Match 60, 08:00, UZBEKISTAN 7 BRAZIL 22

Classification 17-18

Quarters: 1-5, 4-5, 0-6, 2-6

Referees: Gabor Vogel (HUN), Amirhossein Safabakhsh (IRI)

Extra man: UZB: 3/5. BRA: 4/11.

Penalties: BRA: 2/4. UZB: 1/1.

Teams:

UZBEKISTAN: Abdullo Yokubjonov, Mukhammadyusuf Dedabaev, Jakhongir Sobirjonov (1), Asadbek Kenjaev (1), Azizbek Turgunov, Asadbek Azizov, Zaven Osipyan (3), Azizbek Botirov, Javokhir Kutmonbekov, Asorbek Yusufjanov, Sukhrob Khoshimov (1), Muzaffarbek Makhmudjonov (1), Shokhboz Usmonjonov. Head Coach: Oleg Pletnev.

BRAZIL: Joao Silveira, Lucas Santos (3), Luiz Scarabelim (1), Felipe Ferreira (3), Nicholas Fichman (4), Bruno Chiappini (1), Italo Vizacre (1), Thomas Campedelli (3), Marcos Pires (2), Vincius Pessin, Gabriel Galvane (4), Joao Fernandes. Head Coach: Thiago Nascimento.

Brazil clinched 17^th position in its return to the championship since it finished seventh in 2013. For Uzbekistan, 18^th was a few steps down on 2015 and 2011 when it finished 16^th. The only other participation was 2009 when it finished 19^th. Brazil was always on top and the whole team had a chance to get world championship experience. Uzbekistan worked hard for goals and goalkeeper Shokhboz Usmonjonov managed to stop two Brazilian penalty attempts. Thomas Fichman (BRA) was named the best player in water and Uzbekistan’s top player, Zaven Osipyan scored three to lift his tournament tally to 17. Javokhir Kutmonbekov was given his marching orders with a red card in the second quarter.

Pictures: Eszter Novak

Match 61, 09:20, CHINA 9 EGYPT 14

Classification 15-16  

Quarters: 3-2, 2-4, 2-3, 2-5

Referees: Nenad Golijanin
 (SRB), Fabio Toffoli
 (BRA)

Extra man: CHN: 3/9. EGY: 4/11.

Penalties: CHN: 1/3.

Teams:

CHINA: Xingmeng He, Boren Shi (1), Lei Yuan, Guan Ou, Beiyi Wang (4), Luobin Liu, Yingyi Gao (3), Yi Lu, Yile Cheng, Beile Zhu (1), Mingtao Wu, Haotian Zhou. Head Coach: Ji Shen.

EGYPT: Marwan Reda, Youssef Amer, Abderahman Hamed (3), Ahmed Elsapagh (2), Mahmoud Maghwry, Karim Saleh (3), Mohanad Farahat (1), Mohamed Ziyad, Mohamed Rezk, Eissa Bassel 5), Adham Saleh, Mahmoud Elzayat (1), Marwan Makarem. Head Coach: Konstantinos Vamvakaris.

Egypt made sure of 15^th position with a well-constructed game plan that kept smashing into the face of China. Egypt was also 15^th in Belgrade, 12^th in 2015 and 15^th in 2011. China was 12th in Belgrade two years ago, so will be disappointed with the finish. It was 15^th in 2015 and the previous attendance was 12th in 1999. While China held the quarter-time lead, it was Brazil, inspired by its star centre forward Eissa Bessel, who stepped up, going to the front at 4-3 two minutes into the second period. The margin slipped out to three before China forced its way back into the match, arriving at halftime 6-5 down. Bessel scored his fourth and fifth, either side of a Beiyi Wang score and Karim Saleh stretched it to three again. Goals were traded until 11-8 when Saleh hammered in from two metres.  Mahmoud Elzayat pushed it out to four goals with a missile from the top. Wang responded with his third for 12-9, but time — and the match — was slipping away for China. The margin went to five and a penalty block and several other saves by goalkeeper Marwan Reda sealed the match. Bessel was obviously named best in water and Wang scored four goals for China.

