Radnički wins Serbian derby in Split; “Abnormal conditions for sport”

November 27, 2021

Miloš Ćuk PhotoČ KVK Radnički

The postponed Serbian derby, originally scheduled for Friday (13:40), Radnički – Crvena Zvezda was the only game of the morning session in Group B in Split today. The match started at 10:00 AM.

Radnički, the Serbian and the Regional League champion, defeated Crvena Zvezda, the winner of the Serbian Cup 13: 8. The reigning champion thus recorded its first victory, after draws with Primorac and Jadran.

2021/22 Premier Regional League, First Stage

Group A (Split), Round 2

Radnicki – Crvena zvezda 13: 8 (5: 1, 1: 2, 2: 2, 5: 3)

Radnicki: Krug 4, Radulović 3, Stanojević 2, Ukropuna 2, Ćuk 1, Vrlić 1.
Crvena Zvezda: Tankosić 3, Gardašević 2, Pješivac 1, Basara 1, Radovic 1.

Full statistics and play-by-play action on Total Waterpolo Arena

Shortly after the first whistle, the Kragujevac-based side left without Nikola Lukić, the best scorer in the previous two matches., He was excluded in the second minute (exclusion with substitution). However, Radnicki controlled the first quarter and earned a four-goal advantage (5: 1). The “red-whites” halved the difference (3: 5). Russian Nikita Krug converted a man-up to give Radnički a 6:3 lead a minute and a half before halftime. Crvena Zvezda came very close midway through the third quarter (5:6). But, Radnički responded with four goals to build a 10:5 lead with six minutes left on the clock. Crvena Zvezda tried, but it couldn’t come back.

“On Friday, we finished the game with Jadran at 10:00 PM. On Saturday, we played against Crvena Zvezda at 10:00 AM. I don’t have much to say except that this is not normal. It was difficult not only to play the game but to warm up before the start. We are extremely physically exhausted. We can be satisfied with our game, the defense worked better than in the first two matches, but it isn’t important. Today, the team that handled better in these abnormal conditions won”, Miloš Ćuk, one of the most experienced players of Radnički, said.