Russia, Hungary, Canada, and the United States advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s World League Super Final in Athens.
Russia defeated Greece after a penalty shootout (12:10) in the most exciting game of today’s quarterfinals. Hungary beat European champion Spain (10:8).
Encounters between non-European teams were one-sided contests. Canada, the winner of Group A, defeated Kazakhstan 11:3, while the USA taught a lesson to Japan (20:6)
Day 4, quarterfinals: Hungary – Spain 10:8, Canada – Kazakhstan 11:3, Japan – USA 6:20, Russia – Greece 12:10 (PSO)
Day 5, semifinals 1st-4th place: Hungary – Canada, Russia – USA, semifinals 5th-8th place: Spain – Kazakhstan, Greece – Japan.
2021 Women’s World League Super Final, Athens, Day 3
Quarterfinals
Hungary – Spain 10:8 (3:3, 3:1, 2:2, 2:2)
Hungary: Keszthelyi-Nagy 3, Leimeter 2, Szilagyi 1, Gyongyossy 1, Gurisatti 1, Garda 1.
Spain: Espar 3, Tarrago 3, Ortiz 1, Forca 1.
Extra player shots: Hungary 4/10, Spain 2/7. Penalty shots: Spain 1/1.
European champion Spain will leave Athens with no medal. Hungary recovered from two consecutive losses (to Russia and Canada) and recorded a well-deserved win in the first game of quarterfinal day.
Hungary opened the match with a 2:0 lead, and controlled the match until the end. Spain managed to equalize three times (2:2, 3:3, 4:4), but Hungary netted two goals in the last three minutes of the third quarter and had a 6:4 lead at halftime. The third period saw two goals on each side of the pool, while Hungary scored two goals in the first two minutes of the final period (Gurisatti and Garda), jumped to a 10:6 lead and there was no way back for Spain.
Canada – Kazakhstan 11:3 (5:0, 1:1, 1:1, 4:1)
Canada: McKelvey 3,Bekhazi 3, Crevier 1, E. Wright 1, Amorosa 1, Sohi 1, Lemay-Lavoie 1.
Kazakhstan: Roga 2, Turova 1.
Extra player shots: Canada 4/6, Kazakhstan 1/10. Penalty shots: Canada 1/1.
Canada defeated Kazakhstan easily and continued its winning streak. The North Americans’ rushed to a 6:0 lead. Kazakhstan scored its first goal in the 14th minute. The Asians managed to stop Canada’s best scorers in the third period, but they couldn’t avoid a big defeat.
Japan – USA 6:20 (1:4, 1:6, 1:6, 3:4)
Japan: Arima 2, Inaba 1, Ura 1, Kawaguchi 1, Kudo 1.
USA: Steffens 4, Musselman 3, Hauschild 2, Haralabidis 2, Raney 2, M.Fischer 2, Williams 2, Seidemann 2, Fattal 1.
Extra player shots: Japan 2/7, USA 3/5. Penalty shots: USA 5/5.
The Americans cruised to a win over the host of the Olympic Games. The big difference in quality was evident from the beginning. The Japanese did their best, but the Team USA was too strong for them.
Russia – Greece 12:10 (2:3, 4:3, 1:2, 1:0, PSO 4:2)
Russia: Bersneva 2, Serzhantova 1, Karimova 1, Simanovich 1, Timofeeva 1, Ivanova 1, Glyzina 1.
Greece: Tsoukala 3, Eleftheriadou 3, M.Plevritou 1, Ninou 1
Extra player shots: Russia 1/3, Greece 0/3. Penalty shots: Russia 0/1.
Penalty shootout: Glyzina 1:0, E.Plevritou 1:1, Simanovich 2:1, Eleftheriadou – Karnaukh saved, Prokofyeva 3:1, Tsoukala 3:2, Karimova 4:2, V.Plevritou – Karnaukh saved
The duel between Russia and Greece was a close contest from the first whistle. There were a lot of turns, but neither of the teams earned a 2-goal lead. Both defenses were superb.
Russia scored an opening goal, but Greece had a slim advantage at the first break (3:2). Early in the second period, Greece had a 4:3 lead, but a new turn came quickly. In the middle of the quarter, the Russians scored two goals within 50 seconds and went in front (5:4). The Russians had a 6:5 lead, but Nikoleta Eleftheriadou beat the buzzer. She converted a power-play advantage in the last second of the first half to equalize (6:6).
Russia scored the first goal in the second half, but the third period belonged to the Greeks, and the hosts were in front (8:7) before the final eight minutes.
In the 27th minute, Serzhantova leveled the score at 8:8. Defenses dominated in the remaining five minutes. There were no goals, so the match entered the shootout. Greece had the last chance to secure a win in regular time, but Nikoleta Eleftheriadou hit the post a second before the buzzer.
Russia’s goalkeeper Anna Karnaukh was a key player in the shootout. She blocked two shots and sent Russia into the semis.
