Mladost causes surprise; Panionios shocks Vouliagmeni; easy cruise for top 4 teams in France

The weekend’s matches in the leagues of Hungary, Spain, and France ended as expected, with the favorites winning.

However, Honved and BVSC, two of the three Hungarian clubs in the LEN Euro Cup, had difficulty defeating their opponents.

The top four French teams won by significant margins.

The biggest surprise of the weekend was Mladost Zagreb’s victory over title-holder Jug in the 3rd round of the Regional League.

Meanwhile, in the derby of the 2nd round of the Greek Championships, Panionios beat Vouliagmeni 9:7. Both teams participate in the LEN competitions, and although Panionios had a more experienced team this season, Vouliagmeni was still considered the favorite, especially because it was the host in this game.

The Italian Championships started with a game in which Savona trashed Posillipo.

Hungary, Day 4: Honved and BVSC struggle but win

Two favorites struggled to secure wins in the 4th round of the Hungarian League.

Honved hosted Szeged in Budapest and had a tough time throughout the game. Szeged led 6:5 in the middle of the third period. Honved scored three goals and took a 2-goal lead early in the fourth quarter (8:6). Szeged tried to come back by reducing the gap to one goal. Still, Honved’s Balazs Nyiri sealed his team’s with two minutes before the end, scoring to set the final score – 9:7.

BVSC played against Eger in Budapest. The visitors had a 3-goal advantage in the second quarter (5:2, 6:3). BVSC caught up with the visitors before the final quarter (8:8) and showed its dominance in the fourth period – 13:9.

Ferencvaros – PVSK Pecs 22:7 (3:1, 7:2, 4:3, 8:1)

Szolnok – KSI 16:5 (3:0, 5:2, 4:2, 4:1)

Vasas – Miskolc 16:8 (4:1, 3:3, 5:2, 4:2)

Honved – Szeged 9:7 (2:2, 2:2, 3:2, 2:1)

BVSC – Eger 13:9 (1:1, 3:5, 4:2, 5:1)

Szentes – Kaposvar 11:13 (3:3, 3:4, 2:3, 3:3)

OSC – UVSE 15:6 (1:0, 2:1, 8:2, 4:3)

Standings: 1.Ferencvaros 12, 2. Szolnok 12, 3. Vasas 12, 4. BVSC 12, 5. OSC Budapest 12, 6. Honved 9 (2 games)…

For all the results, scorers and standings, visit the Hungarian League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena.  

Italy, Day 1: Strong start for Recco and Savona; no winner in Syracuse

The Italian Championships started today. Savona blew Posillipo away with four goals from Pietro Figlioli and Edoardo Campopiano in the first game of the season.

Pro Recco demolished Camogli 25:3. Francesco Condemi and Ben Hallock scored four goals each.

Brescia built a safe 10:5 lead in the match against Salerno, so the visitors couldn’t endanger Brescia’s victory.

Ortigia wasted a 5-goal advantage it had at the first break of the match against De Akker (7:2). The middle two quarters belonged to De Akker, but Ortigia was 12:9 up with four minutes remaining. Still, De Akker scored the last three goals in the match. Steve Camilleri leveled at 12:12 at 01:11. A new rule that there are no draws hasn’t been implemented in Italy, so the rivals shared the points.

Posillipo – Savona 8:17 (2:4, 3:5, 2:4, 1:4)

Brescia – Salerno 15:13 (5:2, 5:3, 3:3, 2:5)

Telimar -Roma Vis Nova 15:10 (4:1, 2:3, 2:2, 7:4)

Catania -Iren Genova Quinto 10:12 (1:5, 2:3, 3:2, 4:2)

Trieste – Astra Roma Nuoto 14:12 (5:2, 2:5, 3:2, 4:3)

Ortigia – De Akker Bologna 12:12 (7:2 0:3, 2:3, 3:4)

Camogli – Pro Recco 3:25 (1:9, 0:6, 0:3, 2:7)

For all the results, scorers, and standings, visit the Italian League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena. 

France, Day 4: Quartet keep perfect records

Marseille, Noisy – le – Sec, Tourcoing and Strasbourg keep perfect records after three rounds of the French League.

Marseille, playing without Prlainovic, Crousillat and Manhercz, defeated Pays d’Aix. The reigning champion opened the match with a 4:0 lead. Pays d’Aix halved the deficit in the 15^th minute (4:6), but it couldn’t score in the remaining 17, while Marseille scored nine for a 17:4 victory. Ante Vukicevic was the top scorer with five goals

Noisy – le – Sec beat Reims 15:7 with five goals from Alex Bowen.

