Photo: MTI/Zsolt Czeglédi
The two teams played a close match in the World Cup final this year, but then the United States, which has excelled in the sport in the past decade, won. Before the Olympics, we were able to prepare against them in an American training camp.
The match started well in that we didn’t let the American team score a goal with excellent defense. Garda Kriszta took the lead halfway through the quarter, and the equalizer arrived a minute and a half later. At the end of a nice game, Dóra Leimeter came close to the goal and sent the ball under Johnson’s arm into the net. At the back, Alda Magyari defended with a feat, and our national team scored 2-1 in the first eight minutes.
The second half of the quarter was all about the performance of the two goalkeepers, the Hungarian netminder came into the match in great shape, and made the American shooters a bit unsettled. Four and a half minutes passed before they equalized. Unfortunately, on the other side, Johnson also showed his form.
Both teams defended hard anyway, and it was clear from the reactions of the American national team captain that the match will not necessarily turn out the way he thought. We lacked a bit of precision up front. In the last minute of the game, the defending Olympic champions managed to turn it around, and they led 3-2 at halftime.
We escaped after the turn, Rita Keszthelyi does not make mistakes in such a situation, she brought the quarter-finals back to even. Steffens used a double man advantage and found the gap next to the defensive hands. The Hungarian team also played the court well and Kamilla Faragó’s nice goal made the score 4-4.
The girls gave everything, a spectacular fight took place in the water, Alda Magyari and the blocks made sure that the American shooters did not find a target. “Hungarians, Hungarians!” came from the stands, giving strength to the last minute of the quarter. It should be noted: on the other side, Johnson also did his best to keep the 4-4 draw to the last act.
Next came the final eight minutes, which would decide whether to reach the top four. Dorottya Szilágyi caught the pass, we started the quarter well. When the American team took the lead a minute later, the captain immediately asked for time, but Alda Magyari made some amazing saves and blocked two shots.
The defending champion started to play more nervously, because the ball slipped from Fattal’s hand in the next few rounds. Attila Mihók asked for time, the audience also felt that the team needed more support, and “Ria, ria, Hungária” was sung! The defense consumed a lot of energy, because the girls couldn’t find the way to the goal in front. Three minutes before the end, two of our players were sent off by the referees, the American team attacked again with a double advantage and they took advantage of the opportunity, gaining a one-goal lead.
We also had the man advantage, but Garda’s shot bounced over the water. On our next attack, the whistle was not for us. Co-captain Sándor Cseh received a red card from the bench in a tense situation.
There was one more attack left, Attila Mihók bided his time, the Hungarian team attacked for a draw, but Faragó’s shot went wide of the goal. The defending champion didn’t even want to attack anymore, won the match 5-4 and reached the semi-finals.
After the match, the girls stayed at the edge of the pool. Together. Together. As a team. The tears could not be stopped.
You can read an interview with us soon.
2024-08-06 20:23:50