Footnote: China played without regular goalkeeper Junjiong Wang, who was sick.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 62, 10:40, RUSSIA 20 SOUTH AFRICA 10

Classification 13-14

Quarters: 4-2, 6-1, 4-3, 6-4

Referees: Noboru Yamazaki (JPN), Conor Davis (AUS)

Extra man: RUS: 5/12. RSA: 5/11.

Penalties: Nil.

Teams:

RUSSIA: Igor Chirkov, Sergei Mersh (2), Nikita Serebrennikov (2), Emil Zinnurov (3), Zamir Mirziev (1), Iaroslav Nikolaev (2), Nikita Mikhailov (4), Askar Makhiyanov (2), Valerii Pelikh (1), Ivan Vasilev (2), Danill Frolov (1), Egor Vasilev, Danila Apultchin. Head Coach: Sergei Voronin.

SOUTH AFRICA: Keegan Clark, Mogamad Mayman, Christopher Beamish, Ethan Coryndon-Baker, Todd Howard (4), Ross Stone (2), Joshua Faber, Jonathan Swanepoel (2), David MacDonald (1), William Dowsett (1), Yaseen Margro, James Hablutzel, Barnard van Rooyen. Head Coach: Jason Sileno.

Russia collected 13^th place, four positions down from 2017 and South Africa moved off the bottom rung in 2017 for 14^th in Kuwait. Russia had two light matches (17-7 over Kuwait and 19-7 over China) to get to this encounter while South Africa had to fend off Brazil 7-6 and repulse Egypt 8-7. Russia went to 3-0 and closed the first period 4-2. Six unanswered goals set Russia apart, looking fresher, although none of these goals was on counter. South Africa was covering most of the pool and at this stage scored three to two splitting the halftime. Russia’s 12-5 advantage went to 14-6 at the final break. The final eight minutes was an enticing encounter at 6-4 with Russia getting most of its field players on the scoresheet and South African Todd Howard netting four of his own in what was an excellent tournament for the team, coming out of a challenging group that included semifinalists Croatia and Serbia and the mercurial Japan.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 63, 12:00, NEW ZEALAND 8 AUSTRALIA 9

Classification 11-12

Quarters: 3-3, 2-2, 1-1, 2-3

Referees: German Moller (ARG), Liang Zhang (CHN)

Extra man: NZL: 3/7. AUS: 3/9.

Penalties: NZL: 2/2. AUS: 1/1.

Teams:

NEW ZEALAND: Joshua de Reeper, Louie Ferigo (1), Hamish Sullivan, Louis Clark, Calum de Jager, Brandon Matthews, James Catlin, Loui Schuler (1), Sam Ratima, Matt Morris (1), Rowan Brown (3), Nicholas Paterson (2), Bae Fountain. Head Coach: Lionel Randall.

AUSTRALIA: John Hedges, Jack Rector, Matthew Murphy, Lachlan Vos (3), Matthew Oberman, James Gillfeather (1), Hugh Anstey, Charlie Negus (5), Alastair Bruce, Nicholas Taylor, Lewis Putt, Matthew Byrnes, Flynn Mais. Head Coach: Andrew Yanitsas.

These Trans-Tasman rivals (named after the Tasman Sea that separates the two countries) played each other in the group and produced a real thriller with New Zealand leading 7-4 at the start of the final quarter only to lose 8-7. Australia has a silver medal from 1999 when the championships was last staged in Kuwait, but the best result in recent years was fourth back in 2011. In Belgrade it beat China for 11^th. New Zealand was 18^th two years ago after an eight-year hiatus when it finished 14^th in Sibenik, Croatia in 2009. Both teams learned the lessons from the day-three clash and the match was level at every number to five by halftime and Australia had four leads to New Zealand’s one. The third period started with a VAR decision in favour of Australia’s Lachlan Vos. The ball went high into the bar and off the back of goalkeeper Bae Fountain into goal. Rowan Brown converted a penalty foul at a time when captain James Catlin was ousted on three major fouls. After Negus converted his penalty shot, team-mate Matthew Oberman was red-carded for misconduct and New Zealand scored at the other end, but only after the ball rebounded twice in favour of the Kiwis. Negus slid in his fifth goal on extra-man attack and less than a minute later Vos smashed in from two metres at 3:39. New Zealand called a timeout and the resulting play yielded a goal from the deep left by Louie Ferigo at 1:56 — enough time for the Kiwis to come back. However, it was not to be and neither team could score, leaving Australia the winner of the two matches between the neighbours.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 64, 13:20, HUNGARY 15 CANADA 6

