The first stage of the 2021/22 Premier Regional League is coming to an end. This evening, the sixth round was played in the group in Belgrade, while the clubs in Group B in Split faced off in the matches of the 4th round.
The spectators in Belgrade and Split enjoyed encounters between the Champions League clubs at the same time.
Today’s program in Group A was closed by an encounter between Novi Beograd and Jug Dubrovnik. The first three quarters saw a balanced battle. But, Novi Beograd produced a 5:0 series between 26th and 30th minute, and that was crucial for the hosts’ 14:10 victory in a great game.
Jadran Split faced Crvena Zvezda in the last match of Round 4 in Split, and recorded a 12:9 win.
In the earlier matches in Belgrade, Partizan trashed Budva (17:4), while Jadran narrowly beat Ε abac (9:8). As for the fourth round in Group B, Primorac edged out Solaris (12:11). RadniΔki beat Mornar with ease (15:5).
2021/22 Premier Regional League, First Stage
Group A (Belgrade), Round 6
Novi Beograd – Jug 14:10 (3:3, 3:3, 2:3, 6:1)
Novi Beograd: MandiΔ 5, S.RaΕ‘oviΔ 3, JakΕ‘iΔ 2, DraΕ‘oviΔ 2, PijetloviΔ 1,Vlachopoulos 1.
Jug: Papanastasiou 3, Kakaris 2,JokoviΔ 2 VUkojeviΔ 1, BurΔelez 1, KrΕΎiΔ 1.
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Maro JokoviΔ
Novi Beograd was more aggressive in the first half of the Belgrade derby, and made more opportunities to score than Jug. But the hostsβ percentage of shots was lower than usual. Many of the shots went wide, the home side wasted several man-ups, and Jugβs goalie Toni PopadiΔ posted some nice saves. Jug scored an opening goal, but Novi Beograd responded with two and led 2:1, 3:2. Still, Jug equalized on both occasions. Jugβs Papanastasiou gave Jug a 4:3 advantage in the 10th minute. Novi Beograd was the team that chased the rival throughout the second quarter. But, everything was the same as in the first period. Jug didnβt manage to build a 2-goal lead, Novi Beograd leveled at 4:4, 5:5, and 6:6.
Jug got off to a good start to the second half. Kakaris and KrΕΎiΔ scored in the first two minutes of the third quarter, and two goals separated the sides for the first time (8:6). Jugβs defense continued to work well, but DuΕ‘ko PijetloviΔβs shot, after Strahinja RaΕ‘oviΔβ excellent assistance was unstoppable (7:8). AT the finish of the quarter, Greek Alex Papanastasiou, who has played excellently in Belgrade netted for 9:7, but Strahinja RaΕ‘oviΔ halved the difference immediately after.
DuΕ‘ko , Gojko PijetloviΔ and Viktor RaΕ‘oviΔ
In the 2nd minute of the 4th period, DuΕ‘an MandiΔ found the net from a distance to level at 9:9. Jug lost the ball in the next possession, Novi Beograd started a counter-attack which was finished by MandiΔβs new goal, for Novi Beogradβs advantage (10:9). Then, Jug earned an extra player, but Gojko PijetloviΔ saved a shot from KrΕΎiΔ, and Novi Beograd had another chance from a counter-attack. The hosts made no mistake, Strahinja RaΕ‘oviΔ sent the ball into the net for 11:9. Novi Beograd gained momentum, The home side scored in the fourth consecutive attack. Nikola JakΕ‘iΔ made it 12:9. After that, Jugβs coach Vjekoslav KobeΕ‘Δak called a time-out. His team forced a man-up in that action but failed to score. At the other end of the pool, Nikola JakΕ‘iΔ added another goal with a power-play advantage to increase the margin to four two minutes and 40 seconds from the end, and it was clear that Jug couldnβt come back.
After five straight goals by the hosts within four and a half minutes, Papanastasiou broke Jugβs silence for 10:13, but it was too late.
