In the shadow of the Champions League Final Eight, Belgrade was a host of the international friendly junior tournament “The Belgrade Trophy”.
Six national teams participated. The tournament in the capital of Serbia was their last rehearsal before the 2023 World U20 Championships, which will start in Otopeni near Bucharest on Saturday.
Hungary won 1st place, ahead of Serbia, Team USA, Croatia and Australia.
It was an interesting tournament. One goal made the difference in many matches.
An encounter between Hungary and Serbia on Monday evening was decisive for 1st place.
Hungary opened the tournament with three wins (over the USA, Australia, and Montenegro). It was defeated by Croatia after a penalty shootout (13:15) In the fourth round and had 10 points before the duel with Serbia.
Serbia collected nine points in the first four rounds (it lost to Croatia and then beat the USA, Australia and Montenegro).
After a balanced first half of the duel Serbia – Hungary (6:6), Hungary earned a 9:7 lead before the final eight minutes. Serbia equalized in the fourth quarter (9:9), but the Hungarians responded with a 3:0 series and went to 12:9. After that, the hosts reduced the gap to one (11:12), but they couldn’t equalize and prolong the match in the shootout.
Team USA won 3rd place with nine points. Croatia beat the teams that finished 1st and 2nd but lost to the USA and Montenegro. The Croats collected eight points that were enough for 4th place. Montenegro took 5th place. Australia was the only winless team at the tournament.
The top two teams from Division 1 groups will advance to the quarterfinals (A and B). The third-placed and the fourth-placed teams in Groups A and B will go to the playoffs (eighth finals), where they will play against the winners of Division 2 groups (C,D, E, F).
Belgrade Trophy 2023
Round 1
Hungary – USA 8:7 (2:1, 3:2, 2:2, 1:2)
Croatia – Serbia 13:8 (1:2, 5:1, 4:5, 3:0)
Montenegro – Australia 11:3
Round 2
Serbia – USA 11:9 (3:2, 2:1, 4:1, 2:5)
Montenegro – Croatia 9:7 (2:1, 2:2, 3:2, 2:2)
Hungary – Australia 13:3 (4:1, 3:1, 3:0, 3:1)
Round 3
Serbia – Australia 9:5 (4:0, 3:0, 1:3, 1:2)
Hungary – Montenegro 12:11 (3:4, 6:0, 1:3, 2:4)
USA – Croatia 13:9 (3:3, 3:2, 4:4, 3:0)
Round 4
Croatia – Hungary 15:13 (2:2, 3:2, 3:3, 3:4, PSO 4:2)
Serbia – Montenegro 12:6 (0:2, 3:2, 4:0, 5:2)
USA – Australia 9:7 (2:3, 1:1, 2:1, 4:2)
Round 5
Hungary – Serbia 12:11 (3:4, 3:2, 3:1, 6:5)
USA – Montenegro 10:6 (0:1, 3:1, 4:4, 3:0)
Croatia – Australia 8:5 (3:1, 2:2, 2:1, 0:2)
1.Hungary 5 – 13
2. Serbia 5 – 9
3. USA 5 – 9
4. Croatia 5 – 8
5. Montenegro 5 – 6
6. Australia 5 – 0
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