, Lugosi 1, Borbely. Head coach: Bisztritsanyi.
South Africa: Du Plessis, Marais, Melleng Williams, October 1 Pryce, Cicero, Smith, Malhrebe, Wilson, Ditz, Fall 2, Mamaregane, Srauss.
An easy victory for the Hungarians, who cemented 1st place in Group G.
Standings: 1. Hungary 4 (2), 2. Turkey 0 (1), 3. South Africa 0 (1)
Group H
Germany – Portugal 16:2 (6:1, 4:0, 3:1, 3:0)
Germany:Roessel, Marcinczak, Taubert 5, Kugler 1, Hofmann 1, Mergenthaler, Janke2, Zelmer, Klaffke, Kammermeier 4, Tick 1, Bruns 2, Heinrich.
Portugal: Costa, M.Santos, G.Santos, Amorim, Viriato, Magalhaes, Jarreta 1, Ferras 1, Almeida, Sampaio, Morais, Branco, Palhares.
Photo: KOE
All teams in this group have mathematical chances to reach the eight-finals. However, after Serbia’s win over Germany (10:4) and today’s result, it’s clear that only a miracle in the match between Serbia and Portugal can prevent Serbia from finishing in 1st and Germany in 2nd place.
Standings: 1. Serbia 2 (1), 2. Germany 2 (2), 3. Portugal 0 (1).
Pairing for the eighth-finals (August 24): A1 (Montenegro) – D2, B2 – C1 (Spain), B1 – C2, A2 – D1, E1 (Italy) – H2, F2 – G1 (Hungary), 1F (Malta) – G2, 2E – 1H.
