Spain successfully passes the procedure before France
MADRID, 8 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women's water polo team beat France this Thursday with a clear and overwhelming victory (14-7), in the last match of Group B of the World Championship being held in Doha (Qatar), a procedure for Miki's pupils Oca, already classified for the quarterfinals, which confirm their leadership and full status in this phase.
The team coached by Miki Oca, which had just beaten Greece (16-8) in the decisive group match, quickly took the lead against the young France with a 2-0 score that gave peace of mind to the Spanish team. However, the income could have been greater, but the lack of aim was the worst enemy of the Spanish, who knew how to suffer a couple of French attacks, taking advantage of a couple of expulsions for the current world runner-up.
French goalkeeper Mia Rycraw was at a good level at the start, but Isabel Piralkova scored Spain's third in the second lead. A goal that Vernoux immediately responded to for France. It was the beginning of the goal festival in Doha, to which Nogué also joined with a whiplash. The intense exchange of blows continued with a better Spain, although the French did not seem to let go of the match.
The 'Water Warriors' adjusted their defense, which until then was somewhat soft and very focused on the buoy, which took advantage of a France that was inflated by long-range shots. But the world runners-up remained active and achieved, very quickly, the calm and confident 7-3, the work of Anni Espar of Vaseline, to go into the break leading 7-4.
Nogué took advantage of her first opportunity in this tournament and made it 8-4 in the first attack of the third quarter, a goal that allowed the Spanish team to take a run. Piralkova and Nona Pérez gave even more air, despite the fact that France tried to get back on track based on superiority – they only converted 3 of 12 -, running into an excellent Laura Ester in goal, who maintained the valuable Spanish advantage.
The match reached the final quarter with 11-4 in favor of Spain, a score that caused the pace of play and goals to drop. And the first goal came after the halfway point of this last set, the work of Cris Nogué, determined to show Miki Oca that she is ready to participate even more in the tournament. Pili Peña, although at the last minute, joined the scoring party, although it was Paula Crespí, who opened the scoring, closing the match with 14-7.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: SPAIN, 14 – FRANCE, 7 (7-4, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
SPAIN: Laura Ester (p); Anni Espar (2), Cristina Nogué (3), Bea Ortiz (-), Nona Pérez (1), Paula Crespí (2), Pili Peña (1), Judith Forca (-), Paula Camús (2), Paula Leitón (1), Ari Ruiz (-) and Isabel Piralkova (2).
FRANCIA: Rycraw (p); Andrés (-), Heurtaux (-), Bouloukbachi (2), Guillet (1), Hertzka (1), Dhalluin (1), Battu (-), Vernoux (2), Daule (-), Raspo (-), Martineaud Peret (-) and Hardy (-).
–PARTIALS: 2-0, 5-4, 4-1 and 3-2.
–REFEREES: Helene Painchaud (CAN) and Darren Spiritosanto (USA).
–POOL: Aspire Dome in Doha.