Friday, March 7
Quarter Final
| hour | no | game | intermediate results | final result | referees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:30 | 31 - 6th A/5th B | KAZ - IRI | 2-1 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 4 - 6 | Gjorgjiveski, Davalos |
| 16:00 | 32 - 5th A/6th B | BRA - MEX | 2-1 | 1-3 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 8 - 7 | Naumov, Ghafouri |
| 17:30 | 33 - 3rd A/2nd B | RUS - ITA | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3-3 | 3-2 | 10 - 11 | Stavropoulos, Chaney |
| 19:00 | 34 - 2nd A/3rd B | ROU - CAN | 2-0 | 3-6 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 8 - 9 | Spiegel, Vuletic |
Games 31 - 44 must be played to a conclusion.
Accordingly it may be necessary to apply Water Polo rules regarding extra time.
Game reviews
Game 31: 14:30, Friday, March 7
Quarterfinal 7-12
KAZAKHSTAN 4 IRAN 6
Referees: Andrej GJORGJIEVSKI (MKD), Mariano DAVALOS (MEX).
Quarters: 2-1, 1-3, 1-1, 0-1
Teams:
KAZAKHSTAN: Dimitriy AXYONKIN, Mixail
KOLOTVIN, Amirbek SAPAROV, Nurlan SARTAEV (1), Alan ORAZALINOV, Roman PILIPENKO,
Yernur KOILEYEV, Rustam UKUMANOV (1), Mikhail RUDAY, Ravil MANAFOV (1), Adil TEMRXANOV
(1), Alexex DENCHENKO. Head Coach:
Askar ORAZALINOV.
IRAN: Ali Reza SHAHIDIPOUR, Arameh
AGHAZARIAN, Seyed MIR MEDI (2), Mahdi KARAMIZARANDI (1), Mohammad MEHDI TEIRAN,
Ali PIROZKHAH, Kambiz AFSHARI (1), Khadempir SOHEIL, Mohsen JALILI, Shirijian ALIAKBAR,
Sadjad ABDIHANJANI, Amir HOSSEIN KHANI (3), Meisam JAFARI.
Head Coach: Nevan KOVACEVIC.
Match report:
It felt like a game with eight players, the amount of time both coaches were yelling
at their charges. Orazalinov, with his booming voice, and Kovacevic with his exhortations
were clearly not used to playing at this level. Orazalinov is a multiple Asian Games
champion as a player in an era when Kazakhstan dominated Asia and spent plenty of
time on the world stage. Kovacevic has coached Croatia and many of his players are
currently in the world champion team. In Iran he has gathered a new team and this
was going to the game that he needed to win to avoid the bottom-two play-off. Orazalinov
looked disappointed as his team probably played its worst game of the tournament.
Both teams had plenty of chances but Kazakhstan seemed to miss some open opportunities
against a team with excellent defence. Khani's two goals in the second quarter turned
the tide in Iran's favour and when he added a third inside the last five minutes
for a two-goal advantage, Kazakhstan's hopes had died. Orazalinov had used his two
timeouts so couldn't gain any advantage there. Kovacevic called one at 1:41 and
the play was to pass cross-cage from the one-metre line to the far post. It seemed
too late but the ball was passed just as the incoming player hit the receiver, Karamizarandi,
who snapped the ball into goal for 7-4. It could have been 8-4 but the player sent
his one-on-one attempt into Axyonkin. One of the best players for Iran was goalkeeper
Shahidipour. Kazakhstan now goes to the 11th-12th play-off while Iran is still in
the mix to finish as high as seventh. Russell
McKinnon / FINA Press
Game 32: 16:00, Friday, March 7
Quarterfinal 7-12
BRAZIL 8 MEXICO 7
Referees: Sergey NAUMOV (RUS), Nader GHAFOURI (IRI).
Quarters: 2-1, 1-3, 3-1, 2-2
Teams:
BRAZIL: Luis SANTOS, Vicente HENRIQUES
(3), Gabriel ROCHA (1), Lucas VITA, Marcelo FRANCO (1), Conrado BERTOWZZI, Bernardo
ROCCA, Felipe SILVA, Erik SEEGERER (1), Bruno NOLASCO (1), Mario CAROTINI, Rafael
FARIAS (1), Anderson SOUZA. Head Coach:
Barbaro DIAS.
MEXICO: Orlando ORTEGA, Diego CASTANEDA
(1), Rainer SCHMIDT, Jorge LOPEZ, Daniel VAZQUEZ, Maximiliano AGUILAR (2), Oliver
ALVAREZ (2), Fausto VAZQUEZ (2), Armando GARCIA, Richard SCHMIDT, Gonzalo MEJIA,
Jorge PEREZ, Andres ONETO. Head Coach:
Raul DE LA PENA.
