The second day of the LEN Champions League Qualification Round 2 offered a lot of excitement.
None of the favorites suffered a loss, but there were a few thrilling games and few surprising results.
Before the last competition day, almost all questions are still open. After the 2nd round, Jadran Split is the only team that already qualified for the next round. Jadran has collected 6 points in Group F (Split). Crvena Zvezda has a perfect 2-0 record, as Jadran, but the Serbs still haven’t advanced. However, only a miracle can stop them in their efforts to qualify and finish 1st or 2nd in Group D. Brescia is, also, very close to the next round. Only a huge surprise will end Brescia’s European season. The Italians are atop group E.
A total of 48 goals were scored on Day 2 in Group C in Szolnok, but both games ended in a tie (Szolnok – Savona, Jadran HN – Vouliagmeni) and everything is still open. All four teams have chances to stay in the Champions League.
After sharing points on Day 1, Brescia and OSC recorded wins in Group E today. Mladost and Primorac won first points in their groups.
Day 2, results – Group C: Jadran Herceg Novi – Vouliagmeni 11:11, Szolnok – Savona 13:13, Group D: Crvena Zvezda – Apollon 14:8, Mladost – Montpellier 10:7, Group E: OSC – Terrassa 8:7, Noisy-le-Sec – Brescia 11:16, Group F: Jadran Split – Barcelona 8:4, Primorac – Oradea 8:6
2021/22 Champions League, Qualification Round 2, Day 2
Group C (Szolnok)
Jadran HN – Vouliagmeni 11:11 (2:5, 2:1, 4:3, 3:2)
Jadran Herceg Novi: Gardasevic 3, Vujovic 2, V. Radovic 2, Petkovic 2, Obradovic 1, Caraj 1.
Vouliagmeni: Kapotsis 3, Milonakis 2, Lozina 2, Troulos 1,, Paparic 1, Kalogeropulos 1, Skoumpakis 1.
Szolnok – Savona 13:13 (4:2, 3:4, 4:4, 2:3)
Szolnok: Angyal 3, Milakovics 3, Szeghalmi 1, Schmolcz 1, A. Nagy 1, Gbadamassi 1, D. Jansik 1, Konarik 1, Zovic 1
Savona: Rizzo 3, Campopiano 3, Molina 2, Bruni 2, Viskovic 1, Fondelli 1, Iocchi Gratta 1.
Before the last round, all four teams have chances to reach the 3rd round. Szolnok, the only side, which has achieved a win in Group C so far (it beat Jadran yesterday), leads the race. But, the Hungarians still haven’t booked the ticket for the next round.
As expected, Szolnok dictated the pace in the match against Savona, but the hosts failed to earn three points and secure a spot In the 3rd round. Early in the second period, Szolnok had a 3-goal lead (5:2). In the 17th minute, Savona equalized for the first time (Rizzo converted a penalty for 7:7). Kristijan Milakovic scored two consecutive goals and Szolnok went to 9:7. Still, Savona leveled again (9:9 and 10:10), but the LEN Euro Cup winner entered the final eight minutes with a slim lead (11:10). The hosts built a 2-goal lead twice in the fourth quarter (12:10 and 13:11), but they didn’t score in the last five minutes. Rizzo leveled at 13:13 in the 31st minute and there were no goals after that. Savona will play with 12 players tomorrow because Fondelli received a red card after the game.
Vouliagmeni led for most of the match against Jadran. The Greeks had a solid 5:2 advantage before the second quarter, but Jadran kept chasing the Greeks and they finally caught up with them in the last minute of the third period (8:8). Just 31 seconds before the last break, Kapotsis gave Vouliagmeni a new lead (9:8). Jadran opened the fourth period excellently – with three goals in a row (Petkovic, Vujovic, V.Radovic) and went to 11:9. Still, the Montenegrins couldn’t keep the advantage. A minute and five seconds from the end, Mylonakis converted a man-up and saved the point for Vouliagmeni – 11:11.
1 Szolnok (HUN) 2 – 4
2 Savona (ITA) 2 – 2 (23:23)
3 Vouliagmeni (GRE) 2 – 2 (21:21)
4 Jadran HN (MNE) 2 – 1
October 10: Savona – Jadran Herceg Novi (9:00), Szolnok – Vouliagmeni (11:00)
Group D (Zagreb)
Crvena Zvezda – Apollon Smyrnis 14:8 (5:1, 2:4, 5:2, 2:1)
Crvena Zvezda: Tankosic 3, Basara 3, Djurdjic 2, Subotic 2, Pjesivac 2, Vukicevic 1, Radovic 1.
Apollon Smyrnis: Gounas 4, Viskovic 2, Solanakis 2.
Mladost – Montpellier 10:7 (3:3, 2:1, 5:2, 0:1)
Mladost: Rkovac 3, Bajic 2, Vrbnjak 2, Biljaka 1, Dasic 1, Fabris 1.
Montpellier: Kalinic 2, D.Zivkovic 2, Mustur 1, Ivankovic 1,Alfonso Pozo 1.
Crvena Zvezda proved that it came to Zagreb as a favorite. After beating Montpellier yesterday, the Serbs defeated Apollon and made a huge step towards the third round. A good opening of the game put the Serbs on the right track. Crvena Zvezda rushed to a 5:1 lead. The second quarter belonged to the Greeks, which halved the distance and trailed 5:7 before the third quarter. But, Crvena Zvezda dominated the third period. The Belgrade-based side scored three unanswered goals in the first five minutes of the third quarter for 10:5, and Apollon couldn’t come back.
