With just two games remaining in pool play for most teams, it's starting to get into must-win territory. Some are trying to stay out of last place in their groups while others are fighting for the top of the standings. Four games were scheduled for Friday in the women's water polo tournament at the Paris Olympics. Here's a look at how they went.

(This story will be updated throughout the day.)

Expectations weren't that high for Australia heading into Paris, but in three games the Aussies have proven they're medal contenders. Friday was the second time in three games they've held an opponent to fewer than 10 goals. They held Canada to 28% shooting and 2-for-9 on power play shots. 

"We're looking pretty good at the moment, but we're taking every day as it comes, trying not to get too ahead of ourselves," said Canadian Alice William, who had three goals in the win. "We want to finish top of this pool, but we have a lot of building blocks to go."

Half of Australia's goals on Friday came on penalty shots in a particularly aggressive game that featured seven total penalty fouls.

Bronte Halligan and Williams led Australia with three goals each. 

"Nothing comes without the work of my teammates. I just finished what they started," Williams said. "It's very exciting to be here, though, with this team and putting on this type of performance. It's a feeling that I'll never forget."

With the win, Australia improves to 3-0 and moves to the top of the Group A standings. 

Emma Wright had three goals for Canada, which fell to 1-2 and is fourth in Group A, with the top four teams moving on to the quarterfinals.

MATCH STATS

In a battle of two winless teams both desperately needing a victory, it was Italy that came out on top. Italy came to Paris following a third place finish at the 2023 world championships, but have largely disappointed in both games leading up to Friday. Their 12-goal tally marked the most they've scored in a game this Olympics, and the eight allowed marked the fewest they've given up defensively. Greece shot just 28% and was 5-for-14 on extra player shots.

“It was a very, very important win for us today, as it was maybe our last chance. Without this we probably couldn't go any further in this tournament," said captain Valieria Palmieri. “Our defense was very good and we were very aggressive from the start.

“We took a lot of exclusions, but we were very good as a team. We played as a group, and we defended their extra player chances well. That was the key to this victory.”

Greece only tied the score once at 3-3 with 2:10 left in the first quarter. Italy responded with three unanswered goals and held the Greeks scoreless in the second to take a 6-3 lead at the half.

Palmieri led all scorers with four goals, one of five Italians with multiple goals. Claudia Marletta, Dafne Bettini, Roberta Bianconi, and Giulia Viacava added two goals each. 

"We are very happy. Today we had to win to have another chance to go to the quarterfinals," Bianconi said. "Today, I saw really good team building and teamwork, so we deserve it... Nothing is done. We have to wait (for) the next game, but for now, we are a little bit more relaxed. We showed what we can do."

Nikoleta Eleftheriadou and Vasiliki Plevritou had three goals apiece for Greece.

Greece, winless in Paris, finished fourth at the world championships earlier this year. With three losses to start the tournament in Paris, Greece is now at risk of elimination after pool play.

MATCH STATS

The U.S. finished pool play and officially clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with a huge win over France. Read more about the game here.

With a combined 28 goals, Friday was the highest scoring game of the Paris women's water polo tournament, and it was just the third time this tournament both teams scored double-digit goals. Hungary allowed more than 10 goals for the third time in three games, but its high-powered offense did more than enough for the win.

After going into the half with a slight 8-7 lead, Hungary scored nine goals in the second half while holding China to two goals in each of the third and fourth quarters.

Nearly half of Hungary's offense came courtesy of Rita Keszthelyi who finished with seven goals, the most of any player in a single game in Paris. Dorottya Szilagyi added three goals, and Vanda Valyi, Kamilla Farago, and Krisztina Garda had two each. Lu Yiwen and Deng Zewen led China with three goals each. Zhang Jing added two. 

With the win, Hungary improves to 2-1, and clinches a spot in the quarterfinals with one game remaining. China is eliminated from quarterfinals contention after finishing 0-4 in pool play. With an off day on the final day of round robin, the Chinese's time in Paris is done. 

MATCH STATS

The U.S. and China will be off for the final day of pool play. Sunday's Round 1 finale will begin with Hungary taking on Australia at 8 a.m., followed by Italy vs. Spain at 9:35. The second session of the day will start with Canada against The Netherlands at 12:30 p.m., and finish with France vs. Greece at 2:05 p.m. All game times listed are Eastern Time.