Paris Olympics 2024: Australia sting Hungary to top water polo group

Australia are the cardiac kids of the Olympic women’s water polo tournament, winning another penalty shootout to top their pool for the quarter-finals.

The Stingers upset world No.2 Hungary on Sunday, winning 14-12 after scores were tied 9-9 at fulltime.

They are the only team among the men or women in Paris to have two penalty shootouts, after also beating the Netherlands earlier this week in the format.

Sunday’s win left the Stingers unbeaten in Pool A with four wins and on Tuesday they will meet their fourth-placed team from Pool B in the quarters.

As with the Dutch win, Australia took out goalkeeper Gabi Palm during the shootout and Genevieve Longman took her place.

The move again proved the difference, with Longman drawing a shot from Kamilla Farago that hit the post to put Australia ahead 3-2.

Alice Williams, who starred with four goals, then nailed her shot and Bronte Halligan also found the back of the net for the win.

Scores were tied for much of the game, with Australia going ahead after halftime and taking a two-goal lead in the last quarter.

But Hungary scored the last two goals, including the equaliser with 51 seconds left, to force the shootout.

Hungary are second and regardless of what happens in the Canada-Netherlands game that will end Group A preliminaries, those three teams will join Australia in the quarters.

China are bottom with a 0-4 record, while Australia are the only unbeaten team in the five-nation group.

Dorottya Szilagyi and Rita Kesthelyi scored two goals apiece for Hungary against the Stingers.

Australia have a rich history in women’s water polo - they were key drivers in the lobbying that eventually prompted the IOC to give them Olympic status alongside the men.

Australia famously won the first women’s gold medal at Sydney 2000 and also have two bronze medals, but have not reached the podium at the last two Games.

The United States has won the last three Olympic tournaments and remains the team to beat, lying second in Group B.