Novi Beograd defeated Crvena Zvezda 13:7 in the first match of the newly launched VRL Premier League. After Novi Beograd took an early 4-goal lead, Crvena Zvezda made a comeback and kept up with the hosts during the middle two periods. However, Novi Beograd ultimately secured a convincing victory in the final eight minutes.
Novi Beograd opened the match excellently, building a 4:0 lead. However, Crvena Zvezda managed to come back into the game. Leftie Marko Radovic put Crvena Zvezda on the scoreboard only 31 seconds before the first break. The visitors maintained their momentum in the second quarter. Radanovic made it 2:4 from a penalty. The same player added two nice goals from a distance, and Crvena Zvezda leveled at 4:4 midway through the second quarter. The visitors’ defense was up to the task in the second period. Goalkeeper Vladimir Misovic saved two penalty shots.
Vasilije Martinovic ended Novi Beograd’s six-minute goalless phase, and Trtovic converted a man-up to make it 6:4.
Both teams tightened their defenses in the third period, but the home team kept the lead. Zvezda halved the deficit to 5:6. At the end of the quarter, Pljevancic scored for 7:5. Shortly after, Novi Beograd had a chance to increase the margin to three, but 40 seconds before the last break, Vladimir Misovic saved a shot from the penalty line for the third time, this time by Martinovic.
Luka Gladovic and Dusan Trtovic led the winning teams with three goals each. Aleksandar Radanovic scored three for Crvena Zvezda.
VRL Premier League, Round 1
Novi Beograd – Crvena Zvezda 13:7 (4:1, 2:3, 1:1, 6:2)
Saturday, September 27
Sabac Elixir – Primorac at 19:00
Radnicki – Buducnost One at 20:00
Monday, September 29
Jadran M:tel HN – Partizan at 19:00
Visit the Premier League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena for the live scores, schedule and standings
