A big Italian derby, played in the 18th round of the national league, was a one-sided contest.
Pro Recco ran over Brescia 13:5. However, this game had no big importance, it was a clash for pride. Pro Recco had secured 1st in the regular season before the derby. Brescia couldn’t move from 2nd place.
The other two games of the round in the playoffs group offered more excitement. Ortigia edged out Telimar (9:8), while Trieste defeated Salerno (13:12)
2021/22 Italian League, Day 18
Playoffs group, Round 6
Pro Recco – Brescia 13:5 (3:0, 3:2, 3:1, 1:1)
Pro Recco: F. Di Fulvio 5, Cannella 2, Zalanki 1, Figlioli 1, Hallock 1, Younger 1, N.Presciutti 1, Ivovic 1.
Brescia: S.Luongo 2, E. Di Somma 2, Renzuto Iodice 1.
Ortigia – Telimar 9:8 (1:2, 4:3, 2:2, 2:1)
Ortigia: F. Condemi 3, Cassia 2, S.Rossi 2, Klikovac 1, VIdovic 1.
Telimar: Occhione 4, Irving 2, Basic 2.
Trieste – Salerno 13:12 (2:2, 2:1, 4:5, 5:4)
Trieste: Inaba 5, Mezzarobba 2, Bini 2, Mladossich 2,M.Vrlic 2.
Salerno: Elez 4, Pica 2,Parrilli 2, Gluhaic 2, Sanges 1, Tomasic 1.
Pro Recco opened the derby with a 3:0 blast and dominated throughout the game. Brescia, which played without Boris Vapenski (injury) got on the scoreboard in the 11th minute when Stefano Luongo converted a man-up (1:3). However, Pro Recco stretched the margin to four by the middle break (6:2). Francesco Di Fulvio opened the second half with his third goal and the hosts gained a huge 7:2 advantage. They entered the final quarter with a 9:3 advantage and killed Brescia’s last hope. The European champion didn’t slow until the end.
Pro Recco was better than the Italian champion in all aspects of the water polo game, especially in power-play shots. Recco converted eight of 11 man-ups, Brescia was on 5/16.
Trieste had to work hard to beat bottom-placed Salerno. Moreover, the visiting team was very close to a victory in the game with a lot of twists and turns. Before the final period, the score was 8:8. Salerno gained a 10:8 lead with two goals in the first 68 seconds of the fourth quarter. Trieste responded with two quick goals and leveled at 10:10. But, Salerno rebuilt a 2-goal advantage midway through the quarter (12:10). Still, Trieste managed to come back. The hosts produced a 3:0 series in the last two and a half minutes. Mislav Vrlic scored the winning goal for 13:12 with 39 seconds to go.
Telimar started better than Ortigia in the Sicilian derby. The team from Palermo had a 2-goal lead three times during the first half (2:0, 3:1, 4:2). Still, the hosts caught up with Telimar before the middle break (4:4). After a balanced third period, Telimar went to 8:7 in the 28th minute. But, the visitors couldn’t find the net in the remaining four minutes. Ortigia equalized shortly after Telimar’s eighth goal. Simone Rossi put an end to the thriller, scoring for 9:8 just 20 seconds before the final buzzer.
The regular season ends next week, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals.
1.Pro Recco 18 – 54
2.Brescia 19 – 44
3.Ortigia18 – 36
4. Trieste 18 – 35
5. Savona 18 – 34
6. Telimar 18 – 32
7. Salerno 18 – 18
Relegation group
Posillipo – Catania 7:9 (2:1, 1:4, 1:3, 3:1)
Posillipo:M.Di Martire 2, Aiello 1, Lanfranco 1,Radonjic 1, D.Iodice 1.
Catania: B.Banicevic 2, Ferlito 2, Privitera 2, Eskert 1, Russo 1, Catania 1.
Anzio – Lazio 12:12 (1:2,4:4, 3:3, 4:3)
Anzio Waterpolis: Gandini 4, Giorgetti 2, Di Rocco 1, Gross 1, Lapenna 2, Siani 1,Vassallo 2.
Lazio: Leporale 3, Caponero 3, Checchini 3, Plumpton 2, Vitale 1.
Milano – Iren Genoa 8:11 (2:3, 2:3, 1:1, 3:4)
Milano: Kasum 3, Scollo 2, Lanzoni 2, Busilacchi 1.
Iren Quinto: Ravina 3, Guidi 2, A.Di Somma 2, Villa 1, Panerai 1, Figari 1, Gambacciani 1
Roma bye
8. Iren Quinto 17 – 26
9. Posillipo 19 – 22
10. Catania 17 – 17
11.Anzio 17 – 16
12.Milano 16 -12
13. Lazio 18 – 8
14.Roma 17 – 7