Classification 9-10  

Quarters: 8-2, 1-1, 2-2, 4-1

Referees: Harvey Hinds (CUR), Michael Brooks (NZL)

Extra man: HUN: 2/6. CAN: 4/13.

Penalties: HUN: 2/2. CAN: 0/1.

Teams:

HUNGARY: Mark Banyai, Peter Sugar (1), Botond Bobis (4), Benedek Baksa (3), Marton Magyar, Gyorgy Agh (1), Mate Dala (2), Andras Turnai, Vince Vigvari, Gergo Fekete (3), Zsombor Szeghalmi (1), Mate Aranyi, Marton Mizsei. Head Coach: Kristof Kemeny.

CANADA: Brody McKnight, Antonios Giannatsis, Bogdan Djerkovic (2), Jeremie Coté (2), Harrison Henning (2), Nick Seredjuc, Kyril Marinov, Bor Tanasijevic, Stefan Dabic, Stephen Gloade, Max MacMillan, Reuel D’Souza, Minos Kotzambasis. Head Coach: Brian Parillo.

It was a promenade for Hungary, stitching up ninth place, built on an incredible 8-2 opening quarter. Hungary has been in the last four at the previous three championships and before that it’s worst position was eighth in 2011 and ninth in 2009 when it was an experimental 18&U event. With 13 medals, Hungary will have to wait another two years to add to the collection. Canada was also 10^th in Belgrade. Its best performances at this level were eighth in Kuwait 1999, Dunkirk 1995, Sao Paolo 1987 and Barcelona 1983. Hungary dictated the pace in the first quarter, almost stoped in the second as Canada applied the pressure, went to 11-3 in the third before Canada grabbed two back and finished off with a 4-1 final period, flourishing with a Benedek Baksa goal from seven metres and two Gergo Fekete strikes. All credit to Canada for fighting hard against a Hungarian team that had firepower all around the pool and generally took shots before anyone else thought about it. Hungary finished the tournament strongly but Tuesday’s 15-14 group loss to Montenegro was humbling. For the record, Botond Bobis (HUN) was named player of the match.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 65, 16:00, MONTENEGRO 18 JAPAN 11

Classification 5-8 Semifinal

Quarters: 4-5, 5-3, 4-1, 5-2

Referees: Luca Bianco (ITA), Sinisa Matijasevic 
(MNE)

Extra man: MNE: 5/8. JPN: 2/10.

Penalties: JPN: 0/1.

Teams:

MONTENEGRO: Darko Durovic, Nebojsa Vuskovic (3), Savo Cetkovic (7), Uros Vucurovic (1), Aljosa Macic, Danilo Radovic, Luka Murisic (1), Petar Mijuskovic (1), Miroslav Perkovic (3), Vuk Draskovic (1), Branko Franeta (1), Alen Isljamovic. Head Coach: Veljko Uskokovic.

JAPAN: Tomoharu Shinto, Toi Suzuki (1), Shun Kobayashi, Shohei Yamada, Fumiya Tsuta (1), Naoki Aoyama, Goro Hizume (1), Eisuke Takahashi, Takumu Miyazawa (1), Yusuke Inaba (4), Yuki Maita (1), Taiyo Watanabe (2), Kentaro Tani. Head Coach: Takamitsu Nakashima.

