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Spain sets showdown with USA in final at FINA women's water polo world league super final

Xinhua, June 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Spain won a breathing-taking battle against Australia 10-8 to set a showdown against the defending champion USA who beat China 11-5 in the semifinals at the 2016 FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final here on Saturday.

The battle between Spain and Australia was very tight as both teams changed the lead by just one goal difference from the beginning and had ties for eight times throughout the whole game. Roser Tarrago of Spain opened the scoring first at 26 seconds and Rowie Webbster of Australia tied 1-1 two minutes later. Spain was 7-8 behind in the fourth quarter but scored three goals in a row thanks to Anna Espar, Roser Tarrago and Beatriz Ortiz, respectively.

"We knew the team of Australia is very strong, physically and technically. We knew it was a hard battle that we were well prepared. We tried our best and won a defensive game," said Miguel Oca, head coach of Spain.

The another semifinal game played in a gentle way as United States and China produced only four exclusion fouls of each. USA led 3-0 less than five minutes before China scored one goal to make it 3-1 in the first period. USA slowed down the shooting pace in the middle of the race and powered in the last quarter with 4 goals.

"It was a great game though two of my key players were absent, as Song Donglun broke her right thumb yesterday and the doctor suggested her to rest for at least one day and Zhang Cong had a high fever. It gave the chances to the younger players and changed the 20-year-old Peng Lin as the goal keeper to replace the veteran goalie Yang Jun in the second half," said Chinese head coach Ricardo Azevedo.

"We tried something different that worked out as we were 7-4 behind into the fourth quarter before we made some mistakes in the defense. That really boost our confidence. I am happy with the way my girls played and the results," he said.

In the games of the last four places on Saturday, Russia beat Canada 15-4 and Italy edged Brazil 7-6.

FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final will conclude on Sunday after Spain play the United States in the final, China meet Australia in the bronze medal game, Russia face Italy in the fifth-place game and Brazil play Canada in the seventh-place game. Endit