Six teams secure tickets for next round of Euro League

February 6, 2021

Maica Garcia Godoy (Sabadell) Photo by Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

A day before the end of the LEN Euro League qualifications, the list of the clubs that will play in the quarterfinals is almost complete.

Dynamo Uralochka, Kinef Kirishi (both Russia), Sabadell, Mataro (both Spain), Olympiacos (Greece), and UVSE (Hungary) have qualified for the next round. The last two tickets are available in groups C and D.

There were a lot of thrilling games today. Two matches ended with no winner, there were three narrow wins…

Day 3, results – Group A: Dynamo – Orizzonte 13:10, Lille – Dynamo 4:17, UVSE – Orizzonte 8:8; Group B: Mataro – Mediterrani 6:5, Ferencvaros – CSS Verona 12:11; Group C: SIS Roma – BVSC 10:9, Olympiacos – Olympic 10:0; Group D:Vouliagmeni – Sabadell 7:7.

2020/21 LEN Euro League Qualifications, Day 3

Group A (Budapest)

Dynamo – Orizzonte 13:10 (4:1, 3:1, 2:5, 4:3)

Dynamo Uralochka:Bersneva 5, Karimova 4, Zelentsova 2, Sharafutdinova 1, Popova 1.
Ekipe Orizzonte Catania: Palmieri 4, Marletta 3, Garibotti 2, Vukovic 1.

Lille – Dynamo 4:17 (2:4, 2:6, 0:2, 0:5)

Lille UC: Dhalluin 2, Hardy 1, Katsimpri 1.
Dynamo Uralochka: Lapteva 4, Zaplatina 3, Panfilova 2, Karimova 2, Bersneva 2,Popova 1, Zelentsova 1, Galimzianova 1, Vorontsova 1.

UVSE – Orizzonte 8:8 (1:1, 2:1, 3:3, 2:3)

UVSE Hunguest Hotel: Abel-Antal 2, Baksa 2, Szegedi 2, Peresztegi-Nagy 1, Keszthelyi-Nagy 1.
Ekipe Orizzonte Catania: Ioannou 3, Garibotti 1, Viacava 1, Aiello 1, Barzon 1, Marletta 1.

After yesterday’s loss to UVSE, Dynamo Uralochka recorded two wins today and qualified for the quarterfinals.

In the morning session, Dynamo and Orizzonte faced off in the big derby. The Russians dominated during the first half and rushed to a 7:2 lead. But, the Italians regrouped themselves during the middle break and started coming back. Twenty seconds before the last break, Orizzonte cut the deficit to one (7:8), but Elvina Karimova converted a man-up in the last second of the 3rd period and Dynamo had a 9:7 advantage before the final period. Midway through the fourth quarter, Orizzonte caught up with Dynamo – 9:9. But, shortly after, Dynamo went up 11:9 and didn’t let the Italians come back once more.

The Russians had no problems defeating Lille and with these three points mathematically secured at least 2nd place in the group.

The third day in Budapest was closed by another derby, between UVSE and Orizzonte Catania. The match ended in an 8:8 draw. That means that Dynamo and UVSE will play in the quarterfinals, while Orizzonte, the eight-time European champion and the 2019 LEN Super Cup winner, finished its European season.

An encounter between UVSE and Orizzonte offered a lot of thrills. After a balanced first quarter (1:1), UVSE built a slim lead by halftime (3:2). The Italians equalized with an extra player – 3:3. UVSE gained a 5:3 lead in the fifth minute of the third period, but the Italians equalized again (5:5). Just seven seconds before the last break, Szegedi hit the back of the net for UVSE’s new lead (6:5). UVSE stretched the margin to two during the fourth quarter (7:5, 8:6). A minute and five seconds from the end, Orizzonte’s Ioannou leveled the score (8:8), and the tense battle reached the climax. Rybanska (UVSE) and Vukovic (Orizzonte) got into the conflict in front of the Italians’ goal 38 seconds before the final buzzer. A crowd in the pool was made, several players jumped into the water from the benches. But, everybody calmed down quickly. Mass punching and an incident were avoided. Everything was finished with red cards shown to Rybanska and Vukovic. After that, Orizzonte had a power-play advantage (6 on 5, with a goalkeeper in offense), but the Italians didn’t score, and UVSE earned a significant point.

If the Hungarians defeat Lille tomorrow, they will finish 1st in the group.

1 Dynamo (RUS) 4 – 9
2 UVSE (HUN) 3 – 7
3 Ekipe Orizzonte (ITA) 3 – 4
4 Lille (FRA) 3 – 3
5 Sant Andreu (ESP) 3 – 0

Group B (Verona)

Mataro – Mediterrani 6:5 (0:1, 3:1, 2:0, 1:3)

CN Mataro:Sevenich 2, Cambray 2, Gual 1, Aznar 1.
CE Mediterrani: Lizotte 2, Toha 1, C. Espar 1, Seto 1.