Montenegro burst through in the third period to take a stranglehold on the match. Earlier the story was all about Savo Cetkovic and Yusuke Inaba who scored five and three goals each. Inaba scored a fourth at 13-9, coming after a four-goal heist. Cetkovic covered himself in glory with two more goals in the last four minutes for a match-winning seven. He did everything in front of goal and took his time finding the right position to shoot and waiting sometimes for the goalie to tire. His finishing typified the dedication of the Montenegrins after losing by a goal to Serbia after leading early in the period the night before. Japan did what it normally does — swam, drove and worked hard for everything it could get. The smaller size was evident in this match and the shooters were relentless in front of goal, finding gaps that di not exist in their goal. Inaba finishes well, but it is not just about him. Many other players stepped up and took the shots that counted. It was just that in the third quarter shots were not getting off the hand of were being caught in the forest of defensive arms. Montenegro goes to the play-off for fifth and Japan will have to be content shooting for seventh.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 66, 17:20, SPAIN 13 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 12 in sudden-death penalty shootout (FT: 7-7. Pens: 6-5)

Classification 5-8 Semifinal

Quarters: 3-2, 1-3, 1-2, 2-0

Referees: Michiel Zwart (NED), Mikhail Dykman (CAN)


Extra man: ESP: 4/9. USA: 3/10.

Penalties: ESP: 1/1.

Teams:

SPAIN: Unai Aguirre, Bernat Sanahuja (+2), Albert Ponferrada (1+1), Sergio Prieto, Pau Linares, Fran Valera (2+2), Lluc Bertran (1+1), Victor Alegre, Oscar Montes (1), Nikolas Paul, Oriol Rodriguez, Oscar Asensio (2), Victor Garcia. Head Coach: Svilen Ivanov.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Adrian Weinberg, Quinten Osborne, Marko Vavic (3+2), Tommy Gruwell, Leo Yuno, Garrett Zaan, Hannes Daube (1+1), Jacob Ehrhardt (1), Mason McQuet, Ash Molthen (2+1), Quinn Woodhead (+1), Warren Loth, Kent Emden. Head Coach: Jack Kocur.

For the second night in a row, United States of America lost a penalty shootout, forcing it from what could have been a top-four position on Wednesday to playing for seventh ranking on Friday. Spain made the front-running and USA had to come back for 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3. USA then shot ahead to 5-3, 6-4 and 7-5 by the close of play in the third period. Spain levelled through Albert Ponferrada (7:18) and Lluc Bertran (2:43). USA went to a timeout at 1:07 and the centre-forward backhand over-rotated, giving Spain a timeout at 0:45. Fran Valera, Ponferrada and Bertran all had their shots blocks by their defenders, regaining the ball twice. This forced the penalty shootout, something USA knows a lot about, having lost the shootout 4-1 against Greece the night before. Spain only led the match for less than six minutes until the final whistle. The shootout was eagerly watched as the first rotations scored and the third missed. Four and five converted to force it into sudden death at 11-11. The first rotation scored and on the second, Valera made it 13-12; Molten fumbled the ball and failed to shoot, sending Spain through to the play-off for fifth.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 67, 18:40, SERBIA 9 ITALY 7

Classification 1-4 Semifinal

Quarters: 1-0, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3

Referees: David Gomez (ESP), Irfan Sadekov (RUS)

Extra man: SRB:

Penalties: ITA: 1/1.

Teams:

SERBIA: Pavle Gavrilovic, Stefan Brankovic, Andrej Barac, Aleksa Nesic, Nemanja Stanojevic (1), Petar Mitrovic, Dorde Vucinic (2), Aleksa Cvetkovic (2), Vasilije Martinovic (1), Kristian Sulc (2), Luka Pijevancic, Marko Radovic (1), Vladimir Misovic. Head Coach: Uros Stevanovic.

ITALY: Francisco di Donna, Massimo di Martire (1), Filippo Ferrero, Mattia Antonucci, Andrea Narciso, Gianpiero di Martire, Mario Guidi, Ettore Novara (3), Michele Mezzarobba (1), Vincenzo Tozzi, Matteo Spione (2), Andrea Tartaro, Francesco de Michelis. Head Coach: Carlo Silipo.

