The Stingers have fallen short of adding to Australia’s record gold medal haul, losing to Spain 11-9 in a thrilling water polo final on Saturday night.
Unbeaten throughout the tournament, Bec Rippon’s side finally met their match in a brilliant Spanish side, inspired by four-goal Bea Ortiz and hat-trick star Maica Garcia Godoy at a heaving La Defense Arena.
Not even five goals from their brilliant top scorer Alice Williams was enough for the Stingers, who had been attempting to emulate the famous class of Sydney 2000, who won the inaugural women’s tournament at home.
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The Aussies closed to within one in the last quarter before the Spaniards showed their class to open up a four-goal advantage in the closing stages.
Australia never gave up and scored twice late, but it wasn’t to be.
It was a disappointing end for the Stingers, who did so well to make the gold medal match with a stunning victory over three-time defending champions USA in the semi-finals.
But the silver medal is a great consolation prize after going through the tournament undefeated.
Williams gave Australia the perfect start with the opening goal before Spain quickly got back on level terms and then went ahead.
Both defences were strong in a tense first quarter as Williams scored again in the dying stages of the first term to make it 2-2.
Goals were extremely hard to come by in the second quarter with the Stingers spurning a number of extra player opportunities.
“The question has to be asked why is Australia not converting the extra player advantage, something they’ve focused heavily on throughout the tournament?” Lavina Good said in commentary.
“They talked about it before coming here to Paris 2024. This is the time for them to take advantage when it’s six on five and at the moment the Australian Stingers are not doing that.”
Spain scored the only goal of the second quarter to edge ahead 3-2 at the long break.
Spain extended their lead in a dominant third quarter with only a late goal from Danijela Jackovich keeping the Aussies within two at the final change.
The Stingers threw everything at their opponents in the final term, but just couldn’t stop Spain from scoring.
– With AAP
