Three of four matches in the sixth round of the French League were open until the end.
Noisy-le-Sec narrowly defeated Tourcoing (13:12) in the big match of the day. Strasbourg beat Reims after a penalty shootout (14:12). Sete achieved a historic win, beating Montpellier for the first time after more than ten years.
Only Marseille recorded a convincing victory, beating Pays d’Aix 14:6.
2022/23 French League, Day 6
Noisy-le-Sec – Tourcoing 13:12 (5:4, 1:3, 3:4, 4:1)
Noisy-le-Sec (Cercle 93): Bowen 4, A. Petkovic 2, Krapic 2, Do Carmo 2, Caumette 2, Gogov 1,.
Tourcoing: D. Zivkovic 4, Marzouki 4, Dasic 2, Durik 1, Canonne 1.
Sete – Montpellier 10:9 (0:1, 3:3, 5:3, 2:2)
Sete: Furman 4, Tomic 3, Sauton 1, Lopinot 1, Chandieu 1.
Montpellier: Dory 2, Ivankovic 2, Vasin 2, Spilliaert 1, Andric 1, Piot 1.
Reims – Strasbourg 12:14 (2:4, 2:2, 3:2, 3:2, PSO 2:4)
Reims: Vix 4,Babic 3, Missy 3, De Bie 1, Bulat 1.
Strasbourg : Canovas 3, Buha 3, Misic 2, M.Petkovic 2, Popadic 2, Vitrant 1, Chion 1.
Marseille – Pays d’Aix 14:6 (2:2, 5:1, 3:1, 4:2)
Marseille: Spaic 3 Bouet 3, Prlainovic 2, Marion-Vernoux 2, Vukicevic 2, Bodegas 1, Crousillat 1,
Pays d’Aix : Khasz 2, Rocchietta 2, Drahe 1, Peisson 1.
Nice bye
The encounter between Noisy and Tourcoing was a clash between the LEN Euro Cup eighth finalists and the teams that aim to endanger Marseille’s dominance in the French League. Tourcoing dictated the pace in the opening minute and had a 3:2 and 4:3 lead. However, Noisy netted three straight goals and came back from a one-goal deficit to a 6:4 lead (10th minute). Still, Tourcoing replied in the same way, with three goals in a row, to enter the second half with a 7:6 advantage.
The series of twists continued in the third period. Noisy opened the second half with two goals and went to 8:6. But, Tourcoing built a 2-goal lead before the final quarter (11:9). After a quick exchange of goals in the first minute of the fourth quarter, Tourcoing was still two steps ahead of the hosts (12:10). Still, Noisy scored the last three goals in the game. Two and a half minutes before the end, Krapic leveled at 12:12. Noisy earned a man-up with 46 seconds to go. Caumette found the net from that 6 on 5 to set the final score – 13:12 at 00:40.
The sixth round brought the second penalty shootout in the season (after Noisy’s victory over Pays d’Aix last week). Strasbourg beat Reims in a penalty series and earned two points, while one point belonged to the hosts. Strasbourg started better and had a 2-goal lead in the first half (4:2, 5:3, 6:4). But Reims took control after the middle break. The hosts opened the third quarter with three straight goals for 7:6. However, Strasbourg had a minimal 8:7 advantage before the final quarter. The hard battle continued in the final quarter. Reims made a new turn, it led 9:8 and 10:9. Popadic scored an equalizer – 10:10 with 48 seconds left on the clock. Strasbourg emerged as a winner in a penalty shootout.
After more than ten years, Sete water polo players managed to beat their neighbors Montpellier in the derby of Herault Department in Southern France. Since 2012, these two teams have met each other 24 times. Montpellier recorded 22 wins, while two matches ended in a draw. At the beginning of the game, it seemed that Montpellier would continue the tradition. The visitors led 2:0, 3:1 and 4:2 in the first half. Sete caught up with the rival in the 17th minute (4:4), and took a 5:4 lead shortly after. Before the final quarter, the hosts had an 8:7 advantage. Lopinot doubled Sete’s advantage (10:8) in the 31st minute. Goalkeeper Andric scored a consolation goal for Montpellier in the dying seconds.
Pays d’Aix kept up with Marseille until the end of the first quarter (2:2). But, Marseille dominated the second period (5:1). In the middle of the third period, Spaic made it 9:3, and the contest was over.
1. Marseille 6 – 18
2. Noisy-le-Sec 5 – 14
3. Tourcoing 5 – 9
4. Reims 5 – 7
5. Strasbourg 5 – 8
6. Sete 5 – 6
7. Pays d’Aix 5 – 4
8. Montpellier 5 – 3
9. Nice 5 – 0