Match report:
After being 4-2 up for three minutes in the second quarter, Mexico must have thought
its chances of a high finish were pretty high. The reality shake-up came in the
next eight minutes of play when Brazil came back to take the lead 6-5 and go on
to a one-goal victory. The win sent Brazil to the 7-10 play-offs while Mexico will
have to play Kazakhstan for 11th place. Brazil had a 2-0 lead but allowed Mexico
to score in four different manners. Henriques scored on extra both sides of halftime
for 4-4. Mexico returned to the lead but by the final break Brazil was back in front
with two replica counter-attack goals down the right. Alvarez converted a penalty
to draw level but Brazil used its two timeouts to good effect, scoring after both
for 8-6 at 4:33. Castaneda narrowed it to one on counter at 2:26 but it was the
last goal. Mexico had its final timeout plan thwarted when it lost the ball seconds
from fulltime. Russell McKinnon / FINA Press
Game 33: 17:00, Friday, March 7
Quarterfinal 1-6
RUSSIA 10 ITALY 11
Referees: Aaron CHANEY (USA), Nikolaos STAVROPOULOS (GRE).
Quarters: 2-3, 2-3, 3-3, 3-2
Teams:
RUSSIA: Seman DAVITASHVILI, Sergey
LISUNOV, Sergey EVSTIGNEEV, Evgeny FINAEV (1), Roman BALASHOV (1), Alexander ERYSHOV
(1), Pavel KHALTURIN (3), Dmitry STRATAN, Andrey REKECHINSKIY, Marat ZAKIROV (1),
Sergey GARBUZOV (1), Irek ZINNUROV (2), Dmitry DUDKIN.
Head Coach: Boris POPOV.
ITALY: Stefano TEMPESTI, Francesco
POSTIGLIONE, Leonardo BINCHI, Fabrizio BUONOCORE, Luigi DI COSTANZO (1), Maurizio
FELUGO (2), Andrea MANGIANTE (1), Alberto ANGELINI (3), Fabio BENCIVENGA, Alessandro
CALCATERRA (1), Leonardo SOLTANI (3), Federico MISTRANGELO, Fabio VIOLETTI. Head Coach: Paolo MALARA.
Match report:
An Olympic berth was up for grabs and both teams weren't going to make any silly
mistakes. However, there could only be one winner and it always looked like it was
going to be Italy and it was the case. A return home without an Olympic spot would
be unthinkable for the three-time champion. Russia gave up a goal on extra 11 seconds
from quarter time, allowing Italy ahead. Khalturin, one of the revelations of this
tournament, scored twice but so did Soltani. Just 18 seconds from the long break,
di Costanzo scored Italy's fifth consecutive goal on extra for a two-goal margin.
Balashov converted extra at the start of the third quarter but Angelini and Soltani
both scored action goals for a three-goal break. Garbuzov nailed a penalty goal
and Khalturin collected his third from deep right for 8-7 down. Angelini walked
in on extra and sent Italy to the last break two up. Zinnurov scored from the top
to bring Russia within one for the third time in the half but on the next attack
the ball cleanly arrived in front of Calcaterra and he backhanded for 10-8. Russia
took a timeout when Balashov didn't think he should have been ejected and the slowest
goal of the game came when Zakirov, on the right post, accepted the ball, turned
and waited for Tempesti to drop before lobbing into goal he had so much time. It
was one goal again. Then Felugo sent one into the low right on extra for 11-9 at
3:59. An Italian timeout realised nothing and when Russia lost the ball at the 2:20
mark, the writing was on the wall. Italy used all the time on the next attack. Russia
gained an exclusion at 1:20. Garbuzov's shot rebounded to the left and the ball
was passed to Eryshov who scored at 0:58 for 11-10. The crowd and Russia reacted
badly when Khalturin was excluded at 0:29, giving Italy a timeout. It tried to keep
the ball but at six seconds a timeout was supposedly called leading to mayhem. It
was decided there was no timeout but Eryshov kept fouling Felugo and he was suspended
for misconduct a second before full time. Italy was off to Beijing. Russia will
have a day off to consider the effects of the non-qualification and play off for
a meaningless fifth on Sunday. Russell McKinnon
/ FINA Press
Game 34: 19:00, Friday, March 7
Quarterfinal 1-6
ROMANIA 8 CANADA 9
Referees: Luka VULETIC (CRO), Ulrich SPIEGEL (GER).
Quarters: 2-0, 3-6, 1-2, 2-1
Teams:
ROMANIA: Bertina NENCIU, Cosmin
RADU (2), Tiberiu NEGREAN, Florin BONCA, Andrei IOSEP (2), Andrei BUSILA (2), Gheorghe
DUNCA (1), Ramiro GEORGESCU (1), Edward ANDREI-DINA, George GEORGESCU, Cosmin BAIDOC,
Kalman KADAR, Robert DINU. Head Coach:
Vlad HAGIU.
CANADA: Robin RANDALL, Constantine
KUDABA (1), Devon DIGGLE, Kevin MITCHELL (2), Justin BOYD (1), Thomas MARKS (1),
Brandon JUNG, Kevin GRAHAM (1), Aaron FELTHAM (1), Sasa PALAMAREVIC, Jean SAYEGH
(2), Nathaniel MILLER, Nicholas YOUNGBLUD.
Head Coach: Dragan JOVANOVIC.
Match report:
A positive Canada beat a defensive Romania who appeared to choke on the big occasion.
