U.S. Women’s Water Polo Wins Opener

The reigning gold medalist U.S. Women’s water polo team prevailed Monday in their London debut. The 14-13 win over Hungary was as close as it looks. The score fluctuated around leads of one and two for the U.S. women and the largest lead, 12-9, lasted a mere 29 seconds.

The U.S. women were led by 19-year-old Maggie Steffens. The California native scored seven goals, all in the first three quarters. Steffens is currently deferring entrance into Stanford University while she plays for the national team.

Steffens was aided on the offensive effort by Courtney Mathewson. The 25-year-old Mathewson scored  all three of the fourth quarter U.S. goals. She finished with four total goals.

The United States outshot the Hungarians 32 to 28 and converted the only penalty shot of the game. Both teams had 42 possessions. Perhaps the difference in the game was superior U.S. goaltending. Tumua Anae, 23, saved six of 19 shots for the U.S. while Edina Gangl,22, saved four of 18 shots for Hungary.

The game was brought to life by the magniloquent utterances of Mike “Doc” Emrick, the first member of the media to be admitted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

The United States now sit atop the Group A standings along with Spain, who they will face Wednesday before completing round robin play with China on Friday. China entered play ranked fourth in the FINA work rankings, but were spanked 11-6 by Spain. Expect the United States to easily advance out of the group stage with their eyes on an eventual showdown with Group B leader Australia.

Group A Standings

1. United States- 2 points

1. Spain- 2 points

3. Hungary- 0 points

3. China- 0 points

Group B Standings

1. Austrailia- 2 points

1. Russia- 2 points

3. Great Britain- 0 points

3. Italy- 0 points

The Big Guy

Men’s Soccer 2012 Olympics Review

Group A

United Arab Emirates 1 vs. Uruguay 2

Uruguay used second half to fuel a 2 goal comeback in their opening round game of the 2012 London Olympics.

UAE shocked Uruguay by taking a early 1st half lead with a goal by forward Ismaeil Matar in the 23rd minute. Uruguay went down 1-0 looking like a shaken team. Uruguay did not take long to respond thanks to a goal by Gaston Ramirez in the 42nd minute. Uruguay took control in the second half scoring 11 minutes in with a goal from Nicolas Lodeiro in the 56th minute. Uruguay gets 3 points in a 2-1 victory. 

Yellow Cards: UAE-Mohamed Ahmad(37′)    Uruguay- German Rolin(9′)

Great Britain 1 vs. Senegal 1

 The host country Great Britain found themselves in the Summer Olympics since 1960 and had a hard fought 1-1. Great Britain maintained control for the main part of the first half and took a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Craig Bellamy in the 20th minute. All looked good for the host country to get a win as they were dominating throughout the first 60 minutes of the game. They never got that 2nd goal to put Senegal away and around the 70th minute Senegal began a push for momentum. Then in the 82nd minute Moussa Konate to make it a 1-1. The final 15 minutes were back and forth and Great Britain had a shot go off the cross bar with just minutes remaining. In the end both teams get 1 point.

Yellow Cards:

Great Britain- Craig Bellamy(47′)  

 Senegal- Papa N’Diaye Souare(36′), Sadio Mane(45′), Papa Gueye(86′)

Group A Standings

• Uruguay         3 points. +1
• Great Britain   1 point 0
• Senegal         1 point  0
• UAE              0 points -1

Group B

Mexico 0 vs. South Korea 0

In a hard fought draw South Korea maintained the momentum for most of the first half yet were never able to get a shot on goal which makes it difficult to score. Mexico showed some promise yet still there was nothing to show for the match. Both teams get 1 point in a 0-0 tie.

Yellow Cards:

Mexico- Hector Herrera Rubio.

Gabon 1 vs. Switzerland 1

Switzerland got off to a very early lead as they got a goal from Admir Mehmedi in the 5th minute in the style of a penalty kick. Switzerland looked as though they could cruise to an easy victory until a shocking game tying goal in the 45th from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. No goals would be scored in the second half as Gabon held on to a hard fought point. 

Yellow Cards:

Gabon- Allen Nono(18′), Merlin Tandjigora(49′)

Switzerland- Timm Klose(14′), Oliver Bluff(32′)

Red Card: Switzerland- Oliver Bluff(78′)

Group B Standings

• Mexico          1  point 0
• South Korea  1  point 0
• Gabon          1  point 0
• Switzerland   1  point 0

Group C

Belarus 1 vs. New Zealand 0

In one of the biggest upsets of the day, Belarus scored late in the first half with a header off a corner by Dmitry Baga in the 45th minute. Belarus shockingly dominated the entire game and if it wasn’t for New Zealand’s keeper, the game could have easily been 3 or 4 to nothing. Belarus gets a shocking 3 points

Yellow Cards:

Belarus: Sergei Politevich(56′)

New Zealand- Tommy Smith(1′), Kosta Barbarouses(60′)

Brazil 3 vs. Egypt 2

The first half was completely dominated by Brazil as they scored 3 consecutive goals from Rafael in the 16th minute, Leandro Damiao in the 26th minute, and from  Neymar in the 30th minute. Brazil looked as though they would cruise to an easy first match victory after the first half. Egypt did not go down without a fight as they came back to score 2 goals just to fall short in the 2nd half. Egypt score in the 52nd minute with a goal from Mohamed Aboutrika, and Mohamed Saha in the 76th minute. Egypt could not find the last goal to get that needed 1 point in a draw. Brazil gets 3 points in the victory.

Yellow Cards:

Brazil- Hulk(60′)

Egypt- Saleh Gomaa(33′), Mohamed Alaa Eldin(71′), Eslam Ramadan(87′)

Group C Standings

Brazil              3 points +1

Belarus           3 points +1 

New Zealand    0 points -1

Egypt              0 points -1

Group D

Honduras 2 vs. Morocco 2

In a back and forth battle that ended up in a well deserve tie got both teams a point in their opening match of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Morocco got the scoring started with a goal from Abdelaziz in the 39th minute. Morocco took a 1-0 lead going into the 2nd half before an explosion of scoring began. Honduras started off the second half with a goal from Jerry Bengtson in the 56th minute. Bengston then quickly scored again in the 65th minute in the form of a penalty kick and Honduras took a 2-1 lead. The second half was very physical as 4 yellow cards and a red card were handed out. Morocco came back to score in the 67th minute with a goal from Zakaria Labyad. Both teams get a point    out of a hard fought match.

Yellow Cards:

Honduras- Jose Velasquez(32′), Roger Espinoza(87′), Arnold Peralta(90′)

Morocco- Soufiane Bidaoui(51′), Houssine Kharja(54′)

Red Card: Morocco- Zakara Bergdich(72′)

Spain 0 vs. Japan 1

In the most shocking match of the day, and quite frankly the biggest upset of the day, Japan managed to sneak by with a 1-0 victory. Japan scored midway through the first half in the 34th minute from a goal by Yuki Ostu. Japan then went into defense mode and managed to keep Spain from scoring and stole 3 points away from the groups favored team.

Group D Standings

• Japan        3 points +1
• Honduras   1 point  0
• Morocco    1 point  0
• Spain        0 points -1

So there ya have it. the rap up of the first day of the 2012 Summer Olympics from London. The upsets of the day have to go to Japan over Brazil, and Belarus over New Zealand. Spain and New Zealand’s next matches could be very important for their futures in the Olympics.

Coach Tom