Jadran Herceg Novi convincingly defeated Partizan, 21:10, in the last match of the first round of the VRL Premier League.
Partizan has a team predominantly made up of juniors, with the oldest players born in 2004. Additionally, center-forwards Vuk Conkic and Veljko Bodiroga were absent due to injuries. Therefore, Jadran’s victory was the expected outcome.
Despite this, Partizan’s young team showed strong resistance in the first half of the match, which took place in the outdoor pool in Herceg Novi. The hosts quickly established a 2:0 lead. From that point until the end of the first period, the teams exchanged goals. Jadran held a 4:3 advantage at the first break. The home side began the second period in the same manner as the first quarter, scoring two goals to take a 6:3 lead. However, Partizan responded with two rapid goals of their own, narrowing the gap to just one goal at 5:6. By the end of the first half, Jadran regained a three-goal lead, finishing at 8:5.
By the middle of the third quarter, Jadran extended its advantage to 11:5. Partizan continued to fight back, but the Montenegrin champion, which had a strong percentage of extra-player shots (10 goals from 14 shots), maintained control and dominated until the end. Partizan had only six man-up shots and converted four of them.
Almost all players of Jadran got on the scoresheet, and the best scorer was Strahinja Gojkovic (4 goals). Kosta Bodiroga scored three for Partizan.
VRL Premier League, Round 1
Jadran m:tel – Partizan 21:10 (4:3, 4:2, 5:1, 8:4)
Standings: 1. Radnicki 3, 2. Jadran HN 3, 3. Novi Beograd 3, 4. Sabac 3, 5. Primorac 0, 6. Crvena Zvezda 0, 7. Partizan 0, 8. Buducnost 0.
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