NEW ZEALAND edge out France 7-6 in Kazan clincher

NEW ZEALAND BEAT FRANCE 7-6 to claim 13th place at FINA World Championships

(1:2, 3:2, 1:2, 2:0)

Goal scorers: Sarah Johns, Liana Dance, Danielle Lewis, Sarah Landry, Caitlin Lopes da Silva, Jasmine Myles (2)

The New Zealand Women have had a dream finish to their FINA World Championships campaign in Kazan, Russia. Despite earlier losses, the Kiwis ended on a high with two wins: 11-3 over South Africa and a 7-6 nailbiter over France in Kazan on Monday.

It was the first time the two nations made a splash in the pool since the 1995 Water Polo World Cup in Sydney, Australia, which saw the French edge out over the Kiwis. But 20 years later in Kazan it was the New Zealanders' time to shine.

Captain Jasmine Myles led from the front and opened the scoring for the Kiwis, equalising with a bounce shot in an extra-man play. The French snuck another through the arms of Brooke Millar for 1-2 down after the first eight minutes.

Caitlin Lopes da Silva tussles for the ball against France (photo: Waterpolo-World - Gertjan Kooij)

New Zealand showed their strength in 6 on 5 when Danielle Lewis ripped one from the left wing to level for 2-2 in the second. A beautiful pass into young-gun centre forward Liana Dance saw her score a brilliant backhand that shot into the back of the net for 3-3.

New Zealand snuck ahead 4-3 with a strong shot from the wing from veteran Sarah Johns (née Pattison), before the French scored from range for 4-4 heading into halftime.

Sarah Johns scores from the wing for 4-3 against France

France dashed ahead 5-4 before Sarah Landry scored her second goal of the championships from beyond 5m, out-faking the goalkeeper to slot it in the right hand corner.

A late exclusion from Lopes da Silva saw France tip-toe ahead 6-5 at the end of the third.

Sarah Landry won the sprint for New Zealand, which then turned into a man-up play from which Caitlin Lopes da Silva scored on the left hand side to level early in the final quarter.

Another man-up play saw a quick pass from Myles into Nicole Lewis who was unlucky to catch the crossbar with 4:47 left on the clock.

It was to-and-fro as the clock wound down, which eventually saw the ball in the hands of New Zealand's captain and highest goalscorer Myles. As the Kiwis' 30 seconds elapsed, Myles put up a lob from 7 metres and caught the fingertips of French goalkeeper Lorene Derenty for a 2m and another possession.

New Zealand captain Jasmine Myles puts up a lob in the final quarter

19 seconds later she tried the same thing again for success - she may not have known it at the time, but this sealed the deal for the Kiwis for 7-6 up with 1:45 to play.

Myles scores the winner with 1:45 left on the clock

Goalkeeper Brooke Millar denied the French twice of a last moment equaliser, and the Kiwis' defence was too much for France, as New Zealand celebrated at the final whistle. Interestingly, at not one stage of the game did any team lead by more than one goal.

Congratulations Kiwis on 13th place in an absolute team effort which saw six players score the 7 goals!

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