Defending champions USA showed they were the best of the best once again when they defeated Spain 13-9 to lift the trophy at the 2016 FINA Women’s Water Polo World League Super Final here in Shanghai on Sunday, while Australia beat hosts China 11-3 for the bronze medal.
Best scorer: Roser Tarrago – Spain
Best goal keeper: Lea Yanitsas – Australia
MVP: Courtney Mathewson – USA
Gold-medal game: USA 13 SPAIN 9
Quarters: 3-2, 4-2, 3-3, 3-2
USA: Samanth Hill, Madeline Musselman (2), Melissa Seidemann (1), Rachel Fattal (1), Caroline Clark (1), Margaret Steffens (Captain, 2), Courtney Mathewson (2), Kiley Neushul (1), Aria Fischer, Kaleigh Gilchrist, Makenzie Fisher, Kameryn Craig, Ashleigh Johnson. Alys Williams
Head coach: Adam Krikorian
SPAIN: Ester Ramos Laura, Marta Bach, Anna Espar, Beatriz Ortiz, Matilde Ortiz, Paula Leiton， Clara Espar, Pilar Pena (Captain), Judith Forca, Roser Tarrago, Maica Garcia, Maica Garcia, Laura Lopez, Fernandez Patricia
Head coach: Miguel Oca
Both teams showed strong determination for the victory and consistence through the whole game. USA started the game with sharp goals and patience, led by 3-2, 4-2, 3-3, 3-2 while Spain kept shooting all the time and tried to catch up with USA. Courtney Mathewson was the named the Most Valuable Player and the Best Scorer of the Super Final belonged to Roser Tarrago of Spain. USA earned 2 Extra-man Goals out of 10 and Spain had 4 EG out of 9.
Quotes:
Adam Krikorian-USA: “We were happy that we played a consistent final today. We were very efficient offensively. Our offense were acute but we still could be better on defense. We were happy with the victory.”
Miguel Oca-ESP: We played a closes game but we fell down in the last period. Sometimes players made different mistakes. So we have to work harder in the last quarter and to keep faith of the game
Bronze-medal game : CHINA 3 AUTRALIA 10
Quarters: 2-3, 1-5, 0-1, 0-1
CHINA: Yang Jun, Ma Huanhuan, Mei Xiaohan, Xiong Dunhan, Niu Guannan, Sun Yating (Captain, 1), Song Donglun, Zhang Cong (1), Zhao Zihan (1), Zhang Weiwei, Wang Xinyan, Zhang Jing, Peng Lin.
Head coach: Ricardo Azevedo
AUSTRALIA: Lea Yanitsas, Gemma Beadsworth, Hannah Buckling (2), Bronte Halligan, Keesja Gofers (3), Bronwen Knox (Captain, 2), Rowie Webster (2), Glencora Mcghie (1), Zoe Arancini, Ashleigh Southern, Isobel Bishop, Nicola Zagame, Kelsey Wakefield.
Head coach: Greg McFadden
Australia dominated in the bronze-medal game and romped China 10-3. Australia hit the first goal by Glenccora McGhie and never looked back during the whole game while China seemed rusty with mistakes on passes, shooting and defense. The game played in a gentle way as China produced 4 Exclusion Fouls and Australia had 2. But Australia snatched 2 EG goals.
Quotes:
Ricardo Azevedo-CHN: “We played a game without winning desireand concentration, maybe because we were tired after 13 games in 14 days and we kept morning training sessions during these competition days. I don’t like excuses but it was a day we did not play good. It happened as we did not shot the balls at the right time, in right angle and positions. We did OK but it seemed no one want to shot the ball. Our girls did not perform like they did when they met United States, Russia, Italy in the previous days.”
Greg McFadden-AUS: “Our first two quarters were very good and I am satisfied with my girls the way they played. We were very stable in each quarter and had a well-balanced game.”
Game for 5th/6th place: RUSSIA 8 ITALY 10
Quarters: 2-5, 2-2, 1-1, 2-2
RUSSIA: Anna Ustyukhina, Tatiana Zubkova (1), Ekaterina Prokofyeva (1), Nadezhda Glyzina (2), Maria Borisova, Olga Gorbunova, Kseniia Krimer, Anastasia Simanovich, Anna Timofeeva (2), Evgeniya Soboleva, Evgeniya Ivanova (2), Anna Grineva, Anna Karnaukh.
Head coach: Alexander Gaidukov
ITALY: Gorlero Giulia, Tabani Chiara, Garibotti Arianna (4), Gragnolati Arianna, Federica Radicchi, Rossaria Alello, Di Mario Tania (Captain, 2), Bianconi Roberta (2), Emmolo Giulia Enrica (2), Francesca Pomeri, Cotti Aleksandra, Frassinetti Teresa, Teani Laura.
Head Coach: Fabio Conti
Italy beat Russia 10:8 to finish fifth place thanks for the two goal difference advantage built up from the first quarter. Italy started high 5-3 and then both teams shared the the same scores for the rest of three periods.
Quotes:
Andrei Belofastov – RUS Assistant coach- “We had some problems in the offense that we should hit the net but just miss some shots. But it was OK as the Super Final was the best start for preparation of the Rio Olympic Games. We have two months to go and will train back home as well as play some friendly games.”
Fabio Conti – ITA:”We were tired and we tried our best as we could. Russia is a very strong team that we had to fight until the last second. Our beginning was good that helped us to win the game.”
Game for 7th/8th place: CANADA 12 BRAZIL 6
Quarters: 3-1, 3-0, 3-1, 3-4
CANADA: Jessica Gaudreault, Krystina Alogbo (Captain, 3), Axelle Creview (1), Emma Wright (1), Monika Eggens (1), Kelly McMee (2), Joelle Bekhazi (1), Kyra Christmas (2), Elyse Lemay-Lavoie, Kelly Matthews, Kindred Paul, Shae Fournier (1), Claire Wright.
Head coach: David Faradelo
BRAZIL: Tess Oliveira, Diana Abla (1), Marinate Zablith（Captain, 2), Camila Pedrosa, Lucianne Barroncas, Lzabella Chiappini (3), Amanda Oliveira, Luiza Carvalho, Melani Dias, Viviane Bahia, Mariana Duarte, Gabriela Mantellato, Victoria Chamorro.
Head coach: Patrick Oaten
Canada played a consistent game by scoring 3 goals in each quarter and blocking most of the ball from Brazil. Canada led all the way from 3-1, 6-1, 9-2 before Brazil rallied to have 4 goals in the last period from Diana Abla, Marina Zablith and Lzabella Chiappini.
Quotes:
David Faradelo – CAN; “I am very satisfied that we played a very consistent game and ended up in a good level. We were tired after 14 days with 12 games (we played the Kunshan International Invitation Championships before the Super Final). We have a very young group and that is a good experience for us. We took these tournaments as a new start for the next Olympic Games because we did not qualify for the Rio. It is good that we had some difficult games and we had learned a lot from that.”
Patrick Oaten – BRA: “Again the problems came from the offense. I don’t know whether they were scared to miss. They always shot in the last second so the defense was not enough. They did not put the ball center enough. That was what we need to improve when we are back home to get better for the Rio Olympic Games.”
Swimming news courtesy of FINA.