Novi Sad 20.08.2017 / Latest edit: 22.Aug2017
The first game of the Women’s European Junior Water Polo Championship saw Slovakia convincingly beat Turkey, 18:9. In another Group B match, Spain overpowered Israel even more easily, 19:3.
Slovakian ladies got off to a good start and took a 4:1 lead in the first period. In the middle of the second quarter, Turkey was down by one (5:4) and before the third period started the result was 9:8. In the final moments of that quarter, Tamara Kolarova stepped up her game, netting four goals in three minutes. After that, Slovakia had a 14:8 advantage and kept increasing it during the final eight minutes of the match. Kolarova was the game’s top scorer with five goals, and Barbora Baranovicova added three. Dilara Burali also scored five goals for Turkey.
Slovakia – Turkey 19:8 (5:2, 4:5, 5:1, 4:1)
Spain was even more dominant, and it became obvious who would win the game at the beginning of the second quarter when Spanish girls had a 7:0 lead. Semon Hila Futorian scored the only two goals in the first half for Israeli squad, but everything was clear after two quarters as the result was 11:2. Spanish team continued to enlarge the difference later on, until the final 19:3. It was led by Alejandra Aznar who netted seven goals, and nine more of her teammates managed to score.
Spain – Israel 19:3 (5:0, 6:2, 3:1, 5:0)
Russian girls accomplished a very emphatic win at the start of the European Championship, as they defeated Bulgaria, 37:3. They had an 11:0 lead after eight minutes of play, during which Anna Kochetova was the most efficient player with 4 goals. Bulgaria’s net was constantly being filled, and therefore the halftime result was 19:0. Bulgarian squad netted its first only three minutes before the end of the third quarter. It was already 23:1 then, and Russia continuously increased the advantage. All of its water polo players managed to score, and Kochetova and Yulia Lapteva led their team with six goals, while four players each added four. Melanie Hristova netted two for Bulgaria.
Russia – Bulgaria 37:3 (11:0, 8:0, 9:1, 9:2)
There was no doubt about who would emerge as the winner of the face-off between Hungary and Portugal, as Hungarian ladies triumphed with 22:3.
Portuguese team scored an opener and, after Hungary’s six-goal spree, they netted their second one. However, they remained scoreless for the next 24 minutes of the game. On the other side, Hungary kept on scoring and increasing their lead. The winning team was the most on point in the final quarter when it recorded eight goals. Fanni Muzsnay excelled with five goals, while Zita Armai and Berta Farago each added three.
Hungary – Portugal 22:3 (6:2, 5:0, 3:0, 8:1)
Day 1
Group A
Italy – France (18:45)
Serbia – Czesh Republic (20:30)
Group B
Slovakia – Turkey 19:8 (5:2, 4:5, 5:1, 4:1)
Spain – Israel 19:3 (5:0, 6:2, 3:1, 5:0)
Group C
Russia – Bulgaria 37:3 (11:0, 8:0, 9:1, 9:2)
Hungary – Portugal 22:3 (6:2, 5:0, 3:0, 8:1)
Group D
Netherlands – Romania (15:45)
Greece – Great Britain (17:15)