2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Swimming: August 6-13
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
- Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
- Schedule & Results
Hungary and Australia met in the quarterfinal round of the women’s water polo tournament in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, and it was a nail-biter until the end. Australia, who had finished Group A pool play in the number 2 spot, opened the score on a shot by Glencora McGhie just over a minute into the first quarter. Rowie Webster added two more later in the period to put Australia up 3-0, before Hungary’s Rita Keszthelyi scored on a penalty shot to end the first quarter with a score of 3-1 in favor of Australia.
The second quarter began with another Australian goal, this time from Ash Southern at 5:54 left to play. She scored again two minutes later to give Australia a 5-1 advantage. Hungary connected twice in the last minute of the half on goals from Dora Czigany and Ildiko Toth. The teams went off at halftime with Australia leading, 5-3.
Orsolya Takacs put the first one in the net after the break, bringing Hungary within 1 goal of Australia. Southern picked up her third goal a little more than a minute later, and Australia was back up by 2, 6-4. Hungary evened the score on goals from Barbara Bujka and Keszthelyi. McGhie ended the third quarter with another goal for Australia.
Bronwen Knox put Australia up 8-6 with 5:53 remaining in the 4th quarter, but Hungary didn’t let up. Bujka narrowed Australia’s lead to 1 with a goal at 5:36 on the clock. Teammate Dora Antal scored the tying goal with 2:59 left to play. When the clock ran out the score was 8-8, and the game went into penalty shootout phase.
Bujka made the first penalty shot for Hungary. Webster then scored for Australia. Hanna Kisteleki made the next shot for Hungary. Southern followed suit, scoring for Australia. Keszthelyi made it 3-2 in penalty shots for Hungary. Knox’s shot hit the post. Czigany then put one in for Hungary, and Keesja Gofers made it in for Australia. With Hungary up 4-3 on penalty shots, Antal needed to score their fifth shot and they would move on to the semifinals. She did exactly that, and Hungary got the win over Australia, 13-11.
Hungary will meet the undefeated United States in the semifinal match on Wednesday. It was the first time Australia did not make the semifinal round of the Olympic tournament since women’s water polo was introduced in Sydney in 2000.