Novi Beograd remains the only unbeaten team in the Regional League after three tournaments (eight matchdays).
The tournaments of the third stage were played in Sabac and Sibenik.
Before the third stage, the best Serbian clubs – Novi Beograd and Radnicki – had perfect records (five wins each in the first two phases). They faced off in the derby of the group in Sabac. Novi Beograd recorded a convincing 13:6 victory. Now, the reigning champion is lonely atop the table with 24 points.
The Croatian derby was played in Sibenik. Jug defeated Jadran Split (14:11) and climbed to 2nd place.
Mladost Zagreb helped Jug to move to 2nd place. After a loss to Novi Beograd, Radnicki didn’t manage to beat Mladost in the last round in Sabac. The match surprisingly ended in a 13:13 draw. Therefore, Radnicki dropped to 3rd place. Jadran Split is still in 4th position.
These four clubs will likely qualify for the Final Four (March 25 and 26), just like the previous season. But, it’s still not sure if the title-holder Novi Beograd will remain atop and be the host of the F4.
The fourth stage will be played between February 23 and 25 in Dubrovnik and Split.
Jug will have a chance to jump to the top of the table. The Dubrovnik-based side will play against Novi Beograd in the group in Dubrovnik. The Croats will climb atop if they defeat Novi Beograd and don’t let surprises in other matches. But Novi Beograd will stay in 1st place if it remains unbeaten. A point against Jug and wins in the other two games will be enough for the Serbs.
The derby in the group in Split will be an encounter between Jadran Split and Radnicki, which might be decisive in a battle for 3rd place.
Standings (each team played eight games):1.Novi Beograd 24, 2. Jug 21, 3. Radnicki 19, 4. Jadran S 18, 5.Mladost 14, 6. Crvena Zvezda 13, 7. Jadran HN 8, 8.Sabac 7, 9. Mornar 6, 10. Partizan 5, 11. Solaris 4, 12. Primorac 0.
2022/23 Regional League, Tournaments 3
Group in Sabac
DAY 1
Novi Beograd – Partizan 14:8 (4:2, 3:2, 3:2, 4:2)
Novi Beograd: Granados 3, Pijetlovic 3, Skoumpakis 3, Mandic 1, Vucinic 1, Drasovic 1, Jaksic 1, V.Rasovic 1.
Partizan: Bozovic 3, Giga 2, Jaksic 1, Milos 1, Smiljevic 1.
Radnički – Sabac 9:6 (3:2, 4:1, 1:1, 1:2)
Radnicki: Lukic 3, Cuk 2, Ukropina 2, Brankovic 1, Radulovic 1.
Sabac: Shaikhutdinov 3, Sulc 2, Barac 1.
Crvena Zvezda – Mladost 10:10 (2:3, 2:0, 4:4, 2:3)
Crvena Zvezda: Vasic 2, Basara 2, Radovic 2, Markovic 1, Subotic 1, B. Banicevic 1, Seman 1.
Mladost: Jelaca 3, Rakovac 2, Herceg 2, Vrbnjak 2, Elez 1.
Novi Beograd and Radnicki had problems with injuries and illnesses before and during the tournament in Sabac. Novi Beograd arrived with only one goalkeeper. It was Joao Pedro. Radoslav Filipovic and Olympian Strahinja Rasovic were missing, while Nikola Jaksic got injured in the first match against Partizan.
Radnicki was without first goalkeeper Lazar Dobozanov and Gavrilovic.
Still, both teams recorded wins on Day 1 without difficulties. Novi Beograd dictated the pace throughout the match against Partizan. Radnicki beat host Sabac. The Kragujevac-based side led 7:2 at halftime. The hosts reduced the gap to two in the fourth quarter (6:8), but Radnicki’s ace Milos Cuk closed the match – 9:6.
Aleksa Ukropina in the game against Sabac Photo: KVK Radnicki
The most exciting match of the first round was an encounter between Crvena Zvezda and Mladost. It was an even contest, but Crvena Zvezda led by two goals (9:7) early in the fourth. Mladost leveled at 9:9. Two minutes and a half before the end, Dusan Vasic gave Zvezda a new lead (10:9). Still, the rivals shared the points. Branimir Herceg converted a man-up to the final score – 10:10 with 63 seconds left on the clock.
