Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-52×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48
  • News
  • SUKNO U15 CAMP – MALTA 2023
  • SHOP NOW
  • LIVESCORE
    • 2023 FINA Men’s Water Polo World Cup
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • Budva Masters 2023
    • Sunčana Kapica
    • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus
    • Alpe Waterpolo League
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic league 2022/23
      • Nordic League 2021/22
      • Nordic Women’s League 2022
    • GERMANY
    • AUSTRIA 🇦🇹
      • Bundesliga Women
      • Bundesliga Men
      • Supercup
      • Cup
      • Regionalliga Ost
      • U-21 Women
      • U-19
      • U-17
      • U-15
      • U-13
      • U-12
      • U-11
    • SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
      • Slovenian championship 2022/23
      • Slovenian Cup 2022/23
    • FINLAND 🇫🇮
      • Championship
      • U-13
      • U-15
      • U-17
    • AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Men
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Women
    • ROMANIA 🇷🇴
      • Superliga Națională – Romanian Water Polo League 2022/23
      • Superliga Națională
    • ICELAND 🇮🇸
      • Winter League Men 2021
      • Winter League Women 2021
    • LITHUANIA 🇱🇹
      • Championships
      • Nordic Junior CH U17
      • Nordic Junior CH U15
    • Total Waterpolo Trophy U-15
    • RWL
      • Premier League 21/22
      • A1 League 21/22
  • National
    • Spain
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • France
    • Germany
    • Netherlands
  • International
    • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Water Polo
    • World Championships
      • Budapest 2022 Men
      • Budapest 2022 Women
      • FINA World Men’s Junior Championships Prague 2021
      • Gwangju 2019
      • Budapest 2017
    • European Championships
      • Split 2022 – M
      • Split 2022 – W
      • Budapest 2020
      • Barcelona 2018
    • Other
      • World League – Belgrade 2019
      • World Cup – Berlin 2018
      • Junior WC Prague 2021
      • Junior EC Podgorica 2022
      • Montenegro Cup 2022 (U16)
  • LEN Champions League
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • LEN Champions League 2019/2020
    • LEN Champions League 2018/2019
  • Total Player Award
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
✕

Hungary, Serbia and Croatia win derby games on World League opening day

January 18, 2022

Vendel Vigvari (HUN) Photo by Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia started a new Olympic cycle with wins in the 1st round of the European Qualifications for the World League Super Final.

Hungary convincingly beat Montenegro in the match of Group A in Gyor (14:9).

The other two games played today offered more excitement. Olympic champion Serbia defeated World Champion Italy 12:9 in Sabac (Group B)

Croatia was the only team that recorded an away win. The Croats edged out Greece, the runner-up of the Tokyo Olympics, in a game in Athens – 12:11.

The fourth match scheduled for today (Germany – France) has been postponed due to coronavirus cases, as we reported yesterday.

There are only three rounds in the group stage of the European qualifications, and eight of the 12 teams will pass through them. Thus, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia practically secured a place in the Final Eight of the European qualifiers after winning the first round. Moreover, if there are no surprises in the next two rounds, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary will finish at the top of their groups.

Today, the Hungarian Water Polo Federation confirmed that the F8 would be staged in Budapest between April 14 and 16.

2021/22 Men’s World League, European Qualifications, Day 1

Group A

Hungary – Montenegro 14:9 (4:1, 4:3, 3:2, 3:3)

Hungary: Vigvari 4, Manhercz 3, Jansik 2, Zalanki 1, Erdelyi 1, Mezei 1, Vadovics 1, Bedo 1.
Montenegro: Mrsic 2, Ukropina 2, Spaic 2, Petkovic 1, Popadic 1, Perkovic 1.

Romania bye

Some of the key players were missing from both teams today. Still, the hosts had a more experienced squad in today’s game and they were favorites. After a slow start (the first goal was scored in the fifth minute), Hungary earned a 3-goal lead in the last three minutes of the first period (4:1). Szilard Jansik converted a man-up early in the second quarter to stretch the margin to four (5:1). The Montenegrins halved the deficit (4:6), but Hungary re-built a 4-goal lead with two goals at the finish of this quarter (8:4).

The home side controlled the match. Led by Kristztian Manhercz and youngster Vendel Vigvari, Hungary went to 14:7 midway through the fourth period. Aleksa Ukropina netted two goals in the remaining time to reduce the gap.

Group B

Germany – France postponed

Spain bye

Group C

Serbia – Italy 12:9 (3:1, 3:3, 3:2, 3:3)

Serbia: Mandic 3, S.Rasovic 3, Drasovic 2, Randjelovic 2, Lukic 1, V.Rasovic 1.
Italy: Marziali 3, Iocchi Gratta 2, FOndelli 2, N.Presciutti 1,Di Fulvio 1.

