Women’s Games Gold Medal: Greece vs. Hungary

POLO AIR INDONESIA-Greece’s youngsters played like true champions as they tore the heart out of their Hungarian rivals with a spell-binding 9-5 women’s gold-medal victory on Sunday, played in front of 1100 fans.

Competing in a pool that has seen its fair share of FINA water polo medals awarded, the Greeks were forceful in all facets of the game and were not backward in coming forward when it came to taking lower-percentage shots at goal. Some came off, others didn’t.

Greece was on top from the start to the finish and kept Hungary scoreless until midway through the second period. Goals were hard to come by with the tournament’s best goalkeeper Chrysoula Diamantopoulou (GRE) rising high and presenting a formidable presence.

But her work was made easier by the quick-moving defence at one end and the accurate attack at the other, spearheaded by Stefania Charalampidi, a left-hander whose mirror identical twin Ioanna was playing the other side of the pool.

Super coach Georgios Morfesis, victorious with the Greece women in Shanghai last year, now has another world title in his collection.

“My emotions are all over the place, I’m really happy,” Morfesis said. “This is my second time getting a world championship gold medal, and I’m very proud that I coached both of the teams.”

“I’m very proud of the girls. They are a very talented team. They showed it in the previous years with their gold medal in the European championship. And the future belongs to them.”

Greece kept Hungary scoreless in the first quarter by a variety of factors from poor shooting, wood hits and excellent Greek defence.

Greece opened early through 15-year-old Eleftheria Plevritou, who is three years younger than centre-forward sister Margarita, who is also on the team.

Standout centre forward Alkistis Benekou used her power shooting on extra-man attack to close the period at 2-0, three seconds from the buzzer.

Eleftheria Plevritou repeated her shooting antics, this time from well outside, for the first goal more than three minutes into the quarter for 3-0.

Brigitta Horvath opened Hungary’s account from centre forward on the next attack but Ioanna Charalampidi on the deep left and Stefania Charalampidi on the right proved fatal for Hungary with Stefania scoring two after her sister for a 6-2 turnaround margin.

With the match stretching to 7-2 when Aikaterini Zantou shot a lob on the first attack, Hungary’s hopes seemed dashed. However, Hungary persevered despite the smothering defence forcing shots wide. That perseverance was rewarded when Diana Ziegler was swift on extra man, firing in a rocket for 7-2 at the two-minute mark.

Greece was still playing on high-octane fuel and Stefania Charalampidi brought up her third with a skip for 8-3 six seconds from the final break.

Benekou made sure of a margin worthy of a champion from centre forward on the first attack. However, Hungary scored the final two goals but the last came from long range, 2:30 from time. Greece closed the gate and made sure of gold and then started the celebrations.

Stefania Charalampidi said it was a fantastic feeling to win gold and said their journey to get here made the victory even better.

“In the beginning we weren’t practising as a team, because we were missing a few of the girls. When we started, against Russia, we weren’t going so well, but as we played on we got better and better as a team.”

Hungary’s stars Anna Illes and Alexa Gemes were kept scoreless as Hungary struggled to find a purchase in any part of the game. Timeouts in the second and third quarters failed to earn goals, while several certain goals hit wood on the goalkeeper.

Hungarian coach Attila Mihok was disappointed with the loss, but said the girls would learn immensely from their efforts.

“I am feeling very bad and very disappointed,” Mihok said.

“I think Greece was better in every position today. They deserved the win, the score was normal. But this team is going up.”

Story by Russell McKinnon

Greece vs. Hungary

Result: Greece 9 beat Hungary 5

Quarters: (2-0, 4-2, 2-1, 1-2)

Scorers GRE: Eleftheria Plevritou 3, Stefania Charalampidi 3, Aikaterini Zantou, Ioanna Charalampidi, Alkistis Benekou

Scorers HUN: Diana Ziegler, Ibolya Miskolczi, Krisztina Garda, Brigitta Horvath

Greece: Chrysoula Diamantopoulou, Alkistis Benekou, Eleftheria Plevritou, Ioli Benekou, Eleni Xenaki, Ioanna Charalampidi, Aikaterini Zantou, Margarita Plevritou, Christina Kotsia, Stefania Charalampidi, Marina Florou, Stamatina Kontogianni, Stefania Terefou

Hungary: Anna Horvath, Annan Illes, Diana Ziegler, Greta Gurisatti, Ibolya Miskolczi, Vivien Kovesdi, Alexa Gemes, Krisztina Garda, Diana Sik