The highlight of the last competition day in the group stage at the female European Championships was a clash of the Netherlands and Spain.
The Netherlands, the reigning champion, defeated Spain 10:6 and clinched 1st place in Group B.
An encounter between Russia and Greece was also very important and interesting. The Russians beat Greece 12:7 to secure 2nd place in Group A, behind Hungary.
In the last match of the group stage, Hungary demolished Serbia – 27:0.
The female tournament, Day 5
Group A: Serbia – Hungary 0:27, Greece – Russia 7:12, Slovakia – Croatia 9:7.
Standings: 1. Hungary 15, 2. Russia 12, 3. Greece 9, 4. Slovakia 6, 5. Croatia 3, 6. Serbia 0.
Group B: Spain – Netherlands 6:10, France – Italy 6:18, Germany – Israel 3:10.
Standings: 1. Spain 15, 2. Netherlands 12, 3. Italy 9, 4. France 6, 5. Israel 3, 6. Germany 0.
Schedule for Tuesday
Quarterfinals: Hungary (A1) – France (B4), Russia (A2) – Italy (B3), Greece (A3) – Spain (B2), Slovakia (A4) – Netherlands (B1).
For 9th place: Croatia (A5) – Israel (B5), For 11th place: Serbia (A6) – Germany (B6).
34th European Championships, women, Day 5
Evening session
Group A
Greece – Russia 7:12 (3:1, 3:4, 0:3, 1:4)
Greece: Tsoukala 2,Xenaki 2, Eleftheriadou 1, Avramidou 1, Ninou 1.
Russia: Prokofyeva 3, Karimova 2, Gorbunova 2, Bersneva 1, Borisova 1, Serzhantova 1, Timofeeva 1, Ivanova 1.
Extra player shot: Greece 4/8, Russia 6/7.
Russia clinched the 2nd place in the group thanks to an excellent performance in the second half of the game with Greece.
The runner-up from Barcelona 2018 Greece led throughout the first two quarters. Russia managed to go ahead just once in the first half when its captain Ekaterina Prokofyeva found the net for 5:4 in the 15th minute. Still, the Greeks scored twice by the end of the quarter and they led 6:5 at halftime.
Ekaterina Prokofyeva (RUS) in front of Greece’s defense Photo: lalex k./Total Waterpolo
After the middle break, Russia tightened the defense, while the attack worked very well. The Russians produced a 5:0 rush and earned a comfortable 10:6 lead with 05:48 minutes to go. Greece, which scored just one goal in the second half (Tsoukala for 7:10 in the 28th minute), wasn’t able to come back.
Tsoukala (GRE) and Karimova (RUS) Photo: lalex k./Total Waterpolo
Russia completed the group play with the biggest number of scored goals – 112. Hungary netted 94, Netherlands 83, Greece 79, Spain 74…
Serbia – Hungary 0:27 (0:5, 0:5, 0:9, 0:8)
Hungary: Gurisiatti 7, Szilagyi 5,Keszthelyi 4, Parkes 3, Gyongyosi 2, Rybanska 2, Garda 2, Valyi 1, Leimeter 1
Extra player shot: Serbia 0/6, Hungary 6/7. Penalty shots: Hungary 3/3
Yesterday, the male team of Hungary sank Malta 26:0.
Today, the Hungarian ladies also finished the match with a clean sheet, but they netted 27 goals.
The big win was crucial for Hungary’s men because they needed to improve a goal-difference in a battle for the 1st place. The match between the female teams of Hungary and Serbia wasn’t important, as the hosts secured the first place in the group before the last round, while Serbia was locked up for the 6th position. Still, Hungary showed no mercy to the Serbs and cruised to a big victory.
This was the first match at the 2020 European Championships for ladies in which the losing team was shut out for the whole game.
Two years ago in Barcelona, there were no games like this, but in Belgrade 2016, two female squads finished their matches with no goals – Turkey twice (Russia – Turkey 29:0 and Netherlands – Turkey 25:0) and Portugal once (Hungary – Portugal 25:0).
Russia achieved the biggest win at the 2020 Europeans (34:1 over Croatia on Day 4). The Netherlands still holds the record of the biggest –ever win (Netherlands – Sweden 37:1 in Oslo 1985).
Slovakia – Croatia 9:7 (1:3, 3:1, 3:2, 2:1)
Group B
Spain – Netherlands 6:10 (0:2, 1:4, 2:2, 3:2)
Spain: Garcia 2, Ortiz 1, Tarrago 1, Pena 1, Leiton 1.
Netherlands: Meggens 3, Van der Sloot 2, Stomphorst 1, Sevenich 1, Keuning 1, Van de Kraats 1, Sleeking 1.
Extra player shot: Spain 1/13, Netherlands 2/3. Penalty shots: Spain 0/1, Netherlands 2/2.
Spain – Netherlands Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo
The Dutch took a flying start and earned a 2:0 lead after less than three minutes of the game. Their defense was superb in the first quarter. By the middle of the second quarter, the Netherlands went 4:0 up. After the Dutch’ fourth goal, the Spaniards started recovering from an early shock. Leiton hit the back of the net for 1:4. The Netherlands built a 6:1 advantage before the middle break. Seven seconds from the end of the 2nd period, the Spaniards had an excellent chance for a new goal. Still, goalie Debby Wiliemsz, who was outstanding today, blocked a penalty shot from Roser Tarrago, the MVP of the World Championships.
Maud Megens gave the Dutch a six-goal lead from a counter-attack in the 18th minute of the second half (7:1). A minute later, Maica Garcia Godoy converted a man-up for 2:7, but Megens responded immediately with a penalty shot goal (8:2).
Although they were six goals down, the Spaniards didn’t give up, and they started climbing back step-by-step. They scored four goals in a row. In the middle of the fourth period, Roser Tarrago found the net from a distance (6:8). Shortly after, Spain had an extra-player attack to cut the deficit to one, put WIliamsz saved Garcia’s shot.
Catharina “Sabrina” van der Sloot (NED) Photo: lalex k./Total Waterpolo
Two minutes and 13 seconds before the end, Sabrina van der Sloot ended the reigning champions’ scoreless phase, which lasted more than 10 minutes, by a power-play goal for 9:6. Vivien Sevenich set the final score 70 seconds before the final buzzer.
France – Italy 6:18 (2:3, 1:5, 2:6, 1:4)
Germany – Israel 3:10 (1:3, 0:4, 0:3, 2:0)
