The first day of the second qualification round for the Champions League was highlighted by an exciting derby duel between two favorites.
Brescia and OSC Budapest faced off in the big game of the day in Group E in Paris. OSC had a 3-goal advantage minute and a half before the end, but Brescia saved a point – 10:10.
There were several exciting encounters today. Vouliagmeni and Savona shared the points (10:10), while Szolnok defeated Jadran Herceg Novi harder than expected (11:9) in Group C. Apollon Smyrnis opened the tournament in Zagreb with a 10:9 win over host Mladost.
Crvena Zvezda, Noisy-le-Sec, Jadran Split and Barceloneta recorded convincing wins.
Day 1, results – Group C: Vouliagmeni – Savona 10:10, Szolnok- Jadran HN 11:9, Group D: Mladost – Apollon 9:10, Crvena Zvezda – Montpellier 11:7 Group E: Brescia – OSC Budapest 10:10, Noisy-le-Sec – Terrassa 13:6, Group F: Jadran S – Primorac 16:7, Barcelona – Oradea 15:6.
2021/22 Champions League, Qualification Round 2, Day 1
Group C (Szolnok)
Szolnok – Jadran HN 11:9 (2:3, 4:1, 1:2, 4:3)
Szolnok: Konarik 3, A. Nagy 2, Milakovic 2, Angel 1, Szeghalmi 1, Gbadamassi 1, Zovic 1
Jadran Herceg Novi: Vujovic 2, Da. Radovic 2, Vucurovic 1, Obradovic 1, Murisic 1, V. Radovic 1, Petkovic 1.
Vouliagmeni – Savona 10:10 (3:3, 3:3, 3:3, 1:1)
Vouliagmeni: Gkiouvetsis 3, Kalogeropoulos 2, Skoumpakis 2, Troulos 1, Lozina 1, Kapotsis 1.
Savona: Rizzo 3, Fondelli 2, Rocchi 1, Vuskovic 1,Molina 1, Bruni 1, Iocchi Gratta 1
A young team of Jadran fought bravely, but Szolnok recorded the win, as expected. The Montenegrins led 3:2 before the second period. The hosts opened the second quarter with two goals to turn around the deficit to a 4:3 lead. Jadran managed to equalize at 4:4 and again at 6:6. But, the Hungarians answered with three goals to go to 9:6, and that 3:0 series was crucial for the Hungarians’ victory.
After a lot of twists and turns, the match between Vouliagmeni and Savona ended with no winner. The Greeks grabbed an early 2:0 lead. But, Savona produced a 6:2 run and went in front (6:4). In the second half, the lead constantly changed the side, but the distance was never bigger than a goal. Savona gained a 10:9 advantage after Fondelli converted a penalty in the 25th minute. Three minutes before the end, Kalogeropoulos leveled at 10:10. Defenses dominated in the remaining time.
October 9: Jadran Herceg Novi – Vouliagmeni (16:00), Szolnok – Savona (18:00)
Group D (Zagreb)
Mladost – Apollon 9:10 (1:2, 4:3, 3:1, 1:4)
HAVK Mladost Zagreb: Biljaka 2, Lazic 2, Dasic 2, Pliskevich 1, Vrbnjak 1, Fabris 1.
Apollon Smyrnis: Gounas 5, Gusarov 3, Alamanos 1, Gardikas 1.
Crvena Zvezda – Montpellier 11:7 (2:1, 3:2, 3:1, 3:3)
Crvena Zvezda: Vukicevic 3, SUbotic 3, Tankosic 1, Djurdjic 1, Milojevic 1, Basara 1, Radovic 1.
Montpellier: Delas 3, Mustur 1, Alfonso Pozo 1, Kalinic 1, D.Zivkovic 1.
Mladost is the only of the four home teams that didn’t record a win on Day 1. The Zagreb-based club, which entered the season with a significantly rejuvenated team, was the better team for most of the game against Apollon, but the hosts ran out of energy for the finish of the duel.
The first quarter belonged to the Greeks (2:1). However, Mladost controlled the match in the middle two periods and headed into the final quarter leading 8:6. Apollon’s captain Alexandros Gounas played excellently in the final quarter and he was a hero of the Greeks’ win.. Midway through the fourth period, Gounas scored two goals in 40 seconds and leveled at8:8. Shortly after, Alamanos gave Apollon a 9:8 advantage. Franko Lazic equalized in the 31st minute (9:9). But, Gounas closed the match with his 5th goal 57 before the end.
