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Emanuela Karastoyanova

Women's national team in water polo defeated the team of Holland by 12-11 during the second game of the round A1 of the World League, which is held in Athens in the Alimos swimming pool. The victory made the hosts particularly happy. The coach of the Greeks owes the success to his "recipe" from the previous World Championship in Rome, during which the country's national team took fourth place. Victory over the guests gave Greece reason for joy as the athletes from Netherlands have won the gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing. This was the first victory of the Greeks over the Netherlands out of the eight meetings total that the teams had. This was also the first match at the level of the World League.

With their success from tonight the Greeks reached one of two goals they had set for their first round of the first qualification phase. The next goal is the victory over Spain in a game which the two teams will play on Sunday. The games from the second round will be held in France from 17.06 to 20.06. The ultimate goal, of course, is participation in the tournament finals, which will be held from 28.06 to 3.07 in San Diego.

The match began with strong play by both teams. Both the hosts and the guests proceeded to attacks and the chances of both parties looked the same. Crucial proved to be the second and third sets. This was the moment when the Greeks showed very good defense. They managed to literally tie the hands of their opponents and thereby provoked joyous exultation of the audience gathered at the pool.

Thus Greece took first place in the rankings with 6-points earned. Second place went to Holland with 3 points, and at third place is France also with 3 points. Spain took fourth place with 0 points. Fifth place went to the South African team, which with the loss by 6-11 from the team of France failed to win any point.

The phase of the World League continues on Saturday, 12.06 with matches between the teams of Holland and France, South Africa and Spain, France and Spain, Greece and South Africa.

Greece (George Marfesis): Tsuri, Tsoukala, Kuteli, Psuni, Liosi, Avramidou, Asimaki, Rubesi, Gerolimou, Manolioudaki, Andonakou, Solanaki, Kouvdou

Netherlands (Mauro Maugeri): Fan der Maden, Schmidt, Kabut, Hakverdian, Dan der Slut, Stomfhorst, Fan Belkum, Klein, Fermer, Claasen, Hains, Nihuis