Jadran Herceg Novi is the only unbeaten team after four rounds of the Premier VRL League. The Montenegrin champion defeated Novi Beograd 17:16 at home after a penalty shootout (12:12 in the regular time) in the derby of Round 4. Jadran climbed atop the table ahead of Novi Beograd and Sabac, which both had perfect 3 – 0 records before the 4th round. Radnicki ended Sabac water polo players’ winning streak, defeating them convincingly 18:10.
This was Jadran’s second penalty shootout win this season, after a victory over Radnicki in Kragujevac.
The game in Herceg Novi produced dramatic twists and turns. Novi Beograd, playing without Cuk, Lukic and Radovic, was a better team for most of the first half, having a 2-goal lead twice. Jadran dictated the pace after the middle break and built a 3-goal advantage in the third period. Still, Novi Beograd came back and forced the match into a shootout.
Novi Beograd scored on its first two possessions, taking an early 2:0 lead. The hosts leveled at 2:2 and 3:3. In the 14th minute, Novi Beograd re-established a 2-goal advantage after Pljevancic found the net from a rebound (5:3). Jadran answered with two goals within 46 seconds (Kholod from a penalty and Stupar) to level the score again, at 5:5. A quick exchange of goals followed that, so the teams were tied at 6:6 at the middle break.
World champion Fran Valera gave Jadran a first lead in the match, converting a man-up for 7:6 in the 17th minute. Novi Beograd started struggling in the attack against Jadran’s very good defense, commanded by goalkeeper Lazar Andric. The hosts’ self-confidence started to rise. They added two power-play goals (Janovic and Radovic) and earned a 3-goal lead (9:6) with three minutes left in the quarter. Pljevancic ended Novi Beograd’s long goalless phase to narrow the gap. Until the end of the third period, the teams traded goals. Jadran entered the final period leading 11:9.
Late into the third period, Novi Beograd switched goalkeepers – Gavrilovic replaced Glusac. That move shook the team, which managed to overcome the crisis and catch up with Jadran. In the middle of the fourth period, Dusan Vasic made it 11:11. Jadran scored its only goal in the fourth period just 34 seconds before the end, when Dmitrii Kholod escaped Novi Beograd’s defense and put his team in front, scoring from a close-range shot. But, just five seconds before the final buzzer, Vasilije Martinovic converted a man-up from a distance with just five seconds to go for 12:12. Jadran couldn’t score in the remaining time, and the match entered the shootout.
The second round of shots was crucial for the outcome. Lazar Andric saved a shot from Luka Gladovic, and that save made the difference.
Andric gave a significant contribution to the win with 10 saves. Dmitri Kholod led the hosts’ attack with three goals.Vasilije Martinovic, Luka Pljevancic and Kristijan Sulc scored three each for Novi Beograd.
Radnicki showcased its best performance of the season with an 18:10 victory over Sabac. One of the team’s weaknesses in previous matches had been their power-play conversion, but they improved significantly in this area against Sabac. Although the hosts initially struggled with their first few 6-on-5 opportunities, they quickly established a commanding 6:0 lead within the first 12 minutes, scoring four goals with an extra player. While Sabac managed to narrow the gap to five goals later in the game, they were unable to close the distance further. Strahinja Rasovic led the winners with perfect shooting accuracy, scoring four goals from four attempts. Dusko Pijetlovic and Boris Vapenski contributed three goals each. The match was characterized by an astounding 40 exclusions, with Radnicki committing 16 and Sabac committing 24.
Photo by KVK Radnicki
Visiting teams secured points in both Belgrade and Podgorica as anticipated.
Primorac defeated Partizan 18:9 in the Banjica pool in Belgrade. The Montenegrin team took an early lead of 5:1 after the first quarter. The second period was more balanced, with both teams scoring three goals each, but Primorac regained control after the halftime break and extended their lead, led by Balsa Vuckovic, who netted four goals. Stefan Vidovic and Savo Cetkovic each added three goals to the tally.
Crvena Zvezda achieved its first victory of the season, beating Buducnost in Podgorica 14:9. The former European champions dominated early, leading 8:2 at halftime. Buducnost started the third period strongly, reducing their deficit to four goals at 5:9. However, Crvena Zvezda responded decisively with a 4:0 run, establishing a comfortable 13:5 lead early in the fourth period. Captain Dusan Markovic and Nikola Nikolov each scored three goals for Crvena Zvezda, while veteran Drasko Brguljan matched that output for Buducnost.
2026 Premier VRL League, Round 4
Jadran m:tel – Novi Beograd 17:16 (2:3, 4:3, 5:3,1:3, 5:4)
Radnicki – Sabac Elixir 18:10 (3:0, 7:3, 4:5, 4:2)
Buducnost One – Crvena Zvezda 9:14 (1:4, 1:4, 3:4, 4:2)
Partizan – Primorac 9:18 (1:5, 3:3, 2:6, 3:4)
1. Jadran HN 4 – 10
2. Novi Beograd 4 – 10
3. Primorac 4 – 9
4. Sabac 4 – 9
5. Radnicki 4 – 7
6. Crvena Zvezda 4 – 3
7. Partizan 4 – 0
8. Buducnost 4 – 0
Visit the Premier League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena for the live scores, schedule and standings.
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