DAY 2
Novi Beograd – Radnicki 13:6 (4:1, 4:3, 3:0, 2:2)
Novi Beograd: Shushiashvili 3, Martinovic 2, Mandic 2, Skoumpakis 2, Vucinic 1, Drasovic 1, Vlachopoulos 1, V.Rasovic 1
Radnicki: Lukic 4, Cuk 1, Radulovic 1.
Partizan – Mladost 9:10 (2:3, 3:1, 2:3, 2:3)
Partizan: Trtovic 3, Smiljevic 3, Milos 1, Musikic 1 Gladovic 1.
Mladost: Jelaca 4, Gluhaic 2, Rakovac 2, Vrbnjak 1, Herceg 1.
Sabac – Crvena Zvezda 10:12 (2:4, 3:3, 2:2, 2:2)
Sabac: Barac 5, Krug 3, Markovic 1, Shaikhutdinov 1.
Crvena Zvezda: Radovic 5, Vasic 3, Tankosic 2, Basara 1, Seman 1.
The highlight of the tournament, the duel between Radnicki and Novi Beograd, was on the program of Day 2
Novi Beograd overcame the mentioned problems with injuries and absent players better than Radnicki. The reigning champion rushed to a 6:1 lead in the first ten minutes. Radnicki responded with three goals and reduced the gap to two (4:6). However, Nika Shushiashvili closed the first half with two power-play goals and Novi Beograd entered the second half with an 8:4 advantage. The reigning champion dominated in the third period and continued its series of goals. After 24 minutes, the score was 11:4 and everything was decided.
Viktor Rasovic (Novi Beograd) Photo: VK Novi Beograd
Crvena Zvezda beat Sabac. The Red Whites led throughout the match. Still, Sabac was coming back. In the middle of the third quarter, the hosts cut the deficit to one goal (7:8). At the finish of the quarter, Marko Radovic, the man of the match, doubled the Belgrade-based team’s advantage (9:7). He opened the fourth quarter with another goal. Crvena Zvezda went to 10:7 and controlled the game until the end (12:10).
Two seven-time European champions, Partizan and Mladost, faced off on Day 2. This game was very similar to the encounter between Crvena Zvezda and Mladost. Neither of the teams could build a significant advantage. The lead constantly changed sides. Still, Partizan was closer to a victory. A minute before the end, it led 9:8. But, Mladost’s captain, 40-year-old Marko Jelaca, found the net twice in the last minute. Just four seconds before the final buzzer, he scored an action goal for 10:9.
DAY 3
Crvena Zvezda – Novi Beograd 8:18 (1:6, 2:4, 2:5, 3:3)
Crvena Zvezda: Basara 3, Gajic 1, Vasic 1, Seman 1, Milojevic 1, Radovic 1.
Novi Beograd: Drasovic 3, Perkovic 3, V.rasovic 3, Mandic 2, Granados 1, Vucinic 1, Cetkovic 1.
Mladost – Radnicki 13:13 (3:5, 4:4, 3:1, 3:3)
Mladost: Glhaic 3, Vrbnjak 2, Adeishvili 2, Rakovac 2, Mijic 2, Jelaca 1, Herceg 1.
Radnicki: Ukropina 4, Pljevancic 3, Jankovic 2, Cuk 1, Lukic 1, Gavrilovic 1.
Partizan – Sabac 12:12 (4:3, 3:2, 4:4, 1:3)
Partizan: Smiljevic 5, Gladovic 3, Jaksic 1, Musikic 1, Trtovic 1, Dimitrijevic 1.
Sabac: Sulc 3, Tubic 2, Koptsev 2, Toholj 2, Maras 1, Markovic 1, Barac 1.
Novi Beograd cruised to a victory over Crvena Zvezda in its last game in Sabac.
Mladost caused the biggest surprise in the third stage by winning a point in the match against Radnicki. But, Radnicki was decimated, so the final score isn’t a huge upset if we consider all the facts. Apart from Dobozanov, who didn’t play in the first two games, goalkeeper Stefan Todorovski, Nemanja Vico and Marko Radulovic got ill and missed the match against Mladost. Gavrilovic, who was absent in the previous two games, returned to the team.