Tourcoing didn’t care much about defense, but the attack was up to the task, so Tourcoing defeated Taverny 24:10. Leftie Duje Zivkovic contributed to the win with six goals.

Strasbourg recorded an away win over Sete 16:9. Montpellier earned its first pints, beating Nice 10:7

Marseille – Pays d’Aix 17:4 (3:0, 4:4, 4:0, 6:0)

Sete – Strasbourg 9:16 (2:2, 1:7, 4:3, 2:4)

Nice – Montpellier 7:10 (1:4, 1:2, 2:0, 3:4)

Tourcoing – Taverny 24:10 (7:4, 9:2, 4:1, 4:3)

Noisy-le-Sec – Reims 15:7 (4:3, 4:1, 3:1, 4:2)

Standings: 1.Marseille 9, 2. Noisy-le-Sec (Cercle 93) 9, 3. Tourcoing 9, 4. Strasbourg 9…

For all the results, scorers, and standings, visit the French League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena.  

Spain, Round 2: Three thrillers

There were several exciting matches in the 2nd round of the Division de Honor.

Rubi beat Mataro 17:15 after a penalty shootout. Mataro led 12:10 with 63 seconds left on the clock. Rubi managed to equalize, scoring for 12:12 in the very last second and prolonging the match in a shootout. Rubi was more successful in a shootout.

Terrassa was four steps ahead of Catalunya after three quarters (9:5). The former European champion started coming back after the last break, but Terrassa kept all three points (10:9).

Catalunya couldn’t overcome the four-goal deficit, but Sant Andreu managed to come from behind and collect three points thanks to an excellent fourth period. Real Canoe led 7:5 against Sant Andreu before the final eight minutes. Sant Andreu dominated the fourth period. Matthew Matiland Byrnis scored a winner for Sant Andreu with just 12 seconds to go – 9:8.

Rubi – Mataro 17:15 (1:2, 5:6, 3:2, 3:2, PSO 5:3)

Barceloneta – Mediterrani 20:10 (5:4, 6:0, 4:2, 5:4)

Sant Feliu – Sabadell 9:16 (4:2, 1:5, 3:4, 1:6)

Barcelona – Tenerife 13:5 (2:1, 3:2, 4:1, 4:1)

Catalunya – Terrassa 9:10 (2:4, 2:3, 1:2, 4:1)

Sant Andreu – Real Canoe 9:8 (1:4, 1:0, 3:3, 4:1)

Matches of the 3rd round (played earlier): Terrassa – Tenerife 13:7, Sabadell – Mataro 11:4, Barceloneta – Rubi 18:5.

Standings:1. Barceloneta 9 pts (3 games), 2. Sabadell 9 (3), 3. Terrassa 9 (3), 4. Barcelona 6 (2), 5. Mataro 4 (3)…

For all the results, scorers, and standings, visit the Spanish League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena. 

Regional League, Group A, Weekend 2: Jug falls in Zagreb

Mladost Zagreb caused the first big surprise in the Regional League. The Zagreb-based side defeated reigning champion Jug after a penalty shootout – 18:16.

Until the middle of the match, the game was an even contest, but late in the third period, Jug built a 9:5 lead. At the beginning of the third quarter, the title-holder was still four goals ahead (10:6), and it seemed that it would collect points with ease. Still, Mladost refound its rhythm from the first half and narrowed the distance (10:11). A minute and a half before the end, Jug had a 2-goal advantage (14:12). However, Branimir Herceg leveled with two goals within 63 seconds – 14:14.

All players of the home team found the net in the shootout. Their teammate Jerko Jurlina saved a shot from Rino Buric (who was excellent in the regular time with five goals), and Hannes Daube hit the post, so two points stayed in Zagreb. Buric was the best scorer of the match. Jerko Penava and Luka Bajic netted three each for Mladost.

Jadran Split didn’t shine against Solaris, but the Croatian champion’s quality came to the fore in the fourth quarter – 16:10. Captain Marinic Kragic and left-handed Kharkov and Radovic scored three goals each for Jadran, veteran Petkovic netted three for Solaris.

After a win over Jug, Mladost Zagreb couldn’t maintain the momentum and suffered a loss to Jadran Herceg Novi. The Montenegrin team, led by Jovan Vujovic, secured a 12:7 win in Zagreb.

