The first stage of the 2021/22 Premier Regional League is coming to an end. This evening, the sixth round was played in the group in Belgrade, while the clubs in Group B in Split faced off in the matches of the 4th round.
The spectators in Belgrade and Split enjoyed encounters between the Champions League clubs at the same time.
Today’s program in Group A was closed by an encounter between Novi Beograd and Jug Dubrovnik. The first three quarters saw a balanced battle. But, Novi Beograd produced a 5:0 series between 26th and 30th minute, and that was crucial for the hosts’ 14:10 victory in a great game.
Jadran Split faced Crvena Zvezda in the last match of Round 4 in Split, and recorded a 12:9 win.
In the earlier matches in Belgrade, Partizan trashed Budva (17:4), while Jadran narrowly beat Šabac (9:8). As for the fourth round in Group B, Primorac edged out Solaris (12:11). Radnički beat Mornar with ease (15:5).
2021/22 Premier Regional League, First Stage
Group A (Belgrade), Round 6
Novi Beograd – Jug 14:10 (3:3, 3:3, 2:3, 6:1)
Novi Beograd: Mandić 5, S.Rašović 3, Jakšić 2, Drašović 2, Pijetlović 1,Vlachopoulos 1.
Jug: Papanastasiou 3, Kakaris 2,Joković 2 VUkojević 1, Burđelez 1, Kržić 1.
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Maro Joković
Novi Beograd was more aggressive in the first half of the Belgrade derby, and made more opportunities to score than Jug. But the hosts’ percentage of shots was lower than usual. Many of the shots went wide, the home side wasted several man-ups, and Jug’s goalie Toni Popadić posted some nice saves. Jug scored an opening goal, but Novi Beograd responded with two and led 2:1, 3:2. Still, Jug equalized on both occasions. Jug’s Papanastasiou gave Jug a 4:3 advantage in the 10th minute. Novi Beograd was the team that chased the rival throughout the second quarter. But, everything was the same as in the first period. Jug didn’t manage to build a 2-goal lead, Novi Beograd leveled at 4:4, 5:5, and 6:6.
Jug got off to a good start to the second half. Kakaris and Kržić scored in the first two minutes of the third quarter, and two goals separated the sides for the first time (8:6). Jug’s defense continued to work well, but Duško Pijetlović’s shot, after Strahinja Rašović’ excellent assistance was unstoppable (7:8). AT the finish of the quarter, Greek Alex Papanastasiou, who has played excellently in Belgrade netted for 9:7, but Strahinja Rašović halved the difference immediately after.
Duško , Gojko Pijetlović and Viktor Rašović
In the 2nd minute of the 4th period, Dušan Mandić found the net from a distance to level at 9:9. Jug lost the ball in the next possession, Novi Beograd started a counter-attack which was finished by Mandić’s new goal, for Novi Beograd’s advantage (10:9). Then, Jug earned an extra player, but Gojko Pijetlović saved a shot from Kržić, and Novi Beograd had another chance from a counter-attack. The hosts made no mistake, Strahinja Rašović sent the ball into the net for 11:9. Novi Beograd gained momentum, The home side scored in the fourth consecutive attack. Nikola Jakšić made it 12:9. After that, Jug’s coach Vjekoslav Kobešćak called a time-out. His team forced a man-up in that action but failed to score. At the other end of the pool, Nikola Jakšić added another goal with a power-play advantage to increase the margin to four two minutes and 40 seconds from the end, and it was clear that Jug couldn’t come back.
After five straight goals by the hosts within four and a half minutes, Papanastasiou broke Jug’s silence for 10:13, but it was too late.
Both coaches agreed that the spectators in the packed stands enjoyed the quality and interesting game.
“I think that the water polo lovers had an opportunity to watch an excellent game, between two very quality teams. Our quality decided the outcome. We “added speed” in the fourth quarter, and secured the win with a few goals from counterattacks. We need games like this was because we proved that we were able to come back and to beat an excellent rival although we were two goals down in the third quarter”, Vladimir Vujasinović, Novi Beograd’s coach commented.
Vjekoslav Kobešćak , Jug’s coach:
“The game was a real derby, as many expected. Considering the fact that we were incomplete, we have three debutants on the roster I didn’t expect we will offer so strong resistance. We were very good in the first three quarters, our goalkeeper Toni Popadić was excellent. Novi Beograd’s quality decided the match, and I congratulate them. But the play we showed proved that we are on the right track”
Budva – Partizan 4:17 (1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:5)
Budva: Ćetković 1, Kovačević 1, Dragović 1, Korać 1.
Partizan: Vićković 3, Velkić 2, Jakšić 2, Barać 2, Vico 2, Radojević 2, Kojić 2, Bowen 1, Vuković 1
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Alex Bowen (Partizan) and Danilo Radonić (Budva) All photos from Group A by Djordje Kostić/VK Novi Beograd
A few hours after a pretty unexpected loss to the best Montenegrin side Jadran Herceg Novi, Partizan trashed Jadran’s neighbors Budva. The “black-whites” played without Milan Aleksić, while first-pick goalie Dimitrije Rističević was on the bench during the entire match. The youngsters gave the biggest contribution to the win. Budva equalized just once – 1:1 in the fourth minute. After that, Partizan, supported by a large group of fans in the stands, jumped to a 6:1 lead and proved they were much better than Budva, which will seek its first points tomorrow, against Šabac.
