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SHANGHAI, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion United States showed supremacy everywhere to romp Brazil 20-2 in a group match on the first day of the 2016 FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final here on Tuesday, while hosts China and Australia rallied to win their respective games.
The United States dominated the game and denied most of the attempts from Brazil, keeping 4-0, 7-0, 4-0 blocking advantage in the first three quarters before Mariana Duarte and Marina Zablith, the Brazlian captain found the goal with less than three minutes left of the whole game. Madeline Musselman scored six goals for US while Caroline Clark added four goals.
"Our goal is to play the best as we can. It is the best preparation for Rio Olympic Games in the Super Final that we can use six games to help us prepare and learn better of ourselves," said the American head coach Adam Krikorian.
China came from behind to beat Italy 8-7 after 2-2, 3-2, 1-2 , 2-0 thanks to Niu Guannan and Zhang Cong's late goals within three minutes to go before the end.
"We played defensively very well but we were unlucky offensively as we missed several shots on the goal. Italy is a traditionally strong European team and we have a lot to learn from them, " said the China's head coach Ricardo Azevedo.
Australia also won a hard battle against Russia 11-10 with a last-second goal while Spain beat Canada 16-12
"A very disappointing game for us. We did not play our best, but fortunately won the game at the last second. The Russians should have won the game as they played better than us," Australian head coach Greg McFadden said.
On Wednesday, Spain will face Brazil, Italy meet Russia, United States play Canada and China meet Australia.
As the highest-level Water Polo competition worldwide, and also the last international event before the Rio Olympic Games, eight best teams qualified for the Super Final. Enditem
