Reigning champion Russia and the Netherlands will play in the final of the World Women’s Junior Championships in Funchal (Portugal) tomorrow.
Today, in the semifinals Russia defeat Greece easily 16:9 and the Netherlands overcame Italy (11:8).
Schedule for 15 September
Final: Russia – Netherlands
Bronze medal match: Italy – Greece
Classification 5th – 6th: USA – Spain
Classification 7th – 8th: China – Hungary
World Women’s U20 Championships, Day 6
Semifinals
Italy – Netherlands 8:11 (3:1, 1:3, 3:4, 1:3)
Italy: Zanetta 2, Repetto 2, Cergol 2, Ricccioli 1, Cocchiere 1.
Netherlands: Rogge 3, Voorvelt 3, Schinkel 2, Ten Broek 1, Schaap 1, Van der Weijden 1.
The team of the Netherlands, the bronze medal winner at the previous edition of the World Women’s U20 Championship, beat Italy after a very balanced battle. The Italians started pretty well and took a 2:0 lead after less than 4 minutes of play. Before the 2nd period, the Italians had a 3:1 advantage.
The Dutch regrouped themselves during the first break and started climbing back. The Netherlands went in front for the first time in the 13th minute (4:3), but by halftime, the Italians returned to equal terms (4:4). The third period belonged to the Dutch, so, before the last quarter, they had a slim 8:7 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, Italy equalised once more (8:8), but that was their last goal in the match. Midway through the last period, Lieke Rogge netted two nice action goals to put the Dutch in front 10:8. Eight seconds before the end, Rozanne Voovrvelt found the net to set the final score.
Russia – Greece 16:9 (5:3, 4:1, 3:2, 4:3)
Russia: Kempf 6, Pystina 3, Tolkunova 2, Zaplatina 1, Diachenko 1, Popova 1, Chagochkina 1, Galimzianova 1.
Greece: Douli 2, Kanetidou 2, Loudi 1, Elliniadi 1, Ninou 1, Myrokefalitaki 1, Kontoni 1.
The second semifinal was a re-match of the final game at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Volos. Two years ago, Russia and Greece fought a hard battle and Russia celebrated a win after a long penalty shootout (17:16).
Today, Russia dominated. Greece managed to keep up with the world champions for 7 minutes. In the 7th minute of the game, the score was 3:3. After that, the match turned into a one-sided contest. The Russians gained an 8:3 lead in the middle of the third period, while they went 12:5 up in the 21st minute. Afterwards, everything was a routine for the Russians.
Classification 5 – 8, semifinals
USA – China 16:10 (7:3, 3:1, 4:2, 2:4)
USA: Weber 6, Neushul 5, Roemer 2, Wunbelt 1, Hill 1, Wheaton 1.
China: Xiao 4, Rui 3, Shiyun 1, Bozhou 1, Wen 1.
The Team USA stormed to a 10:3 lead before China „woke up“. But, just like in yesterday’s match against the Netherlands, it was too late for the Chinese. The Americans controlled the match, they even had a 9-goal lead (15:6) early in the fourth quarter. After that, they let China reduce the gap.
Hungary – Spain 8:13 (0:3, 3:2, 2:3, 3:5)
Hungary: Utassy 2, Rybanska 2, K. Farago 2, Valyi 1, Petovari 1.
Spain: Arrones 3, Espinagosa 2, Zurita 2, Velayos 2, De La Puente 1, Boix 1, Rosell 1, Diez 1.
Spain opened the match with a 4:0 rush and that proved decisive for the outcome. The Hungarians managed to cut the deficit by halftime (3:5), but the Spaniards retook control and recorded a nice 5-goal win.
Classification 9th-10th
Canada – Australia 5:14 (0:2, 2:4, 1:4, 2:4)
Canada: Bakoc 3, McDowell 2.
Australia: Milliken 3, A. Andrews 2, Thomas 2, Dalziel 2, Fasala 2, Oberman 1, Traplin 1, C. Andrews 1.
Classification 11th-12th
Brazil – South Africa 13:12 (1:2, 3:3, 1:1, 4:3, PSO 4:3)
Brazil: Dias 2 (+1 PSO), Belorio 2 (+1), Pereira 2, Leao 1 (+1), Al. Amaral 1, Silva 1PSO.
South Africa: Everett 2, Tancrel 1 (+1), Motau 1 (+1), Hinrichs 1, Weppelman 1, Wedderburn 1, Meecham 1 (+1), Miszewski 1, Muller 1 PSO
Final ranking
9 Australia
10 Canada
11 Brazil
12 South Africa
13 Japan
14 New Zealand
15 Kazakhstan
16 Portugal
