New Zealand fall short of Brazil in Worlds opener
NEW ZEALAND 9 VS. 16 BRAZIL
(3:3, 2:4, 2:6, 2:3)
Grace Tobin (1), Ema Carević (3), Taylor Sheehan, Liana Dance, Katie McKenty (1), Sarah Doyle (1), Emily Nicholson, Simone Couvée, Annabel Harman (2), Jessica Milicich, Ricci Ferigo (1).
New Zealand clashed with Brazil in their opening match of the FINA World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships on Monday (8:40pm NZST).
New Zealand and Brazil shake hands before their encounter in Volos on Monday (photo: Jeanette Tobin)
The Kiwis proved that they were there to play, when Annabel Harman scored the opener to put New Zealand on the board first.
Brazil bounced back and scored two on the trot before Ricci Ferigo responded for New Zealand to level at two-all. Grace Tobin snuck another in for New Zealand to edge ahead, before Brazillian captain Izabella Chiappini equalised for 3-3 at the first break.
Brazil were one step ahead on New Zealand in the second quarter, where the captain and Mariana Duarte scored two each, but Kiwi captain Ema Carević and Katie McKenty kept in touch with one each for 5-7 at halftime.
Brazil were dynamic and cause trouble in defence for the Kiwis in the third, resulting in three extra man goals and a penalty. New Zealand trailed by six at the final break, only scoring two – courtesy of Carević – to Brazil’s six.
The Kiwis lifted the intensity heading into the last stanza, and Annabel Harman nailed one from 2 meters to make the margin five with 6:23 left on the clock. Brazil’s Chiappini edged Brazil ahead again scoring her fifth for 14-8 with five minutes to play.
Mariana Duarte scored one for Brazil from a man-down, before Sarah Doyle – after winning a handful of swim-offs – scored a counter attack for the Kiwis to make the score 9-15. Brazil managed to put another past goalkeeper Jess Milicich in the dying seconds of the match for a final score of 9-16.
Brazil’s golden three from Kazan – Chiappini, Duarte, and Alba scored 13 of their side’s 16 goals. New Zealand were excluded eleven times versus Brazil’s five. Brazil scored half of their goals from exclusions, including one penalty.
It was undoubtedly defence and not offence that let the Kiwis down today against Brazil. New Zealand will need to brush up on their holding fouls for their match against 2014 FINA World Youth bronze medalists Hungary tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7:20pm NZST. Follow live results for Tuesday's match here.
