The Italian League continued with the midweek 17th round, featuring a key match between Roma Vis Nova and Trieste. Both teams are competing for 4th place and to qualify for the semifinals of the playoffs.
Roma Vis Nova beat Trieste by seven goals – 13:6. The two teams are currently tied on points, with each club earning 31 points. However, Roma is in 4th place because it won both matches against Trieste this season. But, they are not the only contenders for 4th position, as Posillipo and De Akker are in 6th and 7th place, respectively, with 28 points each.
The first half of the derby Roma–Trieste determined the rest of the match. Roma had a 3-goal lead in the middle of the second period (5:2). In the 13th minute, Trieste’s Mladossich was red-carded because of a violent foul. This gave Roma a man-up advantage for the next four minutes. The hosts made the most of the opportunity. The team from the Italian capital, coached by legendary center-forward Alessandro Calcaterra, scored four unanswered goals by the end of the first half, building a big 9:2 advantage. At the beginning of the third quarter, just before the end of a 4-minute suspension, Petar Smiljevic added one goal to make it 10:2, and the contest was over. Smiljevic was Roma’s best scorer, with three goals. Viskovic and Spione added two each.
Savona beat Telimar in Palermo 17:11. A 40-year-old Pietro Figloli was outstanding; he scored eight goals for the winning team. The visitors made a crucial advantage in a 7:2 first half. At the beginning of the third period, veteran Pietro Figlioli scored once again, extending the lead to 8:2. Although Savona’s defense weakened in the second half, the Champions League club managed to maintain a 6-goal difference.
Ortigia and De Akker shared the points in Syracuse. De Akker had a 2:0 and 3:1 advantage in the first half and had a slim 6:5 lead before the final eight minutes. Ortigia caught up with the visitors at the finish, and the match ended in a 7:7 draw.
Posillipo earned an 11:7 away victory over Olympic Roma. The visitors’ 6:0 run between the 7th and 19th minutes was crucial, as they turned a 1:2 deficit into a 7:2 lead and never looked back.
The top two teams made no mistake.
Pro Recco beat Iren Genova Quinto 14:10. The hosts fought hard, but they couldn’t surprise the champion. Three and a half minutes before the end, only two goals separated the rivals (10:12). Recco, led by captain Francesco Di Fulvio (who scored five goals this evening) doubled distance in the rest of the game.
Brescia demolished Florentia (18:8). Irving, Alesiani, Ferrero and Irving combined 66% of Brescia’s goals in this match. Each found the net three times.
Onda Forte recorded its first win in the season, beating Catania 13:11. Late into the third quarter, Catania had a 10:8 lead. In the remaining time, the Rome-based team scored five goals, conceding only one. Montenegrin Nikola Moskov had an impressive performance, scoring seven goals for Onda Forte, including all three in a decisive 3:1 fourth quarter. Onda Forte climbed to 13th place, and Catania dropped to the bottom of the standings.
2024/25 Italian League, Round 17
Roma – Trieste 13:6 (3:1, 6:1, 1:1, 3:3)
Telimar – Savona 11:17 (1:4, 1:3, 5:5, 4:5)
Ortigia – De Akker 7:7 (0:2, 3:4, 2:0, 2:1)
Olympic Roma – Posillipo 7:11 (2:2, 0:3, 3:4, 2:2)
Brescia – Florentia 18:8 (4:2, 5:3, 6:3, 3:0)
Iren Genova Quinto – Pro Recco 10:14 (2:3, 2:4, 3:4, 3:3)
Onda Forte – Catania 13:11 (2:2, 4:5, 4:3, 4:1)
1.Pro Recco 17 – 49
2. Brescia 17 – 49
3. Savona 17 – 42
4. Roma Vis Nova 17 – 31
5. Trieste 17 – 31
6. Posillipo 17 – 28
7. De Akker 17 – 28
8. Ortigia 17 – 23
9. Telimar 17 – 17
10. Florentia 17 – 15
11. Quinto 17 – 13
12. Olympic Roma 17 – 11
13. Onda Forte 17 – 5
14. Catania 17 – 4
