Greece and Italy finish atop groups of Olympic qualifications

January 21, 2021

Fabiana Sparano (ITA) posted 13 saves today Photo by Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

Italy and Greece finished atop their respective groups at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Trieste.

Greece defeated Hungary in the derby of Day 3 (8:5) to finish 1st in Group B.

After yesterday’s draw in the match Netherlands – Italy (7:7), it was clear that the goal-difference would probably decide the 1st-place winner in Group A.

According to the rules, if the first two teams are tied in points, the result against the 3rd-placed will determine the standings.

The Netherlands beat 3rd-placed France 15:6 in the first game of Day 3 in Group A, and didn’t surpass Italy’s win over the French on Day 1 (19:6). So, the Italians entered the match against Slovakia relaxed, they didn’t need to improve their goal difference, but they ran over the rival – 26:4.

The last match of the day, Kazakhstan – Israel ended in a 7:7 draw. A point was enough for Kazakhstan to keep 3rd place in Group B.

Quarterfinal matches (January 22): Italy – Israel, Netherlands – Kazakhstan, Greece – Slovakia, Hungary – France.

Women’s Olympic Games Qualification Tournament, Trieste, Day 3

Group A

France – Netherlands 6:15 (2:8, 2:1, 2:3, 0:3)

France:Millot 2, Mahieu 2, Fhaullin 1,Fitaire 1.
Netherlands:Genee 4, Van de Kraats 4, Megens 2, Wolves 2, Van der Sloot 1, Rogge 1, Sleeking 1.

Italy – Slovakia 26:4 (6:1, 7:0, 5:2, 8:1)

Italy: Queirolo 5, Palmieri 5, Garibotti 4, Giustini 4, R. Aiello 3, Bianconi 2, Marletta 1, Chiappini 1.
Slovakia: Stankovianska 3, Kovacikoca 1.

In the first game, the Dutch defeated France by nine goals 15:6. The Netherlands had a stunning start and jumped to a 9:2 lead early in the second quarter and it seemed that they would manage to achieve a 13-goal margin win. But, France didn’t surrender easily, while the Dutch slowed down and favorite recorded “only” a nine-goal victory.

Although the Italians didn’t need to achieve a big-margin win, they didn’t waste time and rushed to a 13:1 lead by halftime. The “Setterossa”, pulled by Elisa Queirolo and Valeria Palmieri (each scored five goals today), cruised to a 26:4 victory. Italy is better than the Netherlands in the overall goal difference, too.

1 Italy 3 – 5* (+35)
2 Netherlands 3 – 5* (+29)
3 France 3 – 2
4 Slovakia 3 – 0

*Equal points – results against the third-placed team: Italy – France 19:3, Netherlands – France 15:6

Group B

Hungary – Greece 5:8 (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:2)

Hungary: Valyi 1, Gurisatti 1, Szucs 1, Illes 1, Keszthelyi 1.
Greece: E. Plevritou 3, Xenaki 2, Tsoukala 1, Eleftheriadou 1, M. Plevritou 1.

Israel – Kazakhstan 7:7 (2:2, 1:2, 1:2, 3:1)

Israel:Bogachenko 4, Noy 1, Furotian 1, Tal 1.
Kazakhstan: Roga 2, Novikova 2, Muravyeva 2, Khritankova 1.

A year ago, Hungary defeated Greece 13:10 in the group stage of the 2020 European Championship in Budapest, but today’s encounter offered a different storyline. Greece played excellently in defense and managed to stop great Hungarian goal-getters.

Hungary earned an early 1:0 lead, but the Greeks equalized before the first break. Eleftheria Plevritou converted a penalty in the first minute of the second quarter, and Greece went ahead (2:1). Vanda Valyi responded immediately with an extra player (2:2). After that, Greece kept Hungary goalless for 12:54 minutes, which proved crucial for the outcome. Greece forced a new penalty shot in the 2nd minute of this quarter, which Tsoukala converted to a 3:2 advantage. Defenses dominated on both sides of the pool in the following minutes.

Greece scored two quick goals midway through the third period to build a 3-goal lead (5:2). Two minutes and six seconds before the last break, Illes ended Hungary’s goalless phase for 3:5. But, shortly after, the Greeks regained a 3-goal lead (6:3). In the fourth period, they increased the margin to four (7:3 and 8:4) and didn’t let Hungary come back into the match.

Israel and Kazakhstan shared the points. A draw was enough for Kazakhstan to remain in 3rd place. In this case, the criterion was the result against the best-placed team. Kazakhstan was beaten by Greece by eight goals (5:13), while Israel suffered a big defeat (1:20).

Israel played better by the middle of the second period. Three minutes before halftime, Israel led 3:2. But, Kazakhstan produced a 3:0 series and earned a 5:3 advantage in the middle of the third period. The Asians maintained the difference until the end of the quarter (6:4). Israel leveled the score in the 28th minute (6:6), Kazakhstan earned a new lead with three minutes remaining on the clock – 7:6. Israel equalized from a counter-attack in the 31st minute for the final score – 7:7.

1 Greece 3 – 6
2 Hungary 3 – 4
3 Kazakhstan 3 – 1* (-25)
4 Israel 3 – 1* (-44)

*Equal points – results against the highest-ranked team: Kazakhstan – Greece 5:13, Israel – Greece 1:20.