Ferencvaros – CSS Verona 12:11 (1:3, 3:1, 3:4, 5:3)

Ferencvaros: Muzsnay 3, Valyi 3, Toth-Csabai 3, Mate 2, Illes 1.
Vertocar CSS Verona: Gragnolati 6, Marcialis 2, Borg 1, Alogbo 1, Bianconi 1.

The Spanish derby decided which team would join Kinef Kirishi in the quarterfinals. Kinef secured 1st place yesterday. The final score – 6:5 – says all. It was a hard defensive battle. The first goal was scored in the 8th minute. Mediteranni’s Toha broke the deadlock. But, Mataro opened the second period with three straight goals for 3:1. However, Mediterrani closed this quarter with an action goal just 16 seconds before the middle break (2:3). The third quarter was crucial. Mataro scored two goals, while it conceded none, and entered the fourth quarter leading 5:2. In the 27th minute, Mataro had a 6:3 advantage. Mediterrani cut the deficit (5:6) 03:13 minutes before the final buzzer. But, Mataro managed to keep a slim advantage and book a ticket for the quarterfinals.

Ferencvaros narrowly defeated host CSS Verona in the last match of the day. But this match wasn’t very important because these two teams had earlier lost chances to reach the quarterfinals. Tomorrow, Ferencvaros will play against Mediterrani in the game that will decide 3rd place.

1 Kinef (RUS) 3 – 9*
2 Mataro (ESP) 4 – 9*
3 Ferencvaros (HUN) 3 – 3 (goal-difference 35:39).
4 Mediterrani (ESP) 3 – 3 (28:32)
5 CSS Verona (ITA) 3 – 0

*Head to head: Kinef – Mataro 10:8

Group C (Rome – Ostia)

SIS Roma – BVSC 10:9 (1:2, 1:2, 4:2, 4:3)

SIS Roma: Galardi 2, Giustini 2, Picozzi 2, Tabani 1, Avegno 1, Chiappini 1, Nardini 1.
BVSC Zuglo: Leimeter 3, Takacs 2, Gyongyossy 2, Alaksza 1, Gemes 1

Olympiacos – Olympic Nice 10:0 (technical score)

SIS Roma took important three points in the match against BVSC and climbed atop the table. But Roma still hasn’t qualified for the quarterfinals. Only Olympiacos secured its quarterfinal berth in this group. Italian clubs SIS Roma and Plebiscito will meet tomorrow, and the outcome of that match will determine the final ranking.

BVSC led for most of the time, but the distance between the teams was never larger than two goals. BVSC led 4:2 at halftime and 5:3 early in the third quarter. SIS Roma leveled the score several times during the first three quarters, but the Italians didn’t take the lead. Before the final quarter, the sides were tied (6:6). BVSC earned a 1-goal lead three times in the fourth quarter (7:6, 8:7, 9:8). Still, the hosts answered with an equalizer shortly after each of these three goals,. In the 29th minute, Giuditta Galardi found the net and Roma went in front for the first time in the match – 10:9. There were no goals in the remaining time, and SIS recorded the win.

1 SIS Roma (ITA) 3 – 9*
2 Olympiacos (GRE) 4 – 9*
3 Plebiscito (ITA) 3 – 6
4 BVSC (HUN) 4 – 3
5 Olympic (FRA) 4 – 0

*Head to head: Roma – Olympiacos 13:12

Olympic Nice has been disqualified and all matches of the French team have been registered by a technical score (0:10).

Group D (Verona)

Vouliagmeni – Sabadell 7:7 (2:1, 3:1, 0:3, 2:2)

NC Vouliagmeni: Koolhaas 4, Xenaki 1, Patra 1, Diamantopoulou 1.
Astralpool Sabadell: Forca 2, Cordobes 1, Garcia 1, Keuning 1, Van der Sloot 1, Gonzalez 1.

Sabadell water polo players secured themselves a spot in the quarterfinals after earning a point in the match in which both teams had ups and downs. Sabadell scored an opening goal in the 3rd minute, but Vouliagmeni answered with a 5:0 rush and jumped to a 5:1 lead in the 14th minute.

But, after that, the reigning European champions kept Vouliagmeni scoreless for almost 12 minutes. On the other side, the Spaniards displayed excellent offensive play. Sabadell scored five goals in a row for a 6:5 lead. Vouliagmeni ended its long goalless phase in the 28th minute(6:6). Ilse Koolhaas scored her 4th goal and put Vouliagmeni in front – 7:6 with 02:08 minutes to go. But, her teammate in the national team of the Netherlands, Maartje Keuning scored an equalizer a minute later and the big rivals shared the points.

Sabadell qualified for the quarterfinals. Vouliagmeni and Dunaujvaros will battle for the next round tomorrow.

1 Sabadell (ESP) 2 – 4
2 Vouliagmeni (GRE) 1 – 1
3 Dunaujvaros (HUN) 1 – 0