Both coaches agreed that the spectators in the packed stands enjoyed the quality and interesting game.
βI think that the water polo lovers had an opportunity to watch an excellent game, between two very quality teams. Our quality decided the outcome. We βadded speedβ in the fourth quarter, and secured the win with a few goals from counterattacks. We need games like this was because we proved that we were able to come back and to beat an excellent rival although we were two goals down in the third quarterβ, Vladimir VujasinoviΔ, Novi Beogradβs coach commented.
Vjekoslav KobeΕ‘Δak , Jugβs coach:
βThe game was a real derby, as many expected. Considering the fact that we were incomplete, we have three debutants on the roster I didnβt expect we will offer so strong resistance. We were very good in the first three quarters, our goalkeeper Toni PopadiΔ was excellent. Novi Beogradβs quality decided the match, and I congratulate them. But the play we showed proved that we are on the right trackβ
Budva – Partizan 4:17 (1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:5)
Budva: ΔetkoviΔ 1, KovaΔeviΔ 1, DragoviΔ 1, KoraΔ 1.
Partizan: ViΔkoviΔ 3, VelkiΔ 2, JakΕ‘iΔ 2, BaraΔ 2, Vico 2, RadojeviΔ 2, KojiΔ 2, Bowen 1, VukoviΔ 1
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Alex Bowen (Partizan) and Danilo RadoniΔ (Budva) All photos from Group A by Djordje KostiΔ/VK Novi Beograd
A few hours after a pretty unexpected loss to the best Montenegrin side Jadran Herceg Novi, Partizan trashed Jadranβs neighbors Budva. The βblack-whitesβ played without Milan AleksiΔ, while first-pick goalie Dimitrije RistiΔeviΔ was on the bench during the entire match. The youngsters gave the biggest contribution to the win. Budva equalized just once β 1:1 in the fourth minute. After that, Partizan, supported by a large group of fans in the stands, jumped to a 6:1 lead and proved they were much better than Budva, which will seek its first points tomorrow, against Ε abac.
Jadran HN β Ε abac 9:8 (1:2, 3:3, 3:1, 2:2)
Jadran HN: Δeraj 4, ObradoviΔ 2, Da.RadoviΔ 1, PetkoviΔ 2.
Ε abac: Ε ulc 3, MarkoviΔ 1, RepanoviΔ 1, Koptsev 1, TubiΔ 1, ΔetkoviΔ 1.
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Kristijan Ε ulc (Ε abac) and Dimitrije ObradoviΔ (Jadran)
Jadran and Ε abac entered the game encouraged by wins in the morning session. Jadran upset Partizan (7:6), while Ε abac beat Mladost (14:8). Both teams were tired, but eager for new challenges and wins. They had a combative spirit, so the game was open until the very end.
Ε abac opened the game better. The Serbs had a 4:2 advantage two and a half minutes before the middle break. But, Jadran scored two goals within 63 seconds to equalize (4:4). Still, Ε abac had a minimal advantage at halftime, because ΔetkoviΔ scored from 6 on 5 just four seconds before the middle break (5:4)
However, Jadran was a better rival in the third quarter. By the middle of this period, the Montenegrins built a 7:5 lead with three straight goals. Early in the fourth quarter, the Herceg Novi-based side rebuilt a 2-goal advantage (8:6), but Ε abac started coming back and came very close to its rival twice (7:8 and 8:9). Jadran lost the ball with 27 seconds to go and Ε abac had the last possession and the opportunity to equalize. Still, Jadran saved the three points since Ε ulc hit the post, and Vogelβs shot went wide in the dying seconds.
βWe are really tired. It was very hard to play this game, this was our fifth match in three days. This competition format is a βhellβ. The quality of water polo declines when we play so many games within a few days. I hope that the people who make the schedule will change something for the following tournaments. As for the game against Ε abac, the quality wasnβt at the level as it should be, because of the reasons I mentioned, but I believe that spectators enjoyed an interesting game. We managed to βupgradeβ this morningβs win over Partizan. If we defeat Mladost tomorrow, we will achieve our goals hereβ, Marko PetkoviΔ, Jadranβs captain underlined.
