The team of the United States of America clinched its 14th gold medal in the Women’s World League.
The Americans defeated Hungary (14:8) in the final match of the 2021 Super Final Tournament and continued their domination. This is the 7th consecutive title in the World League for the USA ladies.
Russia is going home with the bronze medal as it defeated Canada 10:8 in the match for 3rd place.
Day 6 – Final: USA – Hungary 14:8, bronze-medal match: Russia – Canada 10:8, for 5th place: Spain – Greece 9:12, for 7th place: Kazakhstan – Japan 18:10.
Final standings (prize money): 1. USA ($ 100.000), 2. Hungary ($ 70.000), 3. Russia ($ 50.000), 4.Canada ($ 35.000), 5. Spain ($ 30.000), 6. Greece ($ 25.000), 7. Japan ($ 20.000), 8. Kazakhstan ($ 15.000)
Individual awards – The MVP of the tournament: Madeline Musselman (USA), the best goalkeeper: Ashleigh Johnson (USA), the best scorer: Yumi Arima (Japan)
2021 Women’s World League Super Final, Athens, Day 6
Final
USA – Hungary 14:8 (4:2, 2:1, 3:4, 5:1)
USA: Steffens 4, Musselman 3, Fattal 3, M.Fischer 2, Hauschild 1,A.Williams 1.
Hungary: Gurisatti 2, Keszthelyi 2, Leimeter 2, Rybanska 1, Abel-Antal 1.
Extra player shots: USA 7/11, Hungary 3/8. Penalty shots: USA 1/1.
The final was a replay of the gold medal match in the first edition of the World League, held in 2004. The Americans narrowly defeated Hungary in the game for the title 17 years ago (6:5). That medal was the start of the USA’s domination in this competition, while Hungary didn’t win a medal after 2007 until 2021.
Today, Team USA recorded a convincing 6-goal victory, but the Hungarians proved they deserved a spot in the final. The Europeans kept up with the rival for more than three quarters.
The Americans started excellently. By the middle of the first quarter earned a 3:0 lead. But, Hungary responded well and cut the deficit to one goal (3:4) in the 12th minute. Still, the World and Olympic champions, led by their captain Maggie Steffens, re-built a 3-goal lead before the middle break (6:3). However, Hungary didn’t surrender.
The European team was a better rival in the third period, and it trailed 7:9 before the final quarter.
Rita Keszthelyi opened the fourth period with an action goal in the 27th minute, and Hungary came very close (8:9). Still, the USA scored five unanswered goals in the final five minutes and secured a convincing win. But the final score doesn’t mirror the intensity of the battle in the pool. Hungary didn’t deserve so big a defeat.
The Americans’ captain Maggie Steffens was voted the best player of the final game.
After today’s triumph, Team USA has 16 World league medals in its treasury (14 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal)
Bronze-medal match
Russia – Canada 10:8 (4:4, 1:1, 4:0, 1:3)
Russia: Ivanova 3, Karimova 2, Vakihtova 2, Prokofyeva 1, Simanovich 1, Soboleva 1.
Canada:E.Wright 3, McKee 1, Crevier 1, Eggens 1, Sohi 1, McKelvey 1.
Extra player shots: Russia 3/9, Canada 0/3. Penalty shots: Russia 0/1, Canada 2/2 .
Russia and Canada had ups and downs in the match for 3rd place, but the more experienced Russian players dictated the pace in crucial moments and deserved the victory.
Canada, which beat Russia 12:10 on Day 1, stunned its rival with an explosive start. In the 5th minute, Canada led 3:0. Still, Russia came back into the match quickly and equalized – 3:3. The North Americans regained a lead (4:3), but Vakhitova leveled the score at 4:4 in the last second of the first quarter.
Russia took the lead in the 10th minute (Prokofyeva for 5:4), but Emma Wright replied with an equalizer immediately (5:5). There were no goals in the last five minutes of the first half.
The Russians dominated the third period, and that was vital for their win. Their defense was outstanding in the third quarter, while they scored two action goals and two goals with a power-play advantage and entered the fourth period with a big 9:5 advantage.
In the 27th minute, Sohi scored the first goal for Canada in the second half. Two minutes later, Emma Wright added one, and the North Americans halved the gap (7:9). However, Evgenya Soboleva scored a nice action goal two minutes before the end for 10:7 and the silver medalist from the 2020 European Championship secured the bronze medal. Canada scored a consolation goal in the last minute.
Russia won its 8th medal in the World League (one gold, two silver, and five bronze medals).
For 5th place
Greece – Spain 9:12 (1:2, 3:2, 4:4, 1:4)
Greece: Xenaki 3, E.Plevritou 2, Tsoukala 1, Eleftheriadou 1, Ninou 1,Myrokefalitaki 1.
Spain:Garcia 4, Forca 3, Espar 2, Ruiz 1, Espar 1, Leiton 1.
Extra player shots: Greece 3/8, Spain 4/12.
Greece and Spain fought a hard battle in the fifth-place match. The game was an even contest until the middle of the fourth period (9:9). Then, the hosts ran out of energy, while Spain scored three goals in the last 128 seconds for a 12:9 victory.
For 7th place
Japan – Kazakhstan 18:10 (4:3, 4:1, 6:5, 4:1)
Japan:Arima 5, Inaba 2, Ura 2, Iwano 2, Hashida 2, Nishiyama 2, Kudo 2, Niizawa 1.
Kazakhstan:Turova 4, Novikova 2, Yeremina 1,Muravyeva 1, Khritankova 1, Murataliyeva 1.
Extra player shots: Japan 6/14, Kazakhstan 5/10 Penalty shots: Japan 1/1, Kazakhstan 1/2.
All finals
2004 USA – Hungary 12:10
2005 Greece – Russia 13:10
2006 USA – Italy 9:6
2007 USA – Australia 8:4
2008 Russia – USA 8:7
2009 USA – Canada 9:6
2010 USA – Australia 12:11
2011 USA – Italy 9:7
2012 USA – Australia 6:4
2013 China – Russia 8:7
2014 USA – Italy 10:8
2015 USA – Australia 8:7
2016 USA – Spain 13:9
2017 USA – Canada 12:6
2018 USA – Netherlands 8:6
2019 USA – Italy 10:9
2020-21 USA – Hungary 14:8