Jug had to face Primorje in Rijeka for a makeup exam. Although Jug kept the control and allowed Primorje to level the score only twice, the encounter remained tense until the final moments. Jug took an 11:7 lead in the last quarter, but Primorje narrowed the gap to one twice in the last three minutes (10:11 and 11:12) before falling short and leaving the pool empty-handed.

Solaris posted the first win in the season, beating Solaris.

Round 3

Solaris – Jadran S 10:16 (3:3, 2:2, 3:4, 2:7)

Primorje EB – Jadran HN 8:13 (2:3, 2:3, 2:2, 2:5)

Mladost – Jug 18:16 (4:5, 1:4, 4:2, 5:3, PSO 4:2)

Round 4

Primorje – Jug 11:12 (2:5, 4:3, 1:2, 4:2)

Mladost – Jadran HN 7:12 (1:4, 1:4, 3:2, 2:2)

Solaris – Mornar 16:10 (5:1, 2:2, 4:4, 5:3)

Standings: 1. Jadran S 9 (3), 2. Jadran HN 9 (3), 3. Jug 7 (3), 4. Mladost 5 (4), 5. Primorje 3 (4), 6. Solaris 3 (4), 7. Mornar 0 (3).

Greek League, Round 2: Great day for Panionios

After a balanced first quarter, Panionios took control in the dery match played in Vouliagmeni’ss pool and entered the second half leading 7:4. The hosts leveled in the final quarter (9:9). But, Panionios had the last laugh. The visitors scored the last two goals. Papakos put an end to the match (11:9) with two minutes remaining. Papakos and Vouliagmeni’s Kourovanis  were the best scorers. Each found the net thrice.

Group A
Chania – Glyfada 8:9 (2:4, 2:2, 2:0, 2:3)

Peristeri – Patras 17:6 (4:2, 4:1, 5:1, 4:2)

Olympiacos – Panathinaikos 19:4 (6:1, 4:1, 5:1, 4:1)

Apollon Smyrnis – Chios 18:10 (5:1, 4:3, 4:4, 5:2)

Standings: 1. Glyfada 6 (2), 2. Olympiacos 3 (1), 4. Peristeri 3 (1), 4. Apollon 3 (1), 5. Patras 3 (2), 6. Chania 0 (2), 7. Chios 0 (1), 8. Panathinaikos 0 (2)

Group B

OFTH – PAOK 5:16 (1:2, 1:6, 2:4, 1:4)

Ydraikos – AEK 5:7 (1:1, 1:2, 2:3, 1:1)

Vouliagmeni – Panionios 9:11 (3:3, 1:4, 4:2, 1:2)

Palaio Faliro – Ethnikos 10:10 (1:2, 3:4, 5:2, 1:2)

Standings: 1. PAOK 6 (2), 2.Panionios 6 (2), 3. Ethnikos 4 (2), 4. Vouliagmeni 3 (2), 5. AEK 3 (2), 6. Palaio Faliro 1 (2), 7. Ydraikos 0 (2), 8. OFTH 0 (2)

Serbia, Round 2

Sabac, Crvena Zvezda and Radnicki made no mistakes in the first three matches of the third round.

Partizan didn’t have problems in beating Vojvodina Novi Sad 13:6. Partizan was officially the host in this game, but it was staged in Novi Sad, because the pool Banjica, where Partizan trains and plays its home games, is closed due to a malfunction.

Group A

Proleter – Sabac 12:23 (2:7, 3:7, 4:5, 3:4)

Partizan – Vojvodina 13:6 (3:1, 4:1, 3:2, 3:2)

Stari Grad – Novi Beograd on Monday

Standings: 1. Sabac 6 (2), 2. Novi Beograd 3 (1), 3. Partizan 3 (2), 4. Stari Grad 2 (1), 5. Proleter 1 (2),6. Vojvodina 0 (2), 6. Partizan 0 (1).

Group B

Crvena Zvezda – Tas 18:6 (6:1, 4:1, 5:1, 3:3)

NBG Vukovi – Radnicki 7:12 (3:3, 1:2, 2:4, 1:3)

Valis – Nais on Tuesday

Standings: 1. Crvena Zvezda 6 (2), 2. Radnicki 6 (2), 3. Valis 3 (1), 4. NBG Vukovi 0 (2), 5. Tas 0 (2), 6. Nais 0 (1).

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