Radnicki had only 12 players on the roster. The only goalkeeper on the team was 17-year-old David Pantelic. Despite all the troubles, Radnicki was dominant in the opening minutes. In the middle of the second quarter, the Serbs led 8:3. Mladost leveled before the last break (10:10). Radnicki regained a slim lead in the fourth quarter (11:10 and 12:11). But, Mladost netted two consecutive goals (Rakovac from a penalty shot and Gluhaic with a man-up). The Zagreb-based side went ahead – 13:12 with 71 seconds to go. However, Nemanja Stanojevic saved a point for Radnicki by converting a man-up 22 seconds before the final buzzer.
The last game in Sabac ended in a draw, like the previous one. Partizan played well against Sabac, which was without Ognjen Stojanovic, and led by three goals on several occasions (3:0, 4:1, 10:7, 11:8). However, the finish belonged to the hosts. Centre-forward Toholj leveled at 11:11 in the 28th minute. Immediately after, Gladovic put Partizan in front. But Marko Tubic closed the game by scoring an equalizer in the 31st minute – 12:12.
Sibenik
DAY 1
Jug – Mornar 17:5 (4:0, 6:2, 4:0, 3:3)
Jug: Fatovic 3, Lazic 3, Kakaris 2, Zvono 1, Jokovic 1, Vukojevic 1, Biljaka 1, Krzic 1, Grgurevic 1.
Mornar: Buselic 2, Duhovic 1,Hrvatic 1, R.Akrap 1.
Jadran S – Jadran HN 15:11 (6:1, 1:4, 4:0, 4:6)
Jadran Split:Buric 3, Marinic Kragic 3, Dobud 2, Pejkovic 1, Bukic 1, Tomasovic 1, Delic 1, Setka 1, Duzevic 1.
Jadran Herceg Novi: Da.radovic 5, Muscat 2, Vukicevic 2, Vujovic 1, Stevovic 1.
Solaris – Primorac 13:9 (4:3, 3:2, 3:1, 3:3)
Solaris: Penava 6, Radan 2, Butic 1, Krekovic 1, Sirovec 1, Burburan 1, T.Sparada 1.
Primorac: Draskovic 2, F.Gardasevic 2, Kralj 1, Macic 1, Paunovoic 1, Stanojevic 1, Vuckovic 1.
As expected, the most interesting duel of day 1 was an encounter between the namesakes – Jadran Split and Jadran Herceg Novi. Both teams had ups and downs, but the Split-based side emerged as a winner. The Croats started excellently and took a 6:1 lead. The Montenegrin champion came back, scoring four straight goals for 5:6. But Jadran Split produced a 6:0 run between the 16th and the 25th minute. It jumped to 12:5 and secured the points.
Jerko Marinic Kragic (Jadran S) Phoro by VK Novi Beograd
Jug easily beat Mornar (17:5).
Solaris was better than Primorac in the match between the teams that had no points before the third tournament. Primorac led 2:0 and 5:4 in the first half. Still, the hosts, led by Jerko Penava (6 goals), recorded a comfortable 13:9 victory.
DAY 2
Jug – Jadran S 14:11 (3:2, 3:2, 5:5, 3:2)
Jug AO: Fatovic 6, Jokovic 4, Kakaris 2, Lazic 1, Zuvela 1.
Jadran S: Zovic 4, Pejkovic 2, Duzevic 2, Buric 1, Marinic-Kragic 1, Dobud 1.
Jadran HN – Solars 8:8 (0:1, 2:1, 4:4, 2:2)
Jadran HN: V.Radovic 4, Caraj 2, Da.Radovic 1, Sladovic 1.
Solaris: Erak 2, Sirovec 2, Jakovcevic 1, Rak 1, Penava 1, Burburan 1
Mornar – Primorac 14:10 (4:2, 3:3, 2:3, 5:2)
Mornar: Buzdovancic 3, Buselic 3, D.Akrap 3, Hrvatic 2, R.Akrap 2, Cumbelic 1.
