【#WaterPolo】Japan narrowly defeated by the home team Germany in the quarterfinals by 2 points (FISU World University Games/Germany, Rhine-Ruhr) | Japan Swimming Federation
Japan, having advanced from the group stage, faced the home team Germany in the first round of the knockout stage and the quarterfinals.
In the first period, Hane Sugioka scored the opening goal. Germany quickly equalized, but Sugioka scored her second goal, followed by a goal from Eri Kitamura, and Seika Goto converting a penalty shot to succeed in three consecutive points. Sakura Kadota added a fifth goal, and the first period ended with a 5-3 lead.
The home team Germany was not silent either. Early in the second period, they shook the Japanese goal from the center, and then they scored three consecutive points from the center, tying the score. Kitamura added another point with a good assist from Yoshiho Jonoshita, but Germany tied the score again with a power play from a Japanese foul. After a long rally with three minutes left, neither team was able to score, and the game went into the second half tied at 7-7.
Both Japan and Germany wanted to score first and take the lead. Three minutes into the third period, after a series of rallies, it was Germany who scored first. Germany pulled away from Japan with two consecutive points. Japan also scored one point with Sugimoto's shot, but Germany added two more points. Germany then managed to turn the game around, making the score 8-11.
The final period. Japan launched a fierce attack from the beginning, scoring the ninth point on a power play after a German foul, taking the lead. However, Germany was not to be outdone, scoring one point each. After that, Japan and Germany each scored one point, making the score 10-13 with three minutes remaining. With two minutes remaining, Goto scored the 11th point on a power play, making the score 2 points behind. Japan launched a final fierce attack, but Katada's shot was blocked after a steal. Kitamura also shot, but it was blocked and the game ended.
As a result, Japan lost to Germany 11-13 and was forced to play in the 5th-8th place deciding match.
