The Spanish women’s water polo team fulfilled the forecasts and reached the quarterfinals of the Fukuoka World Cup with a solid victory against France (9-16). Judith Forca, with five goals, was the player who stood out the most in the national team, which will now face Hungary on Monday for a ticket to the semifinals.
Historically, Spain has beaten Hungary in every key match since the 2012 London Olympics. On June 26, they won the World Cup bronze by 18-15. The Magyars got directly into the quarterfinals thanks to the first position they achieved in the group stage, so they will arrive more rested.
The team coached by Miki Oca started the match against the French in an overwhelming way in attack. He scored in three of the first four offensive actions to bring the score to 0-3 with a brace from Anni Espar and an intermediate goal from Judith Forca, in just three minutes.
France, who entered the match with a double defeat against the United States and Australia and a minimal victory against China, adjusted in defense until the end of the first quarter and in attack opened with a goal from the player of Hungarian origin, Orsolya Hertzka for 1-3.
Spain extended their advantage at the beginning of the second quarter with the only advantage taken advantage of, in the form of a penalty scored by Elena Ruiz and later with Cristina Nogué’s 2-5 score from the buoy, after Juliette Dhalluin’s intermission.
The French team played their best minutes and two goals in a row from Hardy and Bouloukbachi to reduce the deficit to one goal (4-5). The Spanish success came from the buoy with the first goal by Maica García, which was once again countered by Aurelie Battu to make it 5-6 in what would be the French climax of the match.
Judith Forca, with her second goal, left the match 5-7 favorable at halftime with a tie at 4 in the second set. France had scored as many goals in this second quarter as in the last precedent of the European Championship in Split, which Miki Oca’s players won 16-4.
The team ruled at the beginning of the third quarter, adjusting in defense and tightening in attack with a 0-4 run with goals, especially from the mark by Maica García, Ariadna Ruiz, Paula Leiton and Judith Forca to make it 5-11. France woke up after eight minutes with two goals from Bouloukbachi and Dhallium but a counter between Maica and Judith left it 7-12 with eight minutes to go.
In the last quarter, two new goals from Elena Ruiz and Maica García placed the maximum income of 7 goals. France scored two goals, one by the veteran Louise Guillet but again Paula Leiton and the best of the match, Judith Forca with her fifth goal, placed the final 9-16.
France: Mia Rycraw; Estelle Millot (-), Valentine Heurtaux (1), Camelia Bouloukbachi (2), Louise Guillet (1), Orsolya Hertzka (1), Juliette Dhalluin (2.1p), Aurelie Battu (1), Erica Hardy (1), Camelie Radosaviljevic, Lara Andres, Aurelie Daule, Lalou Martinaud-Peret.
Spain: Martina Terre; Cristina Nogué (1), Anni Espar (2), Bea Ortiz, Nona Pérez, Paula Crespí, Elena Ruiz (2p), Ariadna Ruiz (1), Judith Forca (5), Paula Camus, Maica García (3), Paula Leiton (1), Laura Ester.
Referees: Matan Schwartz (ISR) and Raffaele Colombo (ITA). They expelled Bouloukbachi and Nogué
Partials: 1-3, 4-4, 2-5, 2-4
Incidents: Round of 16 match of women’s water polo at the Fukuoka World Cup (Japan).
