Water polo: US win final in shootout

American Kaleigh Gilchrist. Photo / Dean Purcell

The United States required a penalty shootout to win the women's intercontinental water polo tournament in Auckland tonight.

Australia grabbed back a goal in the last 10 seconds to lock the gold medal match up at 8-all.

However the Aussies missed twice while Olympic champions the US nailed all four attempts.
Canada came from three goals behind to beat China 9-7 to take the bronze medal.

New Zealand avoided finishing last with a 13-10 win over Japan - their second win over their rivals during the tournament.

It was locked up 6-all at halftime, and Liana Dance, a late inclusion in the New Zealand squad, bagged four goals for the host team.

''We've won twice and drawn once against Brazil and that's great after one and a half years out of international water polo," New Zealand coach Attila Biro said.

Brazil were celebrating after a 7-4 win over Kazakhstan.

That left the Brazilians in fifth spot and taking the last qualifying for the World League super final in Shanghai next month.

New Zealand goalkeeper Brooke Millar was named in the tournament team, along with two Americans, Kami Craig and Makenzie Fischer, two Australians, Nicola Zagame and Rowie Webster, Canadian Krystine Alogbo and China's Zihan Zhao.