Russia, the USA, the Netherlands and Greece are the first four teams which advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World U20 Championships in Funchal, as they topped the respective groups after the Preliminary Stage.

The USA won the 1st place in Group A, in which the Americans, Australia and Greece were in a neck-and-neck race. The Netherlands and Spain collected an equal number of points in Group B, but the Dutch finished 1st, thanks to a better result in the match against the 3rd-placed Brazil. Russia convincingly won the 1st place in Group C. Finally, Greece secured the top spot in Group D by beating China today.

Crossover round (12 September)
Hungary (A2) –Brazil (B3)
Spain (B2) – Australia (A3)
Italy (C2) – Canada (D3)
China (D2) – South Africa (C3)

Classification 13-16, semifinals (12 September): Japan (A4) – Kazakhstan (B4), Portugal (C4) – New Zealand (D4).

Quarterfinals (13 September)
USA (A1) – Italy or Canada
Netherlands (B1) – China or South Africa
Russia (C1) – Hungary or Brazil
Greece (D1) –Australia or Spain

World Women’s U20 Championships, Day 3

Group A

Hungary – Japan 12:10 (2:5, 4:0, 4:4, 2:1)

Hungary: Valyi 3, Rybanska 3, Utassy 2, Petovari 2, Muzsnay 1, Kiss 1.
Japan: Nishiyama 2, Ura 2, Iwano 2, Kudo 2, Danno 1, Hashida 1.

USA – Australia 9:8 (1:3, 1:1, 4:2, 3:2)

USA: Neushul 3, Flynn 2, Roemer 1, Ayala 1. Hill 1, Klass 1.
Australia: Oberman 3, A. Andrews 3, Traplin 1, C. Andrews 1.

The competition in Group A was started with exciting matches and it was completed in the same fashion. Finally, the USA Team advanced to the quarterfinals.

The Americans edged out Australia today (9:8) and stayed in the 1st place. Hungary finished 2nd, Australia took the 3rd place, while Japan is 4th. The Japanese played very well in this strong group. Nevertheless, Japan goes to the classification for places 13th-16th, because it won just a point (in a clash with the USA), while it was beaten narrowly by Australia and Hungary.

In the first today’s match, Hungary defeated Japan, despite the Japanese led 5:2 after the first quarter. The Hungarians scored four unanswered goals in the second period. They added one more shortly after the middle break for a 7:5 lead and maintained an advantage until the end (12:10).

Something similar happened in the encounter between the USA and Australia. Early in the second period, Australia had a 4:1 advantage. But, the Americans started climbing back and equalized (4:4). Before the last period, the score was 6:6. The Americans earned their first lead in the match (7:6) in the 26th minute and kept the minimal advantage until the last buzzer. Australia managed to level the score at 7:7 and 8:8. Twenty seconds before the end, the “Aussies” had an extra player attack to equalise once more and secure a point. But the Americans’ goalie Georgia Phillips blocked a shot from Charlize Andrews two seconds from time.

1 USA 3 – 5
2 Hungary 3 – 4
3 Australia 3 – 2
4 Japan 3 – 1

Group B

Brazil – Spain 3:14 (0:3, 1:2, 1:3, 1:6)

Brazil: Dias 1, Leao 1, Belorio 1.
Spain: Zurita 4, Diez 4, Arrones 2, Boix 2, Ruiz 1, Velayos 1.

Netherlands – Kazakhstan 16:4 (5:1, 2:1, 6:1, 3:1)

Netherlands: Van de Kraats 4, Rogge 3, Schaap 2, Willemsen 2, Voorvelt 1, Van der Weijden 1, Stertefeld 1, Schinkel 1, Jutte 1.
Kazakhstan: Mansurova 1, Shapovalova 1, Murataliyeva 1, Yeremina 1.

As it was expected before today’s games, the best two teams in this group Spain and the Netherlands, which shared the points on Day 1 (12:12), finished the Preliminary Stage with the same number of points. So the results against the 3rd-placed Brazil determined the group winner. Spain defeated Brazil by 9 goals today (14:3), while the Netherlands beat the Brazilians 19:7 yesterday. That victory put the Dutch first.

1 Netherlands 3 – 5
2 Spain 3 – 5
3 Brazil 3 – 2
4 Kazakhstan 3 – 0

Group C

South Africa – Russia 1:21 (0:7, 0:3, 1:7, 0:4)

South Africa: Muller 1.
Russia: Pystina 5, Zaplatina 4, Popova 3, Galimzianova 2, Shapkina 2, Kempf 1, Diachenko 1, Chagochkina 1, Leonova 1, Tolkunova 1.

Portugal – Italy 4:18 (0:1, 3:7, 1:4, 0:6)

Portugal: Pereira 2, Teixeira 1, Jardim 1.
Italy: Cergol 5, Bettini 5, Repetto 3, Cocchiere 2, Borg 1, Giustini 1, Riccioli 1.

Russia confirmed the first place by demolishing South Africa 21:1. Italy also easily collected points. The Italians defeated Portugal 18:4 and finished 2nd.

1 Russia 3 – 6
2 Italy 3 – 4
3 South Africa 3 – 2
4 Portugal 3 – 0

Group D

Greece – China 8:6 (4:3, 1:1, 2:2, 1:0)

Greece: Protopapas 3, Ninou 2, Elliniadi 1, Douli 1, Kanetidou 1.
China: Bozhou 3, Shiyun 2, Xiao 1.

Canada – New Zealand 8:4 (1:2, 2:1, 4:0, 1:1)

Canada: Carroll 3, Gonzalez 2, Bakoc 1, Van Dyke 1, McDowwel 1.
New Zealand: Houghton 2, Gault 1, Milicich 1.

Greece and China battled for the 1st place in the group in a direct duel. The Chinese started pretty well and they gained an early 3:1 lead. By the end of the first period, Greece went ahead scoring three goals in a row (4:3). The Chinese managed to level the score (4:4). After that, the Greeks produced a new 3:0 series for 7:4 and there was no way back for the Asians.

1 Greece 3 – 6
2 China 3 – 4
3 Canada 3 – 2
4 New Zealand 3 – 0