Fifth at August’s European Championships, Serbia toppled champion Italy in a 6-4 second half. It ended Italy’s dream of emulating the Settebello senior team that won the world crown in Korea in August. So tight was the match that it was just 1-0 to Serbia in the first quarter. Serbia appealed to the near full house with a 3-0 five minutes into the second quarter. However, Italy came back with two in 27 seconds for what would be the halftime score. Goals were traded in the third quarter, starting with Serbia and ending with Serbia, leaving a 6-4 advantage. Matteo Spione set the place alight with his centre-forward backhand to start the final period and then Serbia scored three of the next four goals with two from Kristian Sulc for 9-6. The single response in this charge was the exceptional centre forward Ettore Novara, who steered in an outside pass from the post position. It was his third goal after two wonderful scores either side of halftime. Spione earlier found himself at four metres with the goalkeeper charging out to him and he backhanded into an empty goal. It was a lapse from Pavle Gavrilovic, but it did not stop him being named player of the match. While Sulc was magical, earlier, Dorde Vucinic also scored twice, something he has being doing all championship, emerging as one of the true stars.  Every block, every steal, every missed shot was applauded by the roaring crowd, who also had the drama of the second semifinal to watch.

Photos: Eszter Novak

Match 68, 20:00, CROATIA 6 GREECE 15

Classification 1-4 Semifinal

Quarters: 2-4, 3-4, 0-5, 1-2

Referees: Darren Spiritosanto (USA), Adil Aimbetov (KAZ)

Extra man: CRO: 1/7. GRE: 5/7.

Penalties: CRO: 4/4. GRE: 1/1.

Teams:

CROATIA: Jerko Jurlina, Ivan Malenica, Karlo Krekovic, Marin Vrdoljak (2), Luka Bajic (1), Filip Krzic, Goran Solje, Branimir Herceg, Jerko Penava (2), Matias Biljaka, Marko Zuvela (1), Lovro Paparic, Eugen Sunara. Head Coach: Josko Krekovic.

GREECE: Stylianos Dalmaras, Efstathios Kalogeropoulos (2), Ioannis Alafragkis (1), Konstaninos Gkiouvetsis (5), Dimitrios Nikolaidis (2), Alexandros Papanastasiou (4), Konstantinos Kakaris, Charalampos Rompopoulos, Efstathios Papageorgiou, Michail Diplaros, Aristeidis Chalyvopoulos, Michail Goniotakis (1), Nikolaos Mitrakis. Head Coach: Nikolaos Karamanis.

Greece put on a display worthy of the senior world championships. The returning champion, playing without regular coach Theodoros Lorantos, who was red-carded in Wednesday’s quarter-final clash with United States of America, smashed Croatia, especially in the third quarter where Croatian shots peppered the goal but refused to go in. Lorantos received a two-match suspension from FINA and subsequently was not able to be in attendance at tonight’s match or Friday’s gold-medal final. The display was something we enjoyed, at least. It was magnificent on many fronts, not least the shooting prowess of Konstaninos Gkiouvetsis — the Greek Rocket — sending in his howitzer rounds like he was on a battlefield. He had five to his name halfway through the third period. It was a battlefield, such was the heavy play. Tensions erupted in the third period as Marko Zuvela was suspended for “over-zealous” play. He scored the fourth goal for Croatia, almost light years away as a minute later the last Croatian goal was notched up before Greece went on a rampage like a Hong Kong student riot. Eight goals managed to zip past a despairing Jerko Jurlina before team-mate Luka Bajic final squared one away on extra in the final minute — 16 minutes since the previous Croatian strike. At the other end everything Croatia put into the zone was blocked. Nothing could get through as goals became a distant memory. Much of that can be put down to Greece’s sensational goalkeeper, Nikolaos Mitrakis, deservedly named best in water. Greece will be saying: “Bring on Serbia” in Friday’s golden finale.

Photos: Eszter Novak