The four biggest favourites for the title – Jug, Mladost, Jadran Herceg Novi and Jadran Split-recorded wins on Day 2 of the 2019/20 Regional League. Mladost and Jug took points with big winning margins, while the namesakes from Herceg Novi and Split didn’t have easy tasks.
Regional League 2019/20, Day 2
A1 League
Budva – Mladost 8:16 (2:2, 1:5, 2:3, 3:6)
Budva BR: S. Cetkovic 2, P. Cetkovic 2, Klikovac 2, Vukmirovic 1, Milradovic 1.
HAVK Mladost: Bowen 3, Radu 3, Cuk 3, Vrlic 3, Milos 2, Bajic 1, Lazic 1.
Jadran HN – Partizan 10:8 (1:2, 2:0, 2:2, 5:4)
Jadran Herceg Novi: Averka 2, Dj. Radovic 2, Spajic 2, Cagalj 1, Mijuskovic 1, Petkovic 1.
Partizan: Gbadamassi 2, Radonjic 1, Radulovic 1, Barac 1, Andrin 1, Radanovic 1, Vuckovic 1.
Crvena Zvezda – Jug 6:12 (1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 3:3)
Crvena Zvezda: M. Jankovic 3, Tankosic 1, Kasum 1, Martinovic 1.
Jug: Merkulov 2, Papanastasiou 2, Loncar 2, Lozina 2, Fatovic 1, Zuvela 1, Obradovic 1, Krzic 1.
Sabac – Jadran S 10:12 (3:2, 0:4, 2:4, 5:2)
Sabac: Rogac 2, Vucinic 2, Velkic 2, Markovic 1, Ramirez 1, Vasic 1, Radulovic 1.
Jadran Split: Power 2, Viskovic 2, Delic 2, Setka 2, Zovic 1, Krapic 1, Butic 1,Kurir 1.
Primorac – Mornar 9:7 (1:1, 4:1, 2:3, 2:2)
Primorac: Perkovic 3, Matkovic 2, Draskovic 2, Macic 1, Milic 1.
Mornar: Jerkovic 2, Ban 2, Krekovic 1, Solje 1, Pavlovic 1.
Jadran Herceg Novi overcame big troubles in a clash with Partizan. The young team from Belgrade had an opening 2:1 lead and it kept up with the Montenegrins until the middle of the third period. It stood 4:4 in the 20th minute. Then Jadran netted four goals in a row and earned a solid 8:4 advantage early in the fourth period. But, Partizan refused to lie down and die and reduced the gap to one on two occasions (7:8 and 8:9). Still, Jadran kept all three points. A minute and 11 seconds before the end, Marino Cagalj found the net for the final score 10:8
Titleholder Mladost dominated the match against Budva in Montenegro. The first quarter was balanced (2:2). After the first break, Mladost took control. The visitors opened the third quarter with a goal for their first 5-goal lead (8:3) and never looked back.
Last season, Crvena Zvezda upset Jug in the Regional League match played in Belgrade (11:10). This time, the Dubrovnik-based side didn’t make a mistake. Jug broke the hosts in the middle of the game. A minute before the end of the 2nd period, Jug had a slim 3:2 advantage. Papanastasiou scored from an extra for 4:2 and opened the visitors’ 6:0 series. Deep into the third period, Jug jumped to a 9:2 lead and there was no way back for the home team.
Jadran Split collected the first three points this season It achieved an important away win in Sabac. The first quarter belonged to the home team (3:2). But, after that, Sabac couldn’t score for more than 12 minutes, while Jadran netted five goals to built a crucial 7:3 advantage. Six minutes before the end, Jadran was 12:6 up. Sabac scored last 4 goals in the match, but it was too late. The Croats celebrated a 12:10 victory.
Primorac defeated Mornar 9:7 in the last match of the day.
1 Jug (CRO) 2 – 6
2 Mladost (CRO) 2 – 6
3 Jadran HN (MNE) 2 – 6
4 Sabac (SRB) 2 – 3
5 Jadran S (CRO) 2 – 3
6 Primorac (MNE) 2 – 3
7 Partizan (SRB) 2 – 1
8 Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 2 – 1
9 Mornar (CRO) 2 – 0
10 Budva (MNE) 2 – 0
A2 League
Visitors were very successful in the A2 League. Radnicki Kragujevac was the only home team which managed to beat its opponent. A debutant in the Regional League Zemun collected first points, by defeating Medvescak in Zagreb.
Primorje – Solaris 10:14
Cattaro – POSK 8:16
Medvescak – Zemun 8:9
Zadar – Nais 13:17
Triglav – Galeb 8:12
Radnicki – Vojvodina 12:9
1 POSK (CRO) 2 – 6
2 Solaris (CRO) 2 – 6
3 Radnicki (SRB) 2 – 6
4 Nais (SRB) 2 – 3
5 Zemun (SRB) 2 – 3
6 Primorje (CRO) 2 -3
7 Vojvodina (SRB) 2 – 3
8 Galeb MR (CRO) 2 – 3
9 Zadar 1952 (CRO) 2 – 3
10 Medvescak (CRO) 2 – 0
11 Triglav (SVN) 2 – 0
12 Cattaro (MNE) 2 – 0