Jadran HN – Šabac 9:8 (1:2, 3:3, 3:1, 2:2)
Jadran HN: Čeraj 4, Obradović 2, Da.Radović 1, Petković 2.
Šabac: Šulc 3, Marković 1, Repanović 1, Koptsev 1, Tubić 1, Ćetković 1.
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Kristijan Šulc (Šabac) and Dimitrije Obradović (Jadran)
Jadran and Šabac entered the game encouraged by wins in the morning session. Jadran upset Partizan (7:6), while Šabac beat Mladost (14:8). Both teams were tired, but eager for new challenges and wins. They had a combative spirit, so the game was open until the very end.
Šabac opened the game better. The Serbs had a 4:2 advantage two and a half minutes before the middle break. But, Jadran scored two goals within 63 seconds to equalize (4:4). Still, Šabac had a minimal advantage at halftime, because Ćetković scored from 6 on 5 just four seconds before the middle break (5:4)
However, Jadran was a better rival in the third quarter. By the middle of this period, the Montenegrins built a 7:5 lead with three straight goals. Early in the fourth quarter, the Herceg Novi-based side rebuilt a 2-goal advantage (8:6), but Šabac started coming back and came very close to its rival twice (7:8 and 8:9). Jadran lost the ball with 27 seconds to go and Šabac had the last possession and the opportunity to equalize. Still, Jadran saved the three points since Šulc hit the post, and Vogel’s shot went wide in the dying seconds.
“We are really tired. It was very hard to play this game, this was our fifth match in three days. This competition format is a ”hell”. The quality of water polo declines when we play so many games within a few days. I hope that the people who make the schedule will change something for the following tournaments. As for the game against Šabac, the quality wasn’t at the level as it should be, because of the reasons I mentioned, but I believe that spectators enjoyed an interesting game. We managed to “upgrade” this morning’s win over Partizan. If we defeat Mladost tomorrow, we will achieve our goals here”, Marko Petković, Jadran’s captain underlined.
Anto Vasović, Šabac head coach, said:
“A coach can’t be satisfied when his team loses. But, Šabac has played well at the tournament in Belgrade, with exception of the game against Partizan. We were equal opponents to quality teams. Today, tiny details decided. We had the last attack to secure a point, we failed, but it’s a sport. I hope that my team will do its best tomorrow and that we will record a win over Budva”.
Group B (Split), Round 4
Crvena Zvezda – Jadran S 9:12 (2:4, 3:2, 1:4, 3:2)
Crvena Zvezda: Basara 2, Vukićević 2, Gardašević 1, SMiljević 1, Tankosić 1, Djurdjić 1, Trtović 1.
Jadran Split: Bukić 5, Dužević 2, Burić 1, Butić 1, Kharkov 1, Delić 1.
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Jadran opened the match well. However, Crvena Zvezda came back, and leveled at 5:5 deep into the second period. Then came a new turn. Jadran dominated the third period, which was crucial for the outcome. Midway through the third quarter, Konstantin Kharkov found the net for 9:5. Basara stopped Jadran’s 4:0 series (6:9), but Bukić gave Jadran a 10:6 advantage from a penalty shortly before the last break. In the fourth period, Crvena Zvezda managed to cut the deficit to two goals (8:10 and 9:11). Still, everything was decided in the 30th minute after Bukić converted another penalty for the final score.
Primorac – Solaris 12:11 (3:3, 3:2, 2:2, 4:4)
Primorac: Matković 4, Mačić 3, Drašković 2, Paunović 1,Gopčević 1, Baštrica 1.
Solaris: Goreta 4, Pelicarić 3, Penava 2, Malenica 1, Kreković 1.
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After two draws and a loss to Crvena Zvezda, Primorac finally recorded the first win in the 2021/22 Regional League, after a hard battle with Solaris. The Kotor-based side led throughout the game, but Solaris didn’t let them make a big difference during the first three quarters. Before the final period, it stood 8:7. Primorac scored two back-to-back goals in the early stage of the final quarter and built a 3-goal lead (10:7). However, Solaris struck back and narrowed the gap (10:11) with 02:34 minutes to go. Immediately after, Primorac’s Mačič scored with a power-play for 12:10. Solaris’ 11th goal came too late, just 29 seconds from the end.
Radnički – Mornar 15:5 (2:1, 6:1, 1:0, 5:3)
Radnički: Stanojević 3, Lukić 3, Radulović 2, Panić 2, Toholj 2, Miličić 2 Janković 1.
Mornar: Vrdoljak 3, Bušelić 1, Uvodić 1.
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Nikola Lukić (Radnički) Photo by Igor Lazarević/KVK Radnički
Radnički played without a few most experienced players against Mornar. Ćuk andVrlić missed the match. Still, the reigning champions didn’t have problems recording the win, the second within ten hours (this morning, they beat Crvena Zvezda). After a slow start, Radnički found its rhythm in the second quarter and went to 8:2 before the end of the second quarter. Nikola Lukić scored the only goal in the third period, only five seconds before the last break. In the final eight minutes, Radnički reached the double-digit margin.
Sunday, last day
Belgrade (Round 7)
Šabac – Budva (10:00)
Mladost – Jadran HN (11:50)
Partizan – Novi Beograd (13:40)
Split (Round 5)
Mornar BS – Crvena zvezda (10:00)
Jadran S – Primorac (11:50)
Solaris – Radnički (13:40)
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