This weekend, all eyes in French water polo were on Aix-en-Provence.
Pays d’Aix and Noisy-le-Sec faced off in the derby of the 5th round of the national league. After a big battle, the score in regular time was 13:13. But, just as in the Spanish League, there are no ties in the French Championship this season. So, the game continued with a penalty shootout. Noisy was better in the first penalty thriller of the season and recorded a 17:16 victory.
2022/23 French League, Day 5
Pays d’Aix – Noisy-le-Sec 16:17 (1:2, 4:4, 3:3, 5:4, PSO 3:4)
Pays d’Aix: Khasz 5, Dunstan 3, Rocchietta 3, Peisson 2, Drahe 1,Beteille 1, Volant 1.
Noisy-le-Sec (Cercle 93): Bowen 4, Petkovic 4, Krapic 2, Saudadier 2, Do Carmo 2, Gogov 2, Caumette 1.
Montpellier – Marseille 5:16 (1:3, 2:4, 2:4, 0:5)
Montpellier: Dory 2, Ivankovic 2, Kalinic
Marseille: Vukicevic 4, Mas 2, Spaic 2, Prlainovic 2, Vernoux 2, Olivon 1, Izdinsky 1, Marion-Vernoux 1, A. De Nardi 1.
Strasbourg – Sete 17:9 (5:1, 3:2, 3:4, 6:2)
Team Strasbourg: Popadic 4, Vitrant 3, Petkovic 3, Bachlier 2, Buha 2, I.Zivkovic 2, Misic 1.
Sete: Furman 3, Randjic 3, Tomic 2, Vujovic 1.
Nice – Reims 8:10 (2:3, 1:2, 5:3, 0:2)
Olympic Nice: Mathieu 3, Sterling 2, P.De Nardi 1,Cakic 1, Ducher 1.
Stade Reims: Missy 3, Culina 3, Bulat 2, De Bie 1, Babic 1
Tourcoing bye
Noisy led for most of the time in the derby in Aix-en-Provence. The Parisians built a 3-goal advantage in the second period (5:2). The hosts leveled at 5:5. Still, Antonio Petkovic gave Noisy a 6:5 lead by converting a man-up in the last minute of the first half.
In the middle of the third period, Petkovic doubled the visitors’ advantage (7:5), but Pays d’Aix leveled at 7:7 and 8:8. Still, Noisy had a slim lead before the final period, as Petkovic added his third goal just 11 seconds before the last break. Krapic opened the fourth period to give Noisy a 10:8 lead. Then came a 3:0 run from Pays d’Aix (Khasz 2 and Dunstan one goal). In the 28th minute, the hosts gained a lead (11:10) for the first time. But, the series of twists continued. Noisy responded with two goals within 42 seconds (Bowen and Saudaier) for 12:11.
Before the final minute, the score was 12:12. Just 18 seconds before the end, Noisy’s Saudadier netted for 13:12, and it seemed that Noisy would earn three points. However, the drama wasn’t over yet. Beteille scored an equalizer with seven seconds to go and the game was prolonged in the shootout.
Noisy won the shootout series – 17:16. According to the rules, Noisy earned two, and Pays d’Aix one point. Edo Khasz (Pays d’Aix) was the best scorer with five goals. Alex Bowen and Antonio Petkovic scored four goals each for Noisy.
Montpellier played very well in the previous two rounds – it beat Tourcoing and narrowly lost to Noisy-le-Sec. But, it couldn’t make another surprise. Reigning champion Marseille ran over Montpellier – 16:5, with four goals from Ante Vukicevic.
Nice failed to win its first points in the season, although it wasn’t so far from a win over Reims. The team of Reims dictated the pace in the first half. The visitors had a 3-goal lead (5:2) in the second period. However, Nice found its rhythm and produced a 5:1 run to earn a 7:6 lead. But, Reims responded with two goals and went ahead again – 8:7. In the 24th minute, the hosts leveled at 8:8. Still, they couldn’t go further. Reims scored two early goals in the fourth quarter for a 10:8 lead, which turned out to be the final score.
Strasbourg left no chance to Sete. At halftime, Strasbourg led 8:3. The hosts slowed after the middle break. The third quarter belonged to Sete (4:3). However, Strasbourg’s victory wasn’t in danger. Vlado Popadic netted four goals in a 17:9 victory.
1. Marseille 5 – 15
2. Noisy-le-Sec 4 – 11
3. Tourcoing 4 – 9
4. Reims 4 – 6
5. Strasbourg 4 – 6
6. Pays d’Aix 4 – 4
7. Montpellier 4 – 3
8. Sete 4 – 3
9. Nice 5 – 0
