PARIS — Spain’s women’s water polo team exacted a bit of revenge on the three-time reigning champion United States in a rematch of the 2020 Olympics gold-medal game, holding on for a 13-11 preliminary round victory at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
Spain lead Group B with six points, while the Americans are third with three.
The 13 goals conceded in the match were the most the Americans have allowed in three Olympics. The U.S. clobbered Spain 14-5 in the gold-medal game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the most lopsided Olympics final in history.
“Well, I think obviously it was a great game by us,” Spain’s Anni Espar Llaquet said. “We’re very happy about the win, we obviously have a lot of little mistakes still that we can improve, but I think it’s a very good win.”
Bea Ortiz led the Spaniards with five goals at the Paris Aquatic Center. She scored four times in the third quarter as her country took an 11-6 lead.
“(Ortiz) is an amazing player, she had a great game today. She was on fire. We’re very proud of her,” Espar Llaquet said. “We are a great team, but she had an amazing game.”
Jordan Raney scored two goals for the Americans.
The last time the U.S. had conceded so many goals in the Olympics was in their 2012 opener, a 14-13 win over Hungary.
France edged Italy 9-8 for their first-ever Olympic win in Monday’s other Group B game and are second with three points.
“I’m still processing this result because it’s history for this team, the country of France and the history of the Olympics,” France goalie Mia Rycraw said.
In Group A, Hungary beat Canada 12-7 and the Netherlands knocked off China 15-11.
–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media
