Marseille is the 7th qualified team for the quarterfinal phase of the Champions League.
The French lost to Barceloneta (12:13) at home in the last match of Group D, but considering what happened before that game, Marseille didn’t need to win to advance to the next stage. Vouliagmeni helped the French champion. Vouliagmeni beat Spandau earlier today (10:6), and the Germans lost all chances to climb to 2nd place and overtake Marseille.
Ferencvaros finished the competition Group C unbeaten, but it didn’t win three points for the first time this season. Ferencvaros beat Jadran in Split 20:17 after a penalty shootout (16:16 in regular time).
Crvena Zvezda beat Jadran Herceg Novi 9:6, thanks to an excellent defense in the middle two quarters (it didn’t concede a goal for almost 19 minutes), and won 3rd place in Group C.
2024 Champions League, Day 6
Group C
Ferencvaros – Jadran S 17:20 (3:2, 4:5, 3:5, 6:4, PSO 1:4)
Jadran S: Butic 3, Pejkovic 3, Bukic 3, Fatovic 2 (1 in PSO), Marinic Kragic 2, Dj.Radovic 2, Kharkov 1, Duzevic 1.
Ferencvaros: Argyropoulos 5 (1), Mandic 4 (1), Jansik 4 (1), Merkulov 2, Pohl 1, Fekete 1, Molnar 1, Damonte 1, Di Somma 1 (1).
The rivals were without pressure (Ferencvaros was without Denes Varga,too) , and they played an interesting and high-scoring game. During the first two quarters and a half, the lead was constantly changing the side, but neither of the teams had a 2-goal lead. Jadran had more good opportunities to score, but the visitors’ goalkeeper, Soma Vogel, posted many saves despite conceding 16 goals in regular time.
Deep into the third quarter, Jadran went in front for the last time in 32 minutes of play. Duje Pejkovic made it 10:9. Dusan Mandic replied immediately with a nice backhander. By the end of the quarter, Ferencvaros added two goals (Argyropoulos and Damonte). Zoltan Pohl stretched the margin to three at the beginning of the fourth period (13:10), and everything seemed to be decided. But Jadran managed to come back. In the 31st minute, Luka Bukic leveled at 15:15 from a 6 on 5. Argyropoulos gave Ferencvaros a new lead (16:15), but Loren Fatovic closed the quarter with a powerplay goal. There was no winner after 32 minutes and as many goals, so the game was prolonged in the shootout.
All Ferencvaros’ players found the net. At the other end of the pool, Vogel saved a shot from Butic, and Radovic hit the post. Only Fatovic sent the ball into the net and Ferencvaros took home two points.
The hosts shouldn’t be unsatisfied because they are the first team that avoided a defeat to Ferencvaros in regular time this season.
Crvena Zvezda – Jadran HN 9:6 (1:4, 3:0, 1:0, 4:2)
Crvena Zvezda: Gogov 2, M.Vukicevic 2, Seman 2, Basara 1, Milojevic 1, M.Radovic 1.
Jadran Herceg Novi: Da.Radovic 2, L.Vukicevic 1, Vujovic 1, Nagaev 1, M.Gardasevic 1.
Unlike the game in Split, the second match in this group was important. It decided which team would finish in 3rd place and be in the 1st pot of the draw for the LEN Euro Cup eighth-finals. Therefore, both teams concentrated on defense, but it didn’t work for Zvezda’s team in the first quarter. Still, the hosts got into a good rhythm in time.
Jadran, which could climb to position 3 only with a win in regular time, started much better and earned a 4:1 lead in the first quarter. The hosts took control in the second quarter, consolidated their defense, and created more chances in the attack. The Serbs leveled, scoring three unanswered goals – 4:4 (15th minute). It should be mentioned that the Red Whites managed to catch up with Jadran even though it failed to convert two penalties in this quarter (Darko Djurovic saved both). After the middle break, Crvena Zvezda slowed in the attack, but the defensive play was still perfect. In the 19th minute, Vukicevic netted for 5:4, and Crvena Zvezda kept that slim advantage until the end of the quarter.
