FINA Women's World Jnr Champs: Aussies to play for bronze
Australia will play Russia for the bronze medal after going down 7-8 in a nerve racking semi final against Spain at the FINA Women’s Junior World Championships in Trieste, Italy.
Just a day earlier the Australians had demolished Greece 10-5 in their quarterfinal and they carried that form into their clash with Spain, getting off to a flying start and leading 4-2 at quarter time.
They still held the lead at the long break – up 5-4 – before the Spaniards piled on three unanswered goals in the third period to set up what proved to be a match winning lead.
As much as the Australians tried valiantly to steal victory in the final term – scoring two goals to Spain’s one – they ran out of time and will now play Russia, who went down to Hungary 12-11 in extra time, for the bronze.
If Australia can win the bronze it will be the seventh time in nine FINA Women’s Junior World Championships. So far Australia’s medal tally sits at two gold (1999, 2007), three silver (1995, 1997, 2001) and a bronze (2005).
The bronze medal playoff gets underway at 2.15am (AEST) on Sunday.
