Pro Recco extended its winning streak in the Italian Championships with a 7:5 victory over Ortigia.
The game was interesting not just because the two teams fought a hard battle. The match was a special day for two players. Ortigia’s goalkeeper Stefano Tempesti and Pro Recco’s Francesco Di Fulvio played the leading roles in the festival.
2021/22 Italian League, Day 17
Playoffs group, Round 5
Pro Recco – Ortigia 7:5 (2:0, 1:2, 2:1, 2:2)
Pro Recco: Zalanki 3, Di Fulvio 1, N.Presciutti 1, Ivovic 1, Hallock 1.
Ortigia: Gallo 2, Rossi 1, Vidovic 1, Condemi 1.
Brescia – Salerno 17:8 (4:2, 4:1, 4:3, 5:2)
Brescia: Constantin Bicari 5, C.Presciutti 3, Luongo 3, Renzuto Iodice 2, Lazic 1, Balzarini 1, Gianazza 1, E. Di Somma 1.
Salerno: Elez 2, Gluhaic 2, Tomasic 1, Cuccovillo 1, Parrilli 1, Fortunato 1.
Savona – Trieste 14:9 (3:1, 3:2, 4:3, 4:3)
Savona: Rizzo 5, Fondelli 3, Bruni 2, Vuskovic 1, Molina 1, Campopiano 1, Rocchi 1.
Trieste: Inaba 4, Buljubasic 2, Mezzarobba 1, Razzi 1, Petronio 1.
Telimar bye
A legendary goalkeeper Stefano Tempesti played for Pro Recco for 16 consecutive seasons (2003 – 2019). Three years ago, he moved to Ortigia. So, today’s game wasn’t his first match against the former club. But, the game was special for him. For the first time, he played like a player of a visiting team in a renovated “Punta Sant’ Anna” pool in Recco, which was closed for a long time. Tempesti didn’t play in this pool between 2010 and 2022. His former club and teammates made this day special for Tempesti. Recco’s legend Eraldo Pizzo handed Tempesti a special plaque before the match. During the presentation of the teams, all Recco’s players wore caps with number 1.
The first quarter belonged to Pro Recco. In the 14th minute, Francesco Di Fulvio converted a penalty shot to give Recco a 3:0 lead. That was the next memorable moment in this game. Scoring this goal, Di Fulvio continued his row of successes and achieved one of his objectives in this game. The game against Ortigia was Di Fulvio’s 100th consecutive match in the Italian League in which he scored at least one goal. That row has lasted since May 13, 2017 and the match against Canottieri. The club gifted Di Fulvio a t-shirt designed especially for this game.
At the finish of the second period, Ortigia reduced the gap (2:3), but the visitors couldn’t equalize. With two quick goals in the third quarter, Gergo Zalanki rebuilt a 3-goal lead (5:2). Ortigia came close once more – narrowed the distance to 4:5 (26th minute). But, Recco responded with three goals for a safe 7:4 lead. The hosts had a chance to go to 8:4, but Tempesti saved a penalty shot from Figlioli with 100 seconds to go. Ortigia’s Rossi set the final score.
The title-holder Brescia blew Salerno away.
Savona defeated Trieste easier than expected. Savona dictated the pace throughout the match and recorded a 14:9 victory. Savona climbed to 3rd place, but it has played one game more than the teams ranked 4th- 7th.
Two rounds are left until the end of the regular season.
1.Pro Recco 17 – 51
2.Brescia 18 – 44
3. Savona 18 – 34
4. Ortigia 17 – 33
5. Trieste 17 – 32
6. Telimar 17 – 32
7. Salerno 17 – 18
Relegation group, Round 5
Quinto – Catania 6:6 (1:2, 3:1, 0:1, 2:2)
Iren Quinto: A. Di Somma 1, Panerai 1, Ravina 1, Figari 1, M. Gitto 1, Guidi 1.
Catania: La Rosa 3, Privitera 2, E. Russo 1.
Lazio – Milano 11:10 (4:2, 3:3, 1:2, 3:3)
Lazio:Paskovic 3, Leporale 3, A. Vitale 2, Ferrante 1, Marini 1, Caponero 1.
Metanopoli Milano: Kasum 4, Andruykov 2, Lanzoni 2, Busilacchi 1, E. Novara 1
Roma – Posillipo 8:12 (3:3, 3:3, 1:3, 1:3)
Roma: De Robertis 3, Ciotti 1, F. Faraglia 2, Calic 2.
Posillipo: Abramson 3, M. Di Martire 3, Aiello 2, M.Lanfranco 1, Picca 1, Briganti 1, J.Lanfranco 1.
Anzio bye
8. Quinto 16 – 26
9. Posillipo 17 -19
10. Anzio 16 – 15
11 Catania 16 – 14
12. Milano Metanopoli 15 – 12
13. Roma 17 – 7
14. Lazio 17 – 7
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