Brave Stingers Fightback Fails to Prevent Italy Defeat
The Aussie Stingers have suffered a narrow loss to Italy in the opening match of the FINA World Championships in South Korea, with the final score 9-10.
The game went down to the wire, as the Aussie Stingers showed great fight in the second half to claw themselves back within striking distance.
The Olympic silver medallists Italy, showed why they are a force on the international stage staring strong to establish a 3-0 lead by the close of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Aussies put the first two goals on the board courtesy of great finishes from Hannah Buckling and Amy Ridge. But the Italians weren’t about to relinquish their lead and delivered another three goals before half time to put the score at 2-6.
The Aussie Stingers scored three of the first four goals of the third period to close the gap to 5-7. But Italy once again kicked to another gear to take two consecutive goals and push their lead out to four at the end of the period, 5-9.
Aussie Captain Rowie Webster’s penalty shot once again put the Aussies in the hunt, with Keesja Gofers converting extra-man attack and Buckling off a cross pass on counter put the score at 8-9 at 5:05.
Webster’s goal was disallowed (before the ball crossed the line) but her next attempt on the following attack lobbed off the bar into goal to put the score at 9-10 with 45 seconds left in the match.
While the Aussies regained the ball with 19 seconds on the clock and Bronte Halligan sent in the hopeful equalising attempt, her effort hit the left upright and bounced to Italy’s favour for the heart-stopping finish to the game.
Rowie Webster was pleased with how her team stood up in the second half but admitted allowing Italy’s early lead in the opening quarter cost them.
“We had a tough loss. There were times where we didn’t necessarily execute our opportunities but it was a really good comeback from the girls and something to build going further into this tournament.
“We are disappointed and not necessarily satisfied. But credit to the girls in the team, standing up and taking their shots and we’ll go forward from here.
“I think we showed a lot of courage in the second half, our stumps were down. They’re a class team and you can’t let them get to 3-nil.
“We have China and Japan up next… we have to reassess the game (against Italy) and leave it in the past and look ahead to who we have coming up,” she said.
Game two of the preliminary rounds will see Australia take on China on Tuesday 16 July 2019 at 17:30 (AEST). All matches are streamed live on www.finatv.live
AUSTRALIA 9 ITALY 10
Quarters: 0-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-1
Extra man: AUS: 1/9 ITA: 5/7
Penalties: AUS: 1/1.
AUSTRALIA:Gabriella Palm, Keesja Gofers (1), Hannah Buckling (2), Bronte Halligan, Isobel Bishop, Bronwen Knox, Rowie Webster (4), Amy Ridge (1), Zoe Arancini, Lena Mihailovic (1), Elle Armit, Madeleine Steere, Lea Yanitsis. Head Coach: Predrag Mihailovic.
-WaterPoloAustralia