FINA World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships
- Sept. 9-15, 2019
- Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal
- Venue: Funchal Olympic Pools Complex
- Competitors: 16 teams
- Live Scoring
The four-time champion United States is out of the running for the 2019 World Women’s Junior Water Polo title after falling to Italy 9-8 in the first quarterfinal match on Friday.
In addition to Italy, the Netherlands, 2017 champion Russia and Greece advanced to Saturday’s semifinals with quarterfinal wins on Friday.
Russia has won two previous titles (2009, 2017), while Greece won in 1997 and the Netherlands claimed the inaugural crown in 1995. Italy will be looking for its best ever finish, having never reached the podium in 12 previous editions.
The Americans, meanwhile, drop into the fifth through eighth place seeding matches alongside China, Hungary and Spain.
In other action, Canada and Australia won in ninth through 12th place seeding matches on Friday and will meet on Saturday. Japan claimed 13th place and Kazakhstan snagged 15th place with wins on Friday.
Friday’s Results
| Sept. 13 | |
| 15th Place | Kazakhstan def. Portugal 13-6 |
| 13th Place | Japan def. New Zealand 13-10 |
| 9th to 12th Seeding | Canada def. Brazil 9-7 |
| Australia def. South Africa 16-5 | |
| Quarterfinals | Italy def. USA 9-8 |
| Netherlands def. China 8-6 | |
| Russia def. Hungary 18-11 | |
| Greece def. Spain 10-8 |
Friday’s Top Scorers
| 6 | Ruby Swadling, Australia | South Africa |
| 4 | Anastassiya M., Kazakhstan | Portugal |
| 4 | Fuka Nishiyama, Japan | New Zealand |
| 4 | Emmerson Houghton, New Zealand | Japan |
| 4 | Jewel Roemer, USA | Italy |
| 4 | Maxine Schaap, Netherlands | China |
| 4 | Daria Chagochkina, Russia | Hungary |
| 4 | Vanda Valyi, Hungary | Russia |
| 4 | Eleni Elliniadi, Greece | Spain |
| 3 | Viktoriya K., Kazakhstan | Portugal |
| 3 | Anna Nivikova, Kazakhstan | Portugal |
| 3 | Madalena Lousa, Portugal | Kazakhstan |
| 3 | Elizabeth Alsemgeest, New Zealand | Japan |
| 3 | Ana Alice Amaral, Brazil | Canada |
| 3 | Daphne Guevremont, Canada | Brazil |
| 3 | Agnese Cocchiere, Italy | USA |
| 3 | Elizaveta Zaplatina, Russia | Hungary |
| 3 | Anastasiia Diachenko, Russia | Hungary |
| 3 | Eszter Lara Kiss, Hungary | Russia |
| 3 | Maria Myriokefalitaki, Greece | Spain |
| 3 | Paula Arrones, Spain | Greece |
Quarterfinals
Italy trailed the United States 8-7 heading into the final quarter, but the Italians got goals from Agnese Cocchiere and Dafne Bettini, while holding the Americans scoreless in the final eight minutes to clinch the 9-8 win and a spot in the semifinals. Cocchiere notched a hat trick for Italy, while Jewel Roemer managed four goals for the USA.
The Netherlands led 5-2 after three quarters, giving the team enough cushion to withstand being outscored 4-3 by China in the final period en route to an 8-6 win. Maxine Schaap put in four goals to pace the Dutch, while Xhen Xiao scored twice for China.
The result was never in doubt for Russia as the team poured on 16 goals over the first three periods to just seven for Hungary. The Hungarians rallied with a 4-2 edge in the final stanza, but came up short in the 18-11 decision. Daria Chagochkina led the way for Russia with four goals, while Elizaveta Zaplatina and Anastasiia Diachenko each added hat tricks. Vanda Valyi put in four goals for Hungary, while Eszter Lara Kiss notched a hat trick.
Greece jumped out to a 6-1 advantage in the opening quarter vs. Spain, but the Spaniards were within one with eight minutes to play (9-8) after putting in four goals in the second stanza and outscoring Greece 3-0 in the third. An action shot by Eleni Elliniadi made it 10-8 Greece with 6:44 to play. Greece took five more shots, missing two, seeing two saved and one blocked. Spain also had five tries, hitting the post once, missing once and having three saved. Elliniadi scored a game-high four goals, while Maria Myriokefalitaki added three. Paula Arrones notched three goals for Spain.
9th through 12th place Seedings
Canada and Australia will meet on Saturday with ninth place on the line after each won in seeding matches on Friday.
Canada snapped a 5-all tie after three quarters with a four-goal final stanza, while allowing Brazil just two en route to the 9-7 victory. Four different players accounted for the fourth-quarter goals for Canada, including Daphne Guevremont, who finished off a hat trick. Ana Alice Amaral matched Guevremont with three goals for Brazil.
Australia piled up nine goals over the first two periods and tacked on six more in the final stanza to close out a 16-5 win over South Africa. Ruby Swadling netted six goals for the Aussies, while Abby Andrews added a hat trick. Jordan Wedderburn led South Africa with two goals.
13th Place – Japan 13, New Zealand 10
A five-goal second quarter gave Japan an 8-5 halftime lead and the advantage it needed to take the 13-10 victory as each team scored five goals down the stretch. Fuka Nishiyama put in four goals to pace Japan, while Emmerson Houghton countered with four for New Zealand. Elizabeth Alsemgeest also added a hat trick for the Kiwis.
15th Place – Kazakhstan 13, Portugal 6
Kazakhstan outscored Portugal 9-2 in the second half to claim a 13-6 victory and 15th place in the tournament. Anastassiya M. led the way with four goals, while Viktoriya K. and Anna Novikova each added hat tricks. Madalena Lousa put in three goals to lead Portugal.
