Ortigia and Sabadell won first two places in Group F of the LEN Euro Cup Qualification Round 2 after a very thrilling last competition day and qualified for the quarterfinals. Host Vasas, which was one of the favorites, was ousted, although it beat Ortigia today. A one-goal win (8:7) wasn’t enough.
Ortigia, Sabadell, and Vasas won 6 points each., and the classification was established according to the scores between these three teams. All three sides won three points in these matches, but tiny details determined the standings. Sabadell had the best difference against Ortigia and Vasas (15:14), Ortigia is at 17:17, and Vasas has 12:13.
As for Group E in Palermo, Telimar and BVSC secured the first two places and quarterfinal berths yesterday.
In the quarterfinals, BVSC, Telimar, Sabadell and Ortigia will face the four teams that lose in the 3rd qualification round of the Champions League (October 29 and November 12).
2021/22 LEN Euro Cup, Qualification Round 2, Day 3
Group E (Palermo)
Sabac – Strasbourg 10:10 (1:2, 2:3, 3:2, 4:3)
Sabac:Koptsev 2, Sulc 2, Tonkovic 2, Vogel 1, Markovic 1, Repanovic 1, Cetkovic 1.
Strasbourg: Buha 3, Misic 2, Babic 2, Buden 1, Valentino 1, Missy 1.
Telimar – BVSC 17:17 (2:3, 5:5, 4:4, 6:5)
Telimar: Vlahovic 6, irving 2, Basic 2, Del Basso 1, Di Patti 1, Occhione 1, Gilberti 1, Marziali 1, Lo Casco 1, Lo Dico 1.
BVSC Zuglo: Pasztor 4, Gyarfas 3, Nagy 2, Csapo 2, Agh 2, Batizi 1, Kovacs 1, Tatrai 1, M.Meszaros 1.
Telimar and BVSC didn’t care much about defense in the last match of the tournament. This game wasn’t important. Both teams had already qualified for the quarterfinals, and there is no difference between 1st and 2nd place in the group since both teams will be in the same pot of the draw. The Italians and the Hungarians shared the points. Telimar remained atop due to a better goal difference.
The game between Sabac and Strasbourg ended in a draw, too. The goal difference put the Serbs into 3rd place.
1 Telimar (ITA) 3 – 7 (+10)
2 BVSC (HUN) 3 – 7 (+5)
3 Sabac (SRB) 3 – 1 (-7)
4 Strasbourg (FRA) 3 – 1 (-8)
Group F (Budapest)
Sabadell – Solaris 10:9 (6:2, 3:3, 0:2, 1:2)
Sabadell: Averka 5, Lopez 2, Teclas 1, Valera 1, Bertran 1.
Solaris: Goreta 4, Penava 2, Erak 1, Strkalj 1, Pelicaric 1.
Vasas – Ortigia 8:7 (3:2, 2:0, 2:2, 1:3)
Vasas: Erdelyi 4, Randjelovic 2, Brguljan 1, Vadovics 1.
Ortigia: Mirarchi 2, Rossi 2, Condemi 1, Ferrero 1, Napolitano 1.
Sabadell defeated Solaris in the first match of the day, and these three points brought the Spaniards a ticket for the quarterfinals. After a 6:2 first quarter, Sabadell’s Konstantin Averka opened the second period with his 4th goal for 7:2. Solaris didn’t surrender and narrowed the gap to 8:9 early in fourth. Averka responded with a goal for 10:8. The Sibenik-based side scored the last goal in the match in the 30th minute. Still, Sabadell kept a minimal advantage and went to the quarterfinals.
After Sabadell’s victory, Vasas had to beat Ortigia with a 2-goal difference or more to secure a quarterfinal berth. In any other case, Ortigia and Sabadell would qualify for the following round. In the first round, Ortigia beat Sabadell 10:9, while the Spaniards upset Vasas yesterday (6:4).
Vasas recovered from a surprising loss to Sabadell, and opened the game against Ortigia with a 2:0 lead. The Italians leveled at 2:2 (6th minute). But, the hosts kept Ortigia goalless in the following 14 minutes, while they scored five goals for a 7:2 advantage. It seemed that the hosts were on the right track. In the middle of the third quarter, Napolitano broke Ortigia’s silence for 3:7. The Italians started climbing back and reduced the gap (6:7). A minute and 9 seconds before the end, Ortigia had a chance to equalize. The Sicilians earned a penalty shot, but Vasas’ goalkeeper Mitrovic saved a shot from the 5tm line. Immdetialy after, Erdely ended the Hungarians’ goalless phase that lasted almost 12 minutes for 8:6, and Vasas built a desirable 2-goal margin. But, just 20 seconds from time, Mirrarchi converted a man-up (7:8). Vasas didn’t score in its last possession, and Ortigia’s players started the celebration.
1 Sabadell (ESP) 3 – 6*
2 Ortigia (ITA) 3 – 6*
3 Vasas (HUN) 3 – 6*
4 Solaris (CRO) 3 – 0
*Head to head: Ortigia – Sabadell 10:9, Vasas – Sabadell 4:6, Vasas – Ortigia 8:7. Standings: 1. Sabadell 3 (+1), 2. Ortigia 3 (0), 3. Vasas 3 (-1).
