This week was very successful for Mladost Zagreb. The senior team came very close to the Euro Cup semifinal, while Mladost’s development (junior) team won the trophy in the third edition of the Alpe Water Polo League.
Twelve teams from five countries—Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, and Italy—participated in the 2025 Alpe Water Polo League. After six tournaments held in different locations during the regular season, the top six teams advanced to the final tournament.
The Final Six was held in Kranj. The tournament was hosted by AVK Triglav, the 2024 trophy winner. Croatian clubs Opatija and Mladost, the top two teams from the regular season, advanced directly to the semifinals, while the teams that placed 3rd to 6th competed in the quarterfinals.
Host Triglav Kranj faced Ljubljana Slovan in the quarterfinals in an exciting Slovenian derby. Ljubljana narrowly won 9:8, scoring the decisive goal with just 37 seconds left on the clock, effectively ending Triglav’s hopes of a new title. ASC Strock Wien and Pallanuoto Trieste’s development team met in the other quarterfinal duel. Nothing separated the teams after three quarters—5:5. The Austrians made a crucial difference in the first four minutes of the final period, netting three goals in a row to go to 8:5. In the remaining time, Trieste scored a consolation goal to set the final result of 8:6.
Photo by Domen Novak
In the semifinals, Ljubljana Slovan emerged as a winner in a very thrilling encounter, as it did in the quarterfinals. Opatija was Ljubljana’s rival in the semis. After the 16 minutes, the score was 7:7. Ljubljana built an 11:9 lead during the third quarter. However, Opatija struck back with a 3:0 series in the fourth period and went in front – 12:11. Still, the finish belonged to the Slovenians, who leveled in the 31st minute. Povhe converted a man-up for 13:12 in the very last second to send Ljubljana Slovan to the final.
The match between Mladost and ASV Strock lacked excitement. The Croats advanced to the gold-medal game with a 14:6 victory.
Mladost led throughout the final against Ljubljana, with the Slovenians keeping close until the middle of the third period. In the 20th minute, the teams were separated by just one goal – Mladost led 8:7. After that, Mladost began to dominate the game, scoring four consecutive goals to take a lead of 12:7 early in the fourth period. Ljubljana was unable to pose a significant threat to Mladost’s victory. The Croats secured the gold medal with a 15:11 victory. Bucevic and Dobric made the difference, scoring five and four goals respectively for the winning team.
Ljubljana Slovan Photo by Aleksander Sokler
Opatija won the bronze medal. The club from a Croatian seaside resort lost in the semifinals due to a last-gasp goal. In the 3rd-place match, Opatija beat ASV Strock in the same way. Moreover, the score was the same, but Opatija celebrated this time. Opatija dictated the pace in the first half and earned a 7:3 lead. However, the Austrians fought back and went ahead in the final quarter (10:9 and 11:10). Opatija regained an advantage with two quick goals. ASV Strock leveled at 12:12. Just 10 seconds before the end, Opatija’s Peros scored his fifth goal in the match sealing the victory – 13:12.
Opatija Photo by Aleksander Sokler
AVK Triglav defeated Trieste 19:15 in the 5th-place game.
2025 Alpe Water Polo League, Final Six, Kranj
Quarterfinals
ASV Strock Wien – Pallanuoto Trieste 8:6 (0:0, 2:2, 3:3, 3:1)
AVK Triglav Kranj – Ljubljana Slovan 8:9 (3:3, 2:3, 2:1, 1:2)
Semifinals
Mladost – ASV Strock Wien 14:6 (5:2, 3:0, 4:0, 2:4)
Opatija – Ljubljana Slovan 12:13 (5:5, 2:2, 2:4, 3:2)
Fifth-place match
Palalnuoto Trieste – AVK Triglav Kranj 15:19 (5:5, 3:5, 2:5, 5:4)
Third-place match
ASV Strock Wien – Opatija 12:13 (3:3, 1:4, 4:2, 4:4
FINAL
Mladost – Ljubljana Slovan 15:11 (3:2, 4:4, 4:1, 4:4)
For all the results and the statistics, visit Total Waterpolo Arena