Slovakia bye

Last summer, Serbia outplayed Italy in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo tournament on its road to the 2nd consecutive Olympic gold. The same rivals met in Sabac this evening, but today’s encounter can’t be called a replay of the Olympic quarterfinals. Italy arrived with only three Olympians (Del Lungo, Di Fulvio, , N.Presciutti). Serbia had five Olympic champions on the roster (B.Mitrovic, Mandic, Randjelovic, Lazic, S.Rasovic).

Serbia, which had great support from the stands, opened the match with a 2:0 lead. Fondelli put the visitors on the scoreboard. Shortly after that goal, he had a chance to equalize from a penalty. But his shot went over the bar. Serbia added one more goal before the first break (3:1). After just 20 seconds of play in the second period, Dusan Mandic fired the ball from a distance for 4:1. Italy came very close to the hosts three times (3:4, 4:5, 5:6) in the following minutes. After Italy’s fifth goal, the Serbs netted two with a power-play advantage (Mandic and Drasovic) and went to 8:5. From that point on, the distance between the teams was never smaller than two goals.

In the 26th minute, Nicholas Presciutti converted a man-up to narrow the gap (7:9). In the middle of the quarter, the Serbs netted another two consecutive goals playing with a man up(Randjelovic and Drasovic). They earned a 4-goal lead for the first time (11:7), which was the end of the contest. Everything was clear.

Group D

Greece – Croatia 11:12 (4:3, 2:2, 1:3, 4:4)

Greece: Fountoulis 4, Vlachopoulos 2, Kapotsis 1, Papanastasiou 1, Argyropoulos 1, Solanakis 1, Kakaris 1.
Croatia: Fatovic 2, Vukicevic 2, Benic 2, Basic 2, Zovic 1, Bukic 1, Buric 1, Vrlic 1.

Russia bye

The encounter between Greece and Croatia was a close contest, even though the Greeks needed just 75 seconds to earn a 2:0 lead. The hosts had a 3:1 and a 4:2 advantage.

The visitors caught up with the hosts in the 10th minute, after Loren Fatovic scored from a 6 on 5 (4:4). Early in the fourth period, the Greeks built a 2-goal lead again – Fountoulis scored for 7:5. But, shortly after, Croatia took control. By the end of the third period, the Croats produced a 3:0 run (all three goals were with a man-up) and went in front for the first time (8:7).
Greece became the team that had to chase the rival. The hosts leveled at 8:8 and 9:9 in the early stage of the fourth quarter.

However, Croatia made a new series of three straight goals (Vukicevic, Zovic, Bukic). The visitors had a 12:9 advantage with 01:58 left on the clock. Greece couldn’t come back. Their 11th goal for the final score (11:12) came too late – seven seconds before the final buzzer.

A powerplay conversion made the difference in this match. Croatia scored nine goals with an extra player (9/14), while Greece converted only three of their 12 man-ups.

Men’s World League, European Qualifications, Schedule

Group stage

January 18
Group A: Hungary – Montenegro 14:9
Group B: Germany – France (postponed)
Group C: Serbia – Italy 12:9
Group D: Greece – Croatia 11:12

February 15
Group A: Montenegro – Romania
Group B: France – Spain
Group C: Italy – Slovakia
Group D: Croatia- Russia

March 8
Group A: Romania – Hungary
Group B: Spain – Germany
Group C: Slovakia – Serbia
Group D: Russia – Greece

Final 8 ( Budapest, April 14 – 16)

April 14: Quarterfinals (1A – 2B;  1B – 2A; 1C – 2D; 1D – 2C).

April 15: Semifinals

April 16: Final day

All articles about the World League

Ivan Curcic
Ivan Curcic

Related posts

Ekipe deny Roma of an unbeaten first phase. Photo: Ekipe Orizzonte.

March 23, 2023

Ekipe end Roma’s unbeaten streak on final matchday


Read more

Photo: World Aquatics.

March 23, 2023

Brazilian sniper returns to native national team


Read more

Dejan Savic and Dragana Ivkovic Photo by Slobodan Sandic

March 23, 2023

Dejan Savic: I have never been a gentleman, I hope that from now on I will be a big lady


Read more

Featured Projects

Learn More

Learn More

Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

✕
  • Ekipe end Roma’s unbeaten streak on final matchday
  • Brazilian sniper returns to native national team
  • Dejan Savic: I have never been a gentleman, I hope that from now on I will be a big lady
  • Apollon and Terrassa in first-ever LEN Challenger Cup final
  • Euro Cup: Goalkeeper scores last-gasp-goal to send Savona to final; easy ride for Vasas (VIDEO)
  • Home
  • Water Polo News
  • WearWaterpolo Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Project Superstar – TW Camp
  • BIWPA
  • Custom Team Equipment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2021 Total Waterpolo. All Rights Reserved.
Total Waterpolo Arena