Anto VasoviΔ, Ε abac head coach, said:
βA coach canβt be satisfied when his team loses. But, Ε abac has played well at the tournament in Belgrade, with exception of the game against Partizan. We were equal opponents to quality teams. Today, tiny details decided. We had the last attack to secure a point, we failed, but itβs a sport. I hope that my team will do its best tomorrow and that we will record a win over Budvaβ.
Group B (Split), Round 4
Crvena Zvezda – Jadran S 9:12 (2:4, 3:2, 1:4, 3:2)
Crvena Zvezda: Basara 2, VukiΔeviΔ 2, GardaΕ‘eviΔ 1, SMiljeviΔ 1, TankosiΔ 1, DjurdjiΔ 1, TrtoviΔ 1.
Jadran Split: BukiΔ 5, DuΕΎeviΔ 2, BuriΔ 1, ButiΔ 1, Kharkov 1, DeliΔ 1.
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Jadran opened the match well. However, Crvena Zvezda came back, and leveled at 5:5Β deep into the second period. Then came a new turn. Jadran dominated the third period, which was crucial for the outcome. Midway through the third quarter, Konstantin Kharkov found the net for 9:5. Basara stopped Jadran’s 4:0 series (6:9), but BukiΔ gave Jadran a 10:6 advantage from a penalty shortly before the last break. In the fourth period, Crvena Zvezda managed to cut the deficit to two goals (8:10 and 9:11). Still, everything was decided in the 30th minute after BukiΔ converted another penalty for the final score.
Primorac β Solaris 12:11 (3:3, 3:2, 2:2, 4:4)
Primorac: MatkoviΔ 4, MaΔiΔ 3, DraΕ‘koviΔ 2, PaunoviΔ 1,GopΔeviΔ 1, BaΕ‘trica 1.
Solaris: Goreta 4, PelicariΔ 3, Penava 2, Malenica 1, KrekoviΔ 1.
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After two draws and a loss to Crvena Zvezda, Primorac finally recorded the first win in the 2021/22 Regional League, after a hard battle with Solaris. The Kotor-based side led throughout the game, but Solaris didnβt let them make a big difference during the first three quarters. Before the final period, it stood 8:7. Primorac scored two back-to-back goals in the early stage of the final quarter and built a 3-goal lead (10:7). However, Solaris struck back and narrowed the gap (10:11) with 02:34 minutes to go. Immediately after, Primoracβs MaΔiΔ scored with a power-play for 12:10. Solaris’ 11th goal came too late, just 29 seconds from the end.
RadniΔki β Mornar 15:5 (2:1, 6:1, 1:0, 5:3)
RadniΔki: StanojeviΔ 3, LukiΔ 3, RaduloviΔ 2, PaniΔ 2, Toholj 2, MiliΔiΔ 2 JankoviΔ 1.
Mornar: Vrdoljak 3, BuΕ‘eliΔ 1, UvodiΔ 1.
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Nikola LukiΔ (RadniΔki) Photo by Igor LazareviΔ/KVK RadniΔki
RadniΔki played without a few most experienced players against Mornar. Δuk andVrliΔ missed the match. Still, the reigning champions didn’t have problems recording the win, the second within ten hours (this morning, they beat Crvena Zvezda). After a slow start, RadniΔki found its rhythm in the second quarter and went to 8:2 before the end of the second quarter. Nikola LukiΔ scored the only goal in the third period, only five seconds before the last break. In the final eight minutes, RadniΔki reached the double-digit margin.
Sunday, last day
Belgrade (Round 7)
Ε abac – Budva (10:00)
Mladost – Jadran HN (11:50)
Partizan – Novi Beograd (13:40)
Split (Round 5)
Mornar BS – Crvena zvezda (10:00)
Jadran S – Primorac (11:50)
Solaris – RadniΔki (13:40)
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