Pro Recco leads 1:0 after the first match of the final of the Italian Championships.
The first match, played in Recco’s outdoor pool, offered a lot of excitement. Recco recorded a narrow 9:8 victory.
Savona defeated Trieste in the first game of the 3rd-place playoffs.
2021/22 Italian League, playoffs
Finals(best of three), 1st match
Pro Recco – Brescia 9:8 (2:2, 3:2, 2:3, 2:1)
Pro Recco: Ivovic 3, Younger 2, Cannella 2, Di Fulvio 1, Zalanki 1.
Brescia: Dolce 2, Vapenski 2, Renzuto Iodice 2, Gitto 1.
Brescia had a 1-goal lead twice in the first period, but Recco equalized both times, and the teams were tied at 2:2 at the first break.
Recco’s Giacomo Canella opened the second period with an action goal. Midway through this quarter, Aleksandar Ivovic converted a penalty.Recco gained a 4:2 advantage. Two goals separated the rivals, but it didn’t last for long. Brescia managed to equalize (4:4). Seven seconds before the middle break, Francesco Di Fulvio scored from a 6 on 5 and Recco entered the third period with a slim 5:4 advantage.
The visitors were a better team in the third period. They regained the advantage in the 23rd minute (7:6). But, Aaron Younger responded immediately for 7:7.
The neck and neck race continued after the last break. In the 26th minute, Aleksandar Ivovic made it 8:7 from a penalty. But, Brescia leveled at 8:8 in its next possession (Dolce). In the following several minutes, defenses dominated. A minute and 55 seconds before the buzzer, Giacommo Cannella converted a man up for 8:7.
Shortly after Brescia’s Nicolas Constantin Bicari hit the back of the net. Still, the goal was annulled. Pro Recco kept a slim advantage and a big win.
3rd-place playoffs (best of three), 1st match
Trieste – Savona 10:15 (2:4,2:5, 3:3, 3:3)
Trieste: Inaba 4, Razzi 2, Mezzarobba 1, Bini 1, Buljubasic 1,Mladossich 1
Savona: Molina 3, Campopiano 3, Vuskovic 2, Rizzo 2, Patchaliev 1, Bruni 1, Fondelli 1, Iocchi Gratta 1.
Savona built a 5-goal lead in the first half (9:4) and kept the distance until the end, so it will have a chance to secure 3rd place at home, in the 2nd match.
5th-place playoffs (best of three), 1st match
Ortigia – Telimar 9:10 (3:3, 3:2, 0:2, 3:3)
Ortigia: Cassia 5, F. COndemi 1, Ferrero 1, Di Luciano 1, Rossi 1.
Telimar: Basic 4, Irving 2, Lo Casco 1, Del Basso 1, Vlahovic 1, Gilberti 1.
The Sicilian derby was an even contest from the first whistle until the end. Telimar was led by Andrija Basic, who scored the last goal in the match in the 32nd minute.
7th-place playoffs (best of three), 1st match
Salerno – Quinto 9:10 (1:4, 3:2, 2:2, 3:2)
Salerno: Luongo 2, Esposito 2, Gluhaic 2, Gallozzi 1, Tomasic 1, Elez 1.
Iren Genova Quinto: Panerai 2, Ravina 2, Figari 2, Gitto 2, Guidi 2.
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