Crvena Zvezda’s center-forward Milos Vukicevic (9) did a good job Photo by S.Sandic
Gogov doubled Crvena Zvezda’s advantage from a penalty shot in the 26th minute. Shortly after, Danilo Radovic ended the visitors’ goalless phase that lasted almost 19 minutes. However, Crvena Zvezda replied with two goals and earned an 8:5 lead. The hosts kept that 3-goal advantage until the 31st minute and it was clear that Jadran couldn’t earn three points.
Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 17, 2. Jadran S 10, 3. Crvena Zvezda 7, 4. Jadran HN 2.
Group D
Vouliagmeni – Spandau 04 10:6 (5:0, 1:3, 2:2, 2:1)
Vouliagmeni: Kalogeropoulos 3, Papasifakis 3, Woodhead 1, Chalyvopoulos 1, Spachits 1, Kourovanis 1.
Spandau 04: Strelezkij 2, Tomasovic 1, Gbadamassi 1, Chiru 1, Tkac 1.
Vouliagmeni beat Spandau and celebrated its first three points in the season. The players and the staff of Marseille were also very happy after this game. The encounter between the Greeks and the Germans opened the sixth round. After Spandau’s loss, Marseille secured 2nd place even before the start of its match against Barceloneta.
Vouliagmeni, which couldn’t move from 4th place, had a stunning start. The hosts played very aggressively in the attack. They forced seven exclusions in the first quarter and scored four goals with an extra player and one from a penalty. But, in the 7th minute, Vouliagmeni left without center-forward Nemanja Ubovic, who got injured. Spandau missed all of its four-man ups. In the first eight minutes, the Germans didn’t find a way to send the ball behind Tzortzatos’ net (Vouliagmeni’s goalkeeper posted ten saves today).
The Berliners, who arrived without a few key players (Cuk, Prioteasa, Stamm), regrouped themselves during the first break and started coming back. Early in the third quarter, they cut the deficit to one goal (5:6). But, Vouliagmeni tightened its defense and didn’t concede a single goal in the following ten minutes, while it scored four, jumped to 10:5 and secured three points, which are a big encouragement before the second half of the season and the Euro Cup eighth-finals.
Marseille – Barceloneta 12:13 (4:4, 2:4, 4:4, 2:1)
Marseille: Manhercz 4,Crousillat 2, Vernoux 2,A.Vukicevic 2, Prlainovic 1, Velotto 1.
Barceloneta: Perrone 4, Munarriz 3, Sanahuja 2, Pavillard 1, Tahull 1, De Toro 1, Biel 1.
After Vouliagmeni’s victory in the first match of the day, the match in Marseille became only a formality.
But, both teams wished to finish the first half of the season with a victory. Marseille was the first team to gain a 2-goal lead (3:1). Still, Barceloneta dictated the pace after the first break, but Marseille chased them. In the 15th minute, the hosts leveled at 6:6. Barceloneta scored two goals in the last 76 seconds of the first half and entered the third period leading 8:6. In the 18th minute, Felipe Perrone handled excellently in front of Marseille’s goal after a long pass from Larumbe and scored for 9:6. Barceloneta maintained a 3-goal advantage for a while (10:7, 11:8). Marseille reduced the gap to one (10:11). Still, Munarriz made it 10:12 in the dying seconds of the third period.
Felipe Perrone Photo by Laszlo Balogh
Marseille’s goalkeeper Hovhannysian, who replaced Lazovic, boosted his team’s self-confidence with a few nice saves in the fourth quarter. Ante Vukicevic scored two goals and Marseille leveled at 12:12 with 02:22 minutes left on the clock. In the next possession, Felipe Perrone put Barceloneta in front with an extra player. Marseille had a man-up in its following attack but didn’t score and Barceloneta won 1st place in the group with a perfect 6-0 record.
Standings: 1. Barceloneta 18, 2. Marseille 9, 3. Spandau 04 6, 4. Vouliagmeni 3.
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