The opening quarter was very tight with both teams tentative. However, Romania had
the better chances scoring through Busila on extra and Radu from a penalty after
two players were sent out and one returned early. Marks gave Canada hope with a
long shot early in the second quarter but at the other end Radu scored on extra.
Mitchell made it 3-2 on extra while soon after Canadian coach Jovanovic was given
a yellow when he queried a major foul call. Sayegh sent a disbelieving Romanian
crown into silence with a big shot on extra. Iosep replied on extra and Graham sent
one in from the top for 5-5. The shock settled in when Feltham added to Romania's
woes, also on extra. Iosep tried to stir up the crowd when he converted extra, raising
both fists to the crowd with just 12 seconds left in the half for 5-5. Romania was
happier than it had been. Canada went on attack and Miller gained a foul. He spilled
the ball but Sayegh picked up and shot into the back of the net for a 6-5 lead two
seconds from time. After the restart it didn't get any better for Romania with Mitchell
left free at six metres to score for 7-5. Busila brought up Romania's first goal
of the half when he hesitated and then decided it was best to shoot, scoring at
4:55 for 7-6 down. Canada had an attack and when time was running out Romania allowed
Kudaba the luxury of a shot from nine metres he sent his missile into the top left
for 8-6. Romania called a timeout on extra at a time when Busila and Feltham had
already collected three major fouls. The shot was deflected high and Canada had
the ball. Romania was struggling with the big occasion and could not gain a goal
by the final break, trailing by an incredible two goals. When Boys threw a goal
at 4:29, you could have cut the air with a knife. But Dunca revitilised the mood
in the house when he chanced his arm at 4:16 and came up with a goal. Radu took
a shot from centre but it fell short of the line as scoring chances were drying
up for Romania. Radu gained an exclusion and Ramiro Georgescu converted the extra-man
at 1:16. The drama was yet to subside as Canada took the ball and immediately lost
it in midfield. Romania had a chance. But to no avail. Dunca collected his second
major and Canada just wanted to keep position for the time. Romania went on attack
and got Miller ejected after a timeout. Radu had done his job and now it just remained
for the shot to be converted and the game to go to extra time, possibly. Sorry.
A Romanian player accidentally passed the ball to a Canadian player in the heat
of the moment and Canada retained to qualify for the Olympics for the first time
through the qualifying process. Russell McKinnon
/ FINA Press
Day 6 report
Canada defies predictions and qualifies alongside Italy
A pall hung over the Ioan Alexandrescu Pool here as the unthinkable happened and Romania did NOT qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games. In a major upset Canada, a team that hasn't attended the Olympic Games since 1984 when it entered by the back door in the international boycott and by hosting them in Montreal in 1976, beat the home team 9-8 in front of 1500 spectators. When the crowd had filed out in near silence, head coach Vlad Hagiu was still riveted to his chair in despair. The dreams of nation had been shattered. Canada gained the victory in a spectacular second quarter, coming from 2-0 down to an impressive 6-5 up. The margin increased to two by the final break and then to three in the fourth. With 4:29 remaining there was still time for Romania to come back but despite goals to Georghe Dunca and Ramiro Georgescu, and a chance on extra in the final seconds, a Romanian accidentally handed the ball to Canada and the dream was gone. Canada's dream was just starting.
Head coach Dragan Jovanovic said he was, naturally, feeling really good.
"I told the boys if we survived the first half and the Romanian spectators then
we had a chance. The first quarter we did not perform well but all the pressure
was on Romania, who was expected to win."
"I tried to keep the team calm and stick to our goals. We have a huge heart and commitment and had an incredible desire in this game."
"The team hasn't performed this well ever before. We lost two important players (from the World Championships) last year and we have five players aged 18 to 21... We all got together and formed a team plan and we stuck to it from the first moment until the last moment," Jovanovic said.
On what it means to Canada, he said: "This is huge for Canada that one of our teams qualified (the Canadian women lost the same match in Imperia, Italy two weeks ago). We will mostly likely survive the next four years financially and make some really good progress, he said.
"I hope that people in Canada who decide on sports' futures analyse our path in the last four years and won't kill teams sports as rumours suggest."
All the focus was on the main match of the evening but earlier two exciting teams clashed for the 11th berth - Italy and Russia. Italy took the spot at the expense of double champion Russia (as USSR) with an 11-10 margin. Italy had the wood on Russia all night and only had the lead for 28 seconds in the first quarter while four times drawing level in the first half. Italy played the ball sensibly in the final minute, survived a timeout scare and made sure of going to Beijing. In what is now a relaxed tournament with no medals or prizes but perhaps bragging rights, Greece and Italy will clash in one semifinal and Germany will take on Canada in the other tomorrow evening. At the lower end of the competition, four teams battled for the right to play in the 7-10 bracket and miss the play-off for 11-12. Iran upset Kazakhstan 6-4 and Brazil edged Mexico 8-7. Having a rest today were the group winners, Greece and Germany and the fourth-ranked teams, the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia and Slovakia. Russell McKinnon / FINA Press