Mladost and Montpellier faced off in the game that was a must-win match for both teams. After losses on day 1, both teams needed points to keep their hopes alive. Mladost emerged as a winner.
Montpellier scored an opening goal, but that was the visitors’ only lead in the match. In the fifth minute, Mladost took control, scoring two goals in a span of 42 seconds (2:1). Still, the Zagreb-based side needed a lot of time to break the French’s resistance. The game was an even contest until the third quarter. In the 17th minute, Montpellier equalized for the last time (5:5). Mladost replied with three goals and built an 8:5 lead. By the end of the third period, the hosts stretched the margin to four (10:6), and that was the end of the contest. Despite the fact Montpellier suffered two losses, the French still have a theoretical chance of reaching the next stage
Crvena Zvezda has collected six points, but it hasn’t qualified for the next round yet. However, only a miracle will halt the Serbs in their march to the 3rd round. Crvena Zvezda will drop in 3rd place if it suffers a 12-goal loss to Mladost, and Apollon beats Montpellier.
1 Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 2 – 6
2 Apollon (GRE) 2 – 3*
3 Mladost (CRO) 2 – 3*
4 Montpellier (FRA) 2 – 0
*Head to head: Apollon – Mladost 10:9
October 10: Montpellier – Apollon Smyrnis (11:00), Mladost – Crvena Zvezda (12:45)
Group E (Paris)
OSC Budapest – Terrassa 8:7 (4:2, 1:2, 2:1, 1:2)
OSC: Burian 3, E.Csacsovszky 2, Vin Vigvari 2, Salamon 1
Terrassa: Alarcon 2, Flores Fernandez 2, Barroso 1, De Lera 1, Chico 1.
Noisy-le-Sec – Brescia 11:16 (3:4, 3:5, 1:2, 4:5)
Noisy: Marzouki 4, Petkovic 3, Krapic 3, Prioteasa 1
Brescia: C. Presciutti 3, Lazic 3, Vapenski 3, Luongo 2, Di Somma 2, Dolce 1, Renzuto Iodice 1, Alesiani 1.
There were no surprises On Day 2 of the tournament in Paris. OSC and Brescia recorded wins.
OSC gained a 3-goal lead in the early stage of the game against Terrassa, which was vital for their win. In the 11th minute, OSC already had a 5:2 advantage. Terrassa started coming back, and cut the deficit to 4:5 and again at 5:6. Early in the fourth period, Salamon gave OSC a new 3-goal lead (8:5). Terrassa played better than the Budapest-based side in the last several minutes, the Spaniards came very close to the rival (7:8) at 01:28, but they couldn’t equalize.
Noisy-le-Sec played very well today, but it didn’t surprise Italian champion Brescia. The French kept up with the favorites for a quarter and a half. Only one goal separated the rivals in the 12th minute (5:6). However, Brescia built a 3-goal lead by halftime (9:6) and from that point on, the difference was never smaller than three goals.Brescia had a 7-goal lead in the fourth quarter (14:7, 16:9), but the hosts tightened the distance.
None of the teams have secured a spot in the third round yet. Terrassa is the only team that is out of the race for the top two places.
Brescia won’t have a hard task tomorrow. It will play winless Terrassa. Brescia won’t qualify only it suffers a big loss to Terrassa and Noisy defeats OSC.
1 Brescia (ITA) 2 – 4 (+5)
2 OSC Budapest (HUN) 2 – 4 (+1)
3 Noisy-le-Sec (FRA) 2 – 3
4 Terrassa (ESP) 2 – 0
October 10: Terrassa – Brescia (10:30), Noisy-le-Sec – OSC Budapest (12:00)
Group F (Split)
Jadran Split – Barcelona 8:4 (1:0, 1:1, 4:3, 2:0)
Jadran Split: Duzevic 2, Buric 1, Marinic Kragic 1, Bukic 1, Khrakov 1, Delic 1, Setka 1.
Barcelona: Durik 1, Delgado 1, Estrany 1, Mallarach 1.
Primorac – Oradea 8:6 (3:1, 2:1, 0:2, 3:2)
Primorac Kotor: Draskovic 2, Stanojevic 2, Matkovic 2, Macic 1, Bastrica 1.
Oradea: Colodrovschi 3, Asanovic 1, Szabo 1, Remes 1.
Jadran beat Barcelona in the derby of the group in Split and qualified for the next stage. After a low-scoring first half, Jadran’s Setka and Bukic scored for 4:1. Late into the third quarter, Barcelona cut the deficit (4:5). Still, Duzevic doubled Jadran’s advantage 42 seconds before the last break (6:4). In the last eight minutes, the hosts tightened their defense, while they netted two goals for a comfortable 8:4 victory.
Former European champion Primorac defeated Oradea, thanks to a good defensive play in the first half. Primorac had a 5:1 advantage in the second period. Oradea put a lot of effort into a comeback, but the Romanians couldn’t equalize. Oradea is eliminated and will finish in 4th place. Primorac will try to surprise Barcelona tomorrow and join Jadran in the next stage.
1 Jadran S (CRO) 2 – 6
2 Barcelona (ESP) 2 – 3
3 Primorac Kotor (MNE) 2 – 3
4 Oradea (ROM) 2 – 0
October 10: Barcelona – Primorac (10:30), Oradea – Jadran Split (12:00)
