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08/15/2008 - Wolfgang Philipps |
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One game, two losers … |
Italian veteran player Silvia Bosurgi levelled the game, 9-9.
Foto: Wolfgang Philipps |
The last preliminary round of the Women´s Olympic Games Tournament in Beijing, China ended with two losers. 2004 gold medallist Italy beat China 10-9 (2-2, 4-2, 2-4, 2-1), but missed the first place in Group B by one goal. The home team played another great the game, the third one in a row, but missed the second place, which would have granted an easier draw in the cross-over matches of the quarter-finals to be contested on Sunday. The Chinese team coached by Spanish top coach Joan Jané suffered the second loss by only goal against a two-time World champion and medal contender.
Everything was prepared for a great game, and both teams were fighting very hard: Italy need a victory by two goals to finish first. In this case the settebello would have achieved a better result than Team USA, which had beaten the third-ranked Chinese by only one goal on opening day, 12-11. China could not finish first any more after the US victory against Russia two matches before, but second place in Group B a cross-over game against the Dutch would have been an interesting reward as well.
Italy took an early 2-0 lead, while China need almost five minutes to open the scoring. But it was the first of only two leads by two goals today; the remainder of the game it was to be a match of changing leads, despite an Italian 6-4 lead at the changing of the sides. But China did not only level the game in the third period, but also took a 7-6 and 8-7 lead. The score was 8-8 before the last swim-off, and Yating Sun scored once more for the home team in front of an enthusiastic crowd, bringing the score to 9-8.
Italy regained the lead after goals by 2004 gold medallist Silvia Bosurgi and Elisa Casanova, 10-9. But the last four minutes were to remain scoreless so that both teams missed their aim. Italian forward Elisa Casanova was wearing a face mask again, but scored four goals to prevent a loss of the European powerhouse. China´s goalkeeper Jun Yang blocked Tania di Mario´s penalty-shot in the second period, which proved to be one of the missing goals half an hour later. Italy will now the Dutch in the cross-over matches of the quarter-finals, while China is facing Australia.
Group B, day 3
Italy vs. China 10-9 (2-2, 4-2, 2-4, 2-1)
Italy: Gigli, Miceli 1, Casanova 4, Bosurgi 1, Valkai 1/1, Zanchi, Di Mario 3, Ragusa, Pavan, Rocco, Musumeci, Frassinetti, Brancati.
Head coach: Maugeri.
China: Yang, Teng, Liu, Yujun Sun, He, Yating Sun 3, Ying Wang, Gao 1, Yi Wang 2, Ma 1, Huizi Sun, Qiao 2, Tan.
Head coach: Janè.
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