World Cup 2023: The United States comes in fifth place
The Hungarian water polo team defeated Greece in the first round of World Cup qualifiers in Fukuoka.
A confrontation between two disappointed teams ensued, but the Hungarians could have been more disappointed after losing to the Spaniards in the quarter-finals. Our opponents, Greece, were defeated by Australia in the quarter-finals. The last time the two teams met was in a World Cup qualifier, when Team Neszmély and Team Keszthely saved the team from defeat.
This time – as in most cases – 5 FTC players were selected by Attila Biro for the match, so with the exception of Dalma Domsudi, Greta Gorisati, Dora Leiter, Zuzana Matti, Poglarka Neszmeli, and Vanda Vali. In the first quarter, we played good defense, but the offense faltered in places, so we could only go up 2-1. The Hellenes kept going too, and the second half was punctuated by 2 Hungarian goals and 2 Greek goals, so we went 4-3 up at half-time.
The scoreboard was in our favor 5-3, but we couldn’t get rid of our opponent. Among other things, Gorisati also ran the Greeks past the score at 7-6, from which the White Caps also tied, but here the score was tied for the last time. Before the last eight minutes, we managed to take a two-goal lead. And one more goal was enough for us in the final chapter, although Greece scored two goals, they could not catch up with us again, so we won the first qualifying round 10-9.
We play against the United States for fifth place, who knocked out Team Canada 16-4. The match will start on Friday morning at 9:30 Hungarian time.
(Photo: MVLSZ/Anikó Kovács)
Water World Championships, Fukuoka
Women’s Water Polo Championship
Placeholders, 5-8. For a place – 07/26/2023, Wed
Greece-Hungary 9-10 (1-2, 2-2, 4-5, 2-1)
Our top scorers: Keszthelyi-Nagy 3, Garda 3, Faragó 2, GURISATTI, Mahieu 1-1
