Montenegro won 1st place at the Four Nations tournament, held in Hamburg.
The Montenegrins, the bronze-medalists at the 2020 European Championships, finished first in Hamburg, ahead of the host Germany, Georgia and Romania.
For all the teams, the competition Hamburg was a part of the preparations for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Rotterdam (March 22nd – 29th). Before Rotterdam, Montenegro has to face Croatia in the quarterfinals of the European qualifications for the World League Super Final (March 17th).
A few hours before the end of the tournament in Hamburg, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, so it’s uncertain whether the qualifications and the World League will be held as it was planned or FINA will postpone the competitions.
International tournament in Hamburg (March 9th -11th)
Day 1
Montenegro – Georgia 15:10 (4:5, 5:2, 3:0, 3:3)
Montenegro: Ivovic 3, Ukropina 3, Radovic 2, Vidovic 2, Pjesivac 2, Obradovic 1, Spaic 1, Draskovic 1.
Georgia: Jelaca 3, Elez 2, Vapenski 2, Jakhaia 1, Magrakvelidze 1, Rurua 1.
Germany – Romania 10:9 (1:3, 3:2, 1:2, 5:2)
Germany: Real 3, Stamm 3, Gielen 1, Cuk 1, Restovic 1, Eidner 1.
Romania: Radu 4, Negrean 2, Colodrovschi 1, Oanta 1, V.Georgescu 1.
Day 2
Montenegro – Romania 17:12 (5:2, 5:4, 3:4, 2:2)
Montenegro: Draskovic 4, Matkovic 3, Ivovic 2, POpadic 2, PErkovic 1, Pjesivac 1, SPaic 1, Djurdjic 1, Vidovic 1, Radovic 1.
Romania: V. Georgescu 5, Colodrovschi 4, Fulea 2, Negrean 1.
Germany – Georgia 14:10 (2:1, 3:3, 2:3, 7:3)
Germany: Strelezkij 5, Cuk 4, Restovic 2, Jungling 2, Van der Bosch 1.
Georgia: Jelaca 3, Jakhaia 3, Tsrepulja 1, Elez 1, Shushiashvilli 1, Vapenski 1.
Day 3
Romania – Georgia 9:15 (4:5, 2:1, 3:5, 0:4)
Romania: Prioteasa 2, Georgescu 2, Radu 2, Fulea 2, Colodrovschi 1.
Georgia: Bitadze 3, Jelaca 3, Magrakvelidze 2, Kavtaradze 1, Tsrepulja 1, Imnaishvilli 1, Elez 1, Rurua 1, Adeishvilli 1, Shushiashvilli 1.
Germany – Montenegro 10:12 (1:4, 5:2, 2:2, 2:4)
Germany: Stamm 3, Gielen 2, Eidner 1, Jungling 1, Strelezkij 1, Real 1, Bozic 1.
Montenegro: Ivovic 2, Draskovic 2, Popadic 2, Radovic 2, Matkovic 1, Cuckovic 1, Vidovic 1, Pjesivac 1.
The last match of the competition, an encounter between Montenegro and Germany decided the winner.
On Day 1, Montenegro defeated Georgia 15:10, while Germany edged out Romania 10:9, after being three goals down in the middle of the third quarter (4:7)
Montenegro was better than Romania on Day 2 (17:12), and Germany beat Georgia 14:10.
This evening, Georgia secured 3rd place by beating Romania 15:9.
In the last game of the tournament, Montenegro got off to a good start and earned a 4:1 lead against Germany. The Montenegrins had a 3-goal advantage (6:3) two minutes from the middle break, but Germany erased the deficit with three goals in the last 96 seconds of the second quarter – 6:6.
After a balanced third period (2:2), Montenegro took the lead twice in the opening minutes of the final quarter (9:8 and 10:9), but the home team equalized on both occasions. However, the Montenegrins kept the hosts scoreless in the last four minutes, while they netted two goals for a 12:10 victory.
1 Montenegro 3 – 6
2 Germany 3 – 4
3 Georgia 3 – 2
4 Romania 3 – 0
