Australia has cruised into the last eight in the men’s water polo tournament at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, with a thumping 17-1 victory over South Africa in their quarterfinal qualifier.
The Aussie Sharks were typically ruthless in defence, stealing from the South Africans almost at will, and capitalising on the counter attack with their superior pace and fitness. They scored 11 goals in the first half alone before adding another six and aclean sheet in the last two quarters.
The comprehensive win over the South Africans comes after the Sharks easily beat Japan, drew with Montenegro and came within a whisker and two controversial referring calls from beating world No.1 Serbia in the group stage of the competition.
The win sets up a clash with Greece in Tuesday’s quarterfinal for a place in the semis – a stage the Aussie Sharks have not reached at a world championship since hosting the event in Perth in 1998.
It was a mature display by the Australians and one that put the depth of the entire 13-man squad on show, all contributing throughout the match, something that assistant coach Paul Oberman said was very pleasing ahead of the second week of the tournament.
“It was an excellent first half, really good composure, good intensity and while we dropped a little in the middle stages we picked it up at the end and it was good to finish that way,” said Oberman, who is also the head coach of the WAIS men’s water polo program in Perth.
“Tonight showed the depth of the squad and it showed that they are all ready to play and all ready to play international water polo.
“It shows whether you’re number one, number two or number 13, everyone plays and everyone has a role and contribution to make.
“We’ve got good depth now and we’ve got good players left at home so it augurs well for Australian water polo.”
The Australians took a number of attacks and almost three minutes to open the scoring in the first quarter but once Richie Campbell got the scoreboard ticking and Mitch Emery fired in two goals in 30 seconds the writing was on the wall. South Africa scored an extraman goal next but by the end of the quarter, after goals from WAIS athlete Aaron Younger and AJ Roach, Australia was up 5-1.
In the second term, Emery got his third, Tyler Martin scored a pair and earnt a penalty that Jarrod Gilchrist converted, Younger and Roach both picked up their second and goalkeeper James Stanton-French stopped a South African penalty to make it 11-1 at the main break.
The Sharks’ attack stuttered in the third period but they still managed to win the quarter 2-0, Younger getting a third and WAIS athlete George Ford his first. Centre forward Joel Swift (WAIS) scored first in the fourth quarter before Younger, Gilchrist and Roach all scored again to end the night.
-WaterPoloAus
