Germany has come a big step closer to their dream destination Los Angeles (USA). After the 15:5 win against Malta, the team of national coach Milos Sekulic also won their second group game at the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup in Berlin on Friday evening against South Africa 23:7 (7:1, 5:3, 5:2, 6:1) and has thus prematurely reached the final games for entry into the Super Final, which takes place from June 30th to July 2nd in California. The top scorer of the game was Yannek Chiru with five goals. China is also off in the finals in German Group B. In the direct duel for both teams on Saturday (7:15 p.m.) it is still about winning the group and thus the best starting position for the decisive games on Sunday.
As in the first game against Malta, it was Fynn Schütze who opened the scoring. South Africa, after all twelfth of the past World Cups and thus placed there one place ahead of the German team, was only within striking distance once after their goal to make it 1:2, but then Germany was able to continuously extend its lead until halftime, thanks to three goals from young Yannek Chiru (20) and two goals each from Maurice Jüngling, Zoran Bozic and Denis Strelezkij. At the break, the lead at 12:4 was already eight goals. Up to this point, South Africa had only fired nine shots at the German goal – while Germany had already fired 20 at the South Africans. “We played 100 percent, we wanted to show that we’re the favorites here,” said Mark Gansen.
For the second half, national coach Sekulic brought in Max Vermet Schweimer for Felix Benke in the goalkeeper position, who then presented himself as just as reliable in net. And his teammates didn’t take their foot off the gas on the offensive either, so that the lead grew further and was in double digits for the first time at 16:6 in the middle of the third quarter. By the end of the game they were 14 goals clear, and all but two outfield players in the German squad had scored at least once. “We were fitter and faster than the South African team and that gave us a lot of chances to counterattack,” said Maurice Jüngling. “Now we want to beat China and finish first in our group. Our team is growing step by step and we need every game for that.”
