There were a lot of exciting and interesting games in the first three days of Group A of the Premier League at the pool „Vlaho Bata Orlić“. But, there were no big surprises.
In the morning session of Day 4, Jadran Herceg Novi caused the first surprise of the tournament. The Montenegrin champion overcame a 2-goal deficit and recorded a 7:6 victory over Partizan. Jadran wasn’t an underdog, of course. Still, Partizan was the team that was seen as a winner in most of the predictions before the duel.
Jug Dubrovnik recorded the 5th win at the tournament. The Dubrovnik-based team defeated Budva 11:9, and it will face off Novi Beograd in the biggest derby of the tournament this evening at 20:40.
After three losses, Šabac finally collected its first points by defeating Mladost (11:8).
2021/22 Premier Regional League, First Stage
Group B (Belgrade), Round 5
Jug – Budva 11:9 (3:2, 4:2, 3:3, 1:2)
Jug AO: Joković 2, Argyropoulos 2, Žuvela 2, Vukojević 1, Papanastasiou 1, Tomasović 1, Kržić 1,Pavlić 1.
Budva: Vukićević 3, Korać 2, Dragović 1,Ćetković 1, Zhardan 1, Kovačević 1.
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Ivan Vukojević (Jug)
As expected Jug defeated Budva, but it wasn’t an easy win. Budva, which is locked for the last place in the table, kept up with the Croats for almost two quarters. Two and a half minutes before the end of the first half, the sides were tied at 4:4. The Croats scored three goals in the remaining time (the third came in the last second of the quarter, from Pavlić). The Montenegrins did their best to level the score again, and they were very close to doing it. In the 28th minute, Kovačević scored for 7:8. Budva had chances to level, but it failed, while Jug went to 10:7 before the last quarter and that proved vital for their victory.
Partizan – Jadran 6:7 (3:1, 1:2, 2:3, 0:1)
Partizan:Mitrović 2, Jakšić 1, Aleksić 1, Bowen 1, Radojević 1.
Jadran Herceg Novi: Gardašević 2, Petković 2, Vučurović 1, Obradović 1, Da.Radović 1.
Full statistics and play by play action on Total Waterpolo Arena
Dimitrije Obradovic blocks Gak Photo by Djordje Kostić/VK Novi Beograd
Partizan dictated the pace and led most of the time in a defensive battle with Jadran. But, the Montenegrins, who displayed a very good performance against Jug yesterday, proved their talent and potential once more.
The Serbs took a 3:1 lead in the first period. After that, Jadran cut the deficit to one goal three times, but Partizan doubled its advantage after each of three goals. In the 19th minute, Milan Aleksić converted a man-up for 6:4. It turned out that it was Partizan’s last goal in the game. Jadran kept the Belgrade-base goalless in the remaining 12 minutes.
By the end of the third period, the Herceg Novi based-team caught up with Partizan, with two goals in the 24th minute. Captain Marko Petković made it 5:6 with 48 seconds left in the third, while Martin Garadašević leveled at 6:6 eight seconds before the last break.
Defenses dominated in the last eight minutes. The only goal in the final quarter was scored in the 28th minute. Dimitrije Obradović scored from an extra for 7:6 and Jadran went in front for the first time in the match. The Montenegrins kept this minimal advantage until the end.
„The game against Partizan was the most important for Jadran at the tournament in Belgrade. We prepared for this match for a long time, because it was one of the crucial duels in a battle for spots at the Final Four. Both defenses were good, but we were better, achieved the win. We have two more important games until the end – against Mladost and Šabac, and we mustn’t let ourselves fall down, we must go in this direction, Jadran’s player Vasilije Radović said.
Šabac – Mladost 11:8 (4:4, 3:1, 4:0, 0:3)
Šabac: Koptsev 4, Vasović 2, Repanović 1, Stanić 1, Tubić 1, Tonković 1, Ćetković 1.
Mladost:Rakovac 3, Dašić 2, Vrbnjak 2, Lazić 1.
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Ivan Koptsev (Šabac) Photo by Djordje Kostić
Šabac water polo players had a day off yesterday, which helped them to recover from a series of losses and prepare for Mladost.
The final score says all – the third quarter was crucial for the outcome, but Šapac started breaking Mladost’s resistance already in the second period.
The Serbs led from the beginning, but Mladost leveled three times (1:1, 4:4, 5:5). The Croats scored their fifth goal in the 11th minute. After that, they couldn’t find the net until the middle of the fourth period. Šabac, led by Russian Ivan Koptsev scored six unanswered goals and entered the final quarter leading 11:5. The Croats scored three goals in the last three and a half minutes, but it was too late for a comeback.
Afternoon/evening session
Budva – Partizan (17)
Jadran – Šabac (18.50)
Novi Beograd – Jug (20.40)
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