Stingers roar into the water polo semi-finals in Paris

Australia’s water polo Stingers have overpowered Greece 9-6 to forge into the semi-finals of the women’s tournament and another step closer to their first title since the inaugural event in Sydney 2000.

Inspired by five goals from the outstanding Alice Williams, Bec Rippon’s emerging side, who had suffered when five players contracted COVID-19 in the week the tournament started, are now a win away from making the podium.

They will face either Hungary or the US in Thursday’s semi-final at La Defense Arena.

Australia were never headed after they took the lead in a cagey first period with Williams’ penalty strike proving the difference between the sides.

Abby Andrews made it 2-0 with a left-hand thunderbolt from close range early in second, and when Bronte Halligan scored a lovely lob to put them three up, it looked as if it would be plain sailing.

But a dramatic second-period fightback saw the Greeks score three in the space of a couple of minutes to level affairs.

The Stingers, suitably stung, got back in front with an Andrews lob – his eighth goal of the tournament – to reach halftime 4-3 up.

From there, they always looked in control, with Williams scoring from another penalty before completing his treble from open play.

When Nikoleta Leftheriadou pulled one back just before the end of the third period, Australian nerves might have pinged a little but they responded with a second Halligan goal.

Then they effectively wrapped up victory when Williams hurled her shot into an unattended net and moved four goals clear with three-and-a-quarter minutes left.

But there was time for nerves to become a little frayed as Greece netted two late goals, only for Williams’ thunderbolt shot from distance with 38 seconds to shut the door.