Novi Sad 22.08.2017 / Latest edit: 25.Aug2017

Third round matches marked the end of the Women’s European Junior Water Polo Championship group stage. Italy, Spain, Hungary and the Netherlands advanced straight to the quarterfinals, while Serbia, France, Slovakia, Israel, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Great Britain will compete for the next phase in the eighth finals.

Serbia’s national team collected its second emphatic group stage victory, as after the Czech Republic it overpowered France, 19:1. Serbian ladies will face Bulgaria in the battle for quarterfinals.

During the first minutes of the match, Serbia failed to seize the opportunities it had with an extra player on three occasions, but then stepped up its game and scored four goals in two minutes. The successful streak continued in the second and the third period, after which the result was 16:0. The hosting team continued to score until the very last minute of the game, and it was only until the final seconds that France was able to net its only goal. Almost all Serbia’s water polo players managed to score, and Lara Luka was the most efficient with five goals, while Nina Josifovic and Nadja Novakovic each added three.

Serbia – France 19:1 (4:0, 7:0, 5:0, 3:1)

In the battle for 2nd place in Group B, which would potentially mean facing a less challenging rival in the 1/8 finals, Slovakia beat Israel, 11:7. In a tough game, Slovakian ladies took a 2:0 lead thanks to Miroslava Stankovianska’s goals, and even went ahead 5:2 in the second period. Israel was down by one (5:4) in next to no time, but Slovakia’s shooting strike followed leading it to a five-goal advantage (10:5) and everything was clear at that moment. The game’s top scorer was Stankovianska with four goals, while Miriam Bracha Bogachenko and Nofar Hochberg each netted a pair for Israel.

Slovakia – Israel 11:7 (2:1, 4:3, 4:1, 4:2)

Spain had an easy job in the group stage and proceeded directly to the quarterfinals after three convincing triumphs. It overpowered Turkey, 26:3, in the third round. Spanish girls eliminated all doubts about who would win the game, as they were leading with 8:0. It was only after they achieved a 12:0 advantage that Turkey scored its first goal little before the first half ended. However, Spanish squad kept the same rhythm later on and gradually increased their lead. Andrea Arias and Alejandra Aznar excelled scoring six goals for Spain, while Turkey’s Kardelen Dedeoglu netted two.

Spain – Turkey 26:3 (8:0, 4:1, 7:1, 6:1)

The Dutch team clinched its spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Great Britain, 20:8. Lieke Rogge scored three goals in the first period, contributing to her team’s 4:1 lead. The Netherlands was able to preserve the advantage until the halftime, after which they were gradually increasing the lead and finished the match in a routine manner with a big shooting streak in the last eight minutes. Rogge was the top scorer with five goals, whereas Katy Cutler netted three for Great Britain.

Netherlands – Great Britain 20:8 (4:1, 3:3, 5:2, 8:2)

Day 3

Group A

Italy – Czech Republic 22:2 (2:2, 8:0, 8:0, 4:0)
Serbia – France 19:1 (4:0, 7:0, 5:0, 3:1)

Standings: Italy 9, Serbia 6, France 3, Czech Republic 0.

Group B

Slovakia – Israel 11:7 (2:1, 4:3, 4:1, 4:2)
Spain – Turkey 26:3 (8:0, 4:1, 7:1, 6:1)

Standings: Spain 9, Slovakia 6, Israel 3, Turkey.

Group C

Hungary – Bulgaria 31:3 (7:1, 7:2, 9:0, 8:0)
Russia – Portugal 29:2 (6:0, 7:0, 10:1, 6:1)

Standings: Hungary 9, Russia 6, Bulgaria 3, Portugal 0.

Group D

Greece – Romania 18:1 (5:0, 4:0, 5:1, 4:0)
Netherlands – Great Britain 20:8 (4:1, 3:3, 5:2, 8:2)

Standings: Netherlands 9, Greece 6, Great Britain 3, Romania 0.