Former European champion Crvena Zvezda, playing excellently in defense, beat Montpellier more convincing than expected. The Belgrade-based team was a favorite. Still, at the beginning of the game, it seemed that the French were able for an equal battle.
Montpellier scored an opening goal after just 23 seconds of play. But, after that, Crvena Zvezda kept the French scoreless for more than 12 minutes while it netted three goals (3:1). The French halved the distance in the 15th minute (3:4), but Crvena Zvezda’s Basara responded with a goal from an extra for 5:3. In the first minute of the third quarter, Montpellier’s Zivkovic found the net for 4:5. But, Crvena Zvezda found its rhythm again. The Serbs tightened defense and did a fine job in front of Montpellier’s goal. Crvena Zvezda scored six goals in a row to go to 11:4 and secured the win. Montpellier’s Mustur ended his team’s new goalless phase, which lasted almost 13 minutes, for 5:11, but it was too late. Montpellier added two consolation goals in the last 23 seconds.
October 9: Crvena Zvezda – Apollon Smyrnis (18:00), Mladost – Montpellier (19:45)
Group E (Paris)
Brescia – OSC Budapest 10:10 (3:3, 2:4, 2:2, 3:1)
Brescia: C. Presciutti 3, Renzuto 2, Di Somma 2, Dolce 1, Luongo 1, Gitto 1.
OSC Budapest: Burian 4, Manhercz 2, Sziladi 1, Salamon 1, E. Csacsovszky1, Hárai 1.
Noisy-le-Sec – Terrassa 13:6 (4:1, 5:1, 2:2, 2:2)
Noisy-le-Sec: Petkovic 5, Marzouki 4, Do Carmo 2, Krapic 1, Guerin 1.
Terrassa: Barroso 3, Sanchez 1, Carillo 1, Gutierezz 1.
A big derby opened the tournament in Paris. Italian champion Brescia, the bronze medalist in the 2021 Champions League, and OSC, the runner-up in the LEN Euro Cup, shared the points in a very thrilling encounter. Even four goals were scored in the last two minutes.
Brescia had 12 players on the roster. Olympic champion Djordje Lazic missed the match, due to a red card received at the Final Eight last season. Still, the Italians started well and had a 2-goal lead in the first quarter (2:0, 3:1). OSC dictated the pace after the first break. Early in the third period, the Hungarians earned a 3-goal advantage for the first time (8:5). Brescia came back and cut the deficit in the 24th minute (7:8), but Burian closed the third period with an action goal for 9:7. There were no goals in the fourth period for a while. A minute and 56 seconds before the end Csacsovszky converted a man-up to give OSC a 10:7 lead. It seemed that OSC had secured the three points. However, Brescia scored three goals in the last 92 seconds. Just five seconds before the final buzzer, Renzuto Iodice found the net for the final score – 10:10.
Noisy-le-Sec completely outplayed Terrassa in the first half of the second game of the day. The hosts jumped to a 7:1 lead by the middle of the second quarter. The Parisians, led by Antonio Petkovic, stretched the margin to eight (10:2) after the middle break, and there was no way back for Terrassa.
October 9: OSC Budapest – Terrassa (15:15), Noisy-le-Sec – Brescia (16:45)
Group F (Split)
Jadran S – Primorac 16:7 (4:2, 3:1, 6:2, 3:2)
Jadran Split:Kharkov 4, Marinic Kragic 2, Bukic 2, Delic 2, Dobud 2, Duzevic 2, Butic 1, Pejkovic 1.
Primorac Kotor:Draskovic 3, Gopcevic 2, Macic 1, Bastrica 1.
Barcelona – Oradea 15:6 (4:1, 4:2, 3:2, 4:1)
Barcelona: Delgado 3, Mallarach 2, Ramon 2, Goma 2, Lopez 1, Valls 1, Garcia 1, Durik 1, Tahull 1, Estrany 1.
Oradea: Shakenov 2, Colodrovschi 2, Czenk 1, Asanovic 1.
Jadran Split was too strong for Primorac. An experienced home side controlled the match from the beginning, and it secured the win with a superb 6:2 third quarter.
The second game of the tournament in Split was similar to the previous one. Barcelona dominated. The Spaniards cruised to a win. At halftime, Barcelona had an 8:3 advantage. In the second half, the Spaniards didn’t slow down and extended the margin to nine goals.
October 9: Jadran Split – Barcelona (18:30), Primorac – Oradea (20:00)
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