Neither of the two participating teams earned an advantage in the 1st leg of the LEN Euro Cup final. The first duel between Savona and Vasas ended in an 8:8 draw.
Of course, Vasas could be more satisfied with this outcome because it will be the host in the return leg.
The 2nd match in Budapest will be played on April 29.
2023 LEN Euro Cup, final, 1st leg
Savona – Vasas 8:8 (3:2, 2:3, 2:1, 1:2)
Savona: Nicosia, Rocchi, Patchaliev 1, Urbinati, Panerai 1, Rizzo, Caldieri, Bruni, Campopiano 2, Guidi, Djurdjic 2, Lanzoni 2, Da Rold. Head coach: Angelini.
Vasas: Mitrovic, Dr.Brguljan 1, Zernivay, Randjelovic 2, Konarik, Mezei, Simon, Nagaev, Erdelyi 1, Batori 3, Gabor 1, Sedlmayer, Miszei. Head coach: Nikic.
The game played in front of the packed stands of the “Zanelli” pool in Savona was an even contest from the first whistle until the final buzzer. Vasas never took the lead, but Savona never had an advantage bigger than two goals.
There were even 33 exclusions in the game. Savona committed 20, and Vasas 13 personal fouls. The Hungarians scored each of their eight goals with a man-up and missed two penalty shots. Savona netted five power-play goals and didn’t have chances from the 5m line.
The Italians didn’t need much time to score the first goal. Patchaliev made it 1:0 after less than a minute and a half of play. Batori leveled immediately after. Midway through the first quarter, the hosts had a 3:1 advantage. The Hungarians halved the deficit and had a great chance to level in the 8th minute, but Nagaev hit the post from a penalty shot.
Early in the second period, Vasas managed to equalize. Batori converted a man-up for 3:3. But, Savona regained a 2-goal lead with goals from Campopiano and Rizzo, who scored for 5:3 in the 14th minute. Vasas caught up with the Italians with two goals in the last minute and a half of the first half – 5:5.
Lanzoni opened the second half with a goal for 6:5. Shortly after, the second penalty shot was awarded to Vasas. This time, Akos Konarik took responsibility. But he did the same as Nagaev did in the first quarter – he hit the crossbar. This time, Vasas paid for that miss. Djurdjic doubled the Italians’ defense in the following Savona’s possession – 7:5. Sixteen seconds from the end of this period, Brguljan made it 6:7.
Campopiano converted a 6 on 5 in the 27th minute for 8:6, but Vasas continued chasing the hosts. Randjelovic found the net less than a minute after Campopiano’s goal. Two minutes before the final buzzer, Lorinc Gabor leveled at 8:8.
A minute before the end, Savona earned a man-up. Vasas’ goalie Branislav Mitrovic saved a shot, but the ball went to corner and Savona got 20 new seconds for the attack. Still, the Italians failed to score, Vasas had the last possession. The visitors had a 6 on 5 in the last seven seconds, but they didn’t score a winner and nobody will have an advantage before the first whistle of the game in Budapest.
More articles about the LEN Euro Cup
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