Pro Recco’s golden era is over.
For the first time after 2006, Pro Recco didn’t lift the winning trophy of the Italian League. Brescia defeated Recco in the fourth game of the playoffs final (11:10) and clinched its second title of the Italian champion.
Brescia won its first Italian League in 2003. Posillipo clinched the trophy in 2004, Savona was the champion in 2005. Recco’s winning streak lasted for 14 years (2006 – 2019). The season 2019/20 was canceled, and Brescia dethroned Recco today.
It turned out that the first match of the series was crucial. Brescia opened the final with an away victory in Recco (9:8). Pro Recco won the second game (8:4). The third and the fourth matches were played in Brescia. The hosts recorded wins after two thrilling battles (15:13 after a penalty shootout yesterday and 11:10 today).
The playoffs for third place have been finished today, too. Savona was better than Telimar.
2020/21 Italian Championship, playoffs
Final (best-of-five), 4th game
Brescia – Pro Recco 11:10 (4:2, 3:4, 4:2, 0:2) – score in the series 3:1
Brescia: Dolce 4, Jokovic 2, Cannella 2, C.Presciutti 1, Nikolaidis 1, Renzuto Iodice 1.
Pro Recco: Mandic 2, Figlioli 2, Aicardi 1, Luongo 1, N.Presciutti 1, Echenique 1, Younger 1, Di Fulvio 1
Pro Recco earned an opening 1:0 lead (Luongo 3rd minute), but Brescia responded with two goals and went in front (2:1). The visitors equalized (2:2), but Vincenzo Dolce scored two goals with an extra man advantage and gave Brescia a 4:2 lead before the second quarter.
The second period didn’t start well for Pro Recco. Brescia forced a penalty shot after just 24 seconds of play in this quarter. Giacomo Cannella made no mistake from the 5m line and streched the margin to three (5:2). Recco replied with two quick goals and reduced the gap to one (4:5). Jokovic scored two back-to-back goals (both with an extra player), and the hosts regained a 3-goal advantage (7:5). Still, Recco cut the deficit before the middle break (6:7).
Midway through the third period, Dusan Mandic leveled at 7:7. But, shortly after, Brescia built a new 2-goal advantage (9:7). Mandic added one more goal for 8:9, but the hosts netted two in the last 69 seconds of this quarter (Dolce and Presciutti) and entered the final quarter leading 11:8.
After the last break, Recco didn’t need a lot of time to come close. The hosts trailed by a goal (10:11) in the 28th minute. In the remaining four minutes, Recco did everything to equalize, but Brescia saved a slim advantage. In the last seconds, Recco’s goalie Marko Bijac joined his teammates in the attack. Recco had 7 on 6 but didn’t score, and Brescia started to celebrate the title.
All champions (1912 – 2021): Pro Recco 33, Posillipo 11, Florentia 9, Andrea Doria 8, Canottieri Napoli 8, Camogli 6, Napoli 6, Genoa 4, Pescara 3, Savona 3, Milano 2, Roma 2, Brescia 2, Sturia 1, Triestina 1, Canottieri Ortigia 1,Lazio 1, Bogliasco 1.
For 3rd place (best-of-three), 3rd game
Telimar-Savona 13:18 (4:4, 5:4, 0:5, 4:5) – score in the series 0:2
Telimar: Vlahovic 6, Del Basso 3, Damonte 2, Galioto 1, Giliberti 1
Savona:Iocchi Gratta 4, Molina 4, Rizzo 4, Campopiano 2, Fondelli 2, Vuskovic 1, Patchaliev 1.
Savona beat Telimar convincingly in the second match of the third place, and secured a spot in the Champions League qualifications.
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