Jadran Herceg Novi became the champion of Montenegro for the 7th time in a row.
Jadran beat Primorac (10:5) in the fourth match of the playoffs final and clinched its 16th national crown. Jadran was the champion of SFR Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro six times (1958, 1959, 2003,2004, 2005, 2006) and clinched 10 titles in Montenegro (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021). The previous season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2020/21 Montegenrin Championship, playoffs
Final (best-of-five), 4th match
Jadran HN – Primorac 10:5 (3:0, 2:2, 4:2, 1:1) – score in the series 3:1
Jadran: Averka 3, Petkovic 2, Da.Radovic 2, Vucurovic 1, Gardasevic 1,V.Radovic 1.
Primorac: Janovic 2, Molthen 1, Perkovic 1, Stanojevic 1.
For the full statistics and a play-by-play timeline visit:Total WaterPolo Arena (Jadran – Primorac, 4th game)
The first three matches of the series were quite close. Jadran won the first match after a penalty shootout (14:11). Primorac struck back in the second game (8:6), while Jadran celebrated an 8:6 victory in the 3rd encounter.
Today’s game wasn’t so exciting. Jadran controlled the match and led from the beginning. The hosts built a 3:0 advantage in the first eight minutes.
Jadran’s defense was excellent, but the hosts needed some time to earn a 3-goal advantage.
Primorac had the first great chance to take a lead, but Matkovic missed a penalty shot. Konstantin Averka opened the scoring in the third minute (and shortly after missed a penalty). But, it took a while before the next goal was scored. Averka doubled Jadran’s advantage 100 seconds before the first break, and Danilo Radovic made it 3:0 shortly after.
Primorac earned two penalty shots in the second quarter. American Ash Molthen took responsibility both times, but he didn’t score –he missed the first shot, and then Tesanovic blocked his shot. Although the visitors missed great chances, they managed to reduce the gap (2:3) in the 15th minute. However, the hosts netted two goals in the last 58 seconds of this period (Radovic and Gardasevic), so Jadran had a solid 5:2 advantage at halftime.
By the middle of the third quarter, Jadran jumped to an 8:2 lead (captain Petkovic scored two goals, and Vasilije Radovic one). After Jadran’s 5:0 series it was clear that only a miracle can save Primorac. But, miracles don’t happen often. Today wasn’t a day for miracles.
The reigning champion didn’t let Primorac come back and retained the trophy.
Jadran finished the season with the “double crown”. The Herceg Novi-based side won the Montenegrin Cup in the first half of the season.
The Montenegrin League has been finished. The team from Herceg Novi keeps the title
All champions: 2007 and 2008: Primorac, 2009 and 2010: Jadran, 2011: Budva, 2012: Jadran, 2013 – 2019 (6 titles): Jadran, 2020: season canceled, 2021: Jadran.
Scores and statistics of the Montenegrin Water Polo League on TOTAL WATERPOLO ARENA
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