After the defeat to the Netherlands, the Hungarian women's water polo team continued their performance at the Paris Olympics by beating Canada, taking a big step towards progress. From Hungary, Rita Keszthely and Greta Jurisati scored 3-3, Rebecca Parks and Vanda Valli scored 2-2, and Garda Kristyna and Dorotea Szilagyi scored 1-1. The Hungarians will now have three days of rest and will continue their performance against China on Friday.
Women's Water Polo, Group Stage, Round 2, Group A:
Hungary-Canada 12-7 (4-1, 3-3, 1-1, 4-2)
Scorers: Keszthelyi, Gurisatti 3–3, Parkes, Vályi 2–2, Garda, Szilágyi 1–1, McKelvey, Kindred, Wright 2–2, Crevier 1
Hungary:
Alda Magyari – Vanda Valli, Rebecca Parks, Brigitta Horvath, Rita Kestelly, Camila Farago, Cristina Garda – Substitutes: Dorotea Szilagyi, Greta Jurisati, Geraldine Maheu, Dora Leimitter, Natasa Rybanska
The two teams had just started their Olympic preparations with each other in Hungary, where they played a match in Gödöllő. The team of Federal captain Attila Mihok and Sandor Cseh won 14-7, then won the Titiz Cup in Greece 11-6.
Hungary started off excellently in defence, the Canadians either not even shooting, or only having the strength to make an attempt that Alda Magyari easily blocked. Up front, centre Rebecca Parks found the target at the end of two excellent individual moves, then captain Rita Kestelly, with a delicate move, gently lifted the ball between the post and the crossbar. At the same time, Hungary had trouble with the man advantage, as the first three shots died in the block when they were outnumbered. At the end of the quarter, Parks hit a shot from five metres that Kestelly turned away (4-1).
The second quarter started with a Canadian goal, but after three good minutes the lead was restored, when the Hungarians finally sold their fifth goal. Greta Jurissati ended the game and the national team increased their advantage with her touchdown. The North Americans improved with a great shot from Emma Wright, but Vanda Valli scored almost immediately from a corner kick. On the negative side, Garda Cristina made an excellent save, but missed the target this time too. The Canadians scored with just one second left before the final whistle.
After the long break, the two goalkeepers were locked in attack, there were a lot of bad passes, weak shots and misplayed balls. Almost seven minutes passed without goals in the quarter, when the opponent reached the five-meter point, which Axel Crevier sold. The Hungarian deadlock was broken thanks to an exchange between Garda and Keszthely, the former putting the ball precisely into the net with a great move by the latter (8-5).
The last eight minutes were led by Garda's huge goal, and then Valli sent in who scored from the wing. With that, the match was practically decided (10-5), as there were only six minutes left. The Canadians had no chance of getting closer to their rivals, and the end was 12-7.
Rita Kesteli (Photo: MTI/Tamas Kovacs)previously:
Netherlands-China 15-11 (1-4, 4-4, 5-1, 5-2)
Additional program for Hungarians:
Friday:
China-Hungary 20.05
Sunday:
Hungary-Australia 14.00
Group arrangement:
1. Netherlands 6 points / 2 matches
2. Australia 3/1 and Hungary 3/2
4. Canada 0/1, China 0/2
The top four teams in the group qualify for the quarter-finals.