Primorac: Mrsic 4, Draskovic 2, Gopcevic 2, Macic 1, Perov 1.
Just like in the group in Sabac, the most important and most anticipated encounter in Sibenik was played on Day 2. It was a big Croatian derby, Jug – Jadran S.
This game offered more excitement than the clash between Radnicki and Novi Beograd, although Jug was almost always in front. Jadran leveled the score just once (2:2). Jug, with an outstanding Loren Fatovic (6 goals) and Maro Jokovic (4), dictated the pace. Deep into the second period, Jug built a 6:3 lead. But Jadran came very close (5:6) at the beginning of the third quarter. Still, the Split-based side couldn’t equalize. Before the final quarter, Jug had a 2-goal advantage (11:9). Midway through the fourth quarter, Loren Fatovic made it 12:9. Maro Jokovic found the net for 13:9 in the 30th minute, and Jug sealed the victory.
Loren Fatovic (Jug) Photo: VK Jug
The game Jadran Herceg Novi – Solaris was a real thriller. Jadran had a 2-goal lead in the third period (5:3, 6:4). Still, Solaris netted three straight goals in less than three minutes (23rd – 25th minute) and went ahead. Jadran regained the advantage a minute and 19 seconds before the final buzzer after Danilo Radovic scored from the penalty line for 8:7. But, Solaris earned a penalty shot just three seconds before the end. Penava found the net for the final score – 8:8.
Mornar beat Primorac, thanks to a very good finish. Mornar led by goal (11:10) with five minutes left on the clock. The Split-based side scored three unanswered goals in the remaining time for a 14:10 victory.
DAY 3
Jug – Solaris 14:9 (3:3, 5:1, 4:2, 2:3)
Jug Adriatic osiguranje: Vukojevic 4, Biljaka , Lazic 2, Zuvela 2, Zvono 1, Pavlic 1, Kakaris 1,
Solaris: Burburan 3, Condic Kadmenovic 3, Erak 1, Krekovic 1, Penava 1.
Jadran S – Primorac 16:12 (4:2, 3:3, 5:5, 4:2)
Jadran Split: Marinic-Kragic 6, Zovic 3, Butic 2, Tomasovic 2, Buric 1, Cagalj 1, Duzevic 1.
Primorac: F.gardasevic 5, Draskovic 2, Mrsic 2, Gopcevic 1, Vukasinovic 1,Janovic 1.
Jadran HN – Mornar 16:8 (5:2, 4:4, 3:1, 4:1)
Jadran Herceg Novi:Vucurovic 4, V.Radovic 3, Vujovic 3, Vukicevic 1, Da.Radovic 1, Stevovic 1, Muscat 1, Caraj 1, Gojkovic 1.
Mornar BS: D.Akrap 4, R.Akrap 2, Buzdovancic 1, Uvodic 1.
Jug closed the tournament in Sibenik with a victory over Solaris. The Dubrovnik-based side played with a rejuvenated team. Loren fatovic and Maro Jokovic got a rest. After a balanced first period, Jug dominated in the middle two quarters.
Jadran Split didn’t have an easy task against Primorac. The Kotor-based side kept up with Jadran until the middle of the final quarter. In the 28th minute, the score was 12:12. But, Jadran, led by Jerko Marinic Kragic, netted the last four goals and avoided a thrilling finish – 16:12.
Jadran Herceg Novi defeated Mornar in the third match of the third day. The Montenegrins earned a 4-goal lead early in the second period (6:2). Mornar couldn’t come back, while Jadran doubled its advantage by the end.
1.Novi Beograd 8 – 24
2. Jug AO 8 – 21
3. Radnicki 8 – 19
4. Jadran S 8 – 18
5. Mladost 8 – 14
6. Crvena Zvezda 8 – 13
7. Jadran HN 8 – 8
8. Sabac 8 – 7
9. Mornar 8 – 6
10. Partizan 8 – 5
11. Solaris 8 – 4
12. Primorac 8 – 0
The fourth stage (February 23 – 25)
Dubrovnik: Jug, Jadran HN, Primorac, Novi Beograd, Sabac, Mladost.
Split: Jadran S, Mornar, Solaris, Radnicki, Crvena Zvezda, Partizan.
