After two weeks during which events outside the pool dominated attention in Serbian water polo, the playoff finals have begun.
Radnicki defeated Novi Beograd in its home pool, 15:10, in the first game of the best-of-five series.
The fierce rivals entered the finals shortly after their dreams of success on the European stage were extinguished.
Radnicki recorded a quite convincing win, even though it started slowly. Late in the first quarter, Radnicki took control and turned an early 0:3 deficit into a 9:6 lead at halftime, which put the hosts on the right track.
Novi Beograd, which was eliminated from the Champions League three days ago, started the match excellently, scoring three goals in three consecutive attacks to build a 3:0 lead in the 4th minute. The visitors had a 4:1 advantage shortly after, but Radnicki equalized at 5:5 before the middle break. Radnicki dominated in the second quarter. Novi Beograd. At the beginning of this quarter, Viktor Rasovic put Radnicki in front, and Boris Vapenski doubled the hosts’ advantage to 7:5. Late into the quarter, Nikola Dedovic streched the margin to 9:6. In the final minute, he added another goal, but the referees canceled it because the time for the possession expired.
Trtovic closed the gap to two points (7:9), but Radnicki continued to play exceptionally well in defense, which provided a good foundation for their attack. Midway through the third period, the hosts increased the margin to four, after Viktor Rasovic made it 11:7 from a counterattack. It didn’t take a while, and Valiko Dadvani gave Radnicki a 12:7 lead. After Radnicki’s 3:0 run, the visitors switched the goalkeepers (Gavrilovic replaced Glusac). Lukic narrowed the gap to 8:12, with his fourth goal, but Vapenski responded immediately (13:8).
The hosts maintained a five-goal difference during the fourth period. They slowed down i the attack, but the defense, commanded by Radoslav Filipovic (12 saves during the match), remained strong. Strahinja Rasovic sealed Novi Beograd’s win, setting the final score with 77 seconds remaining.
The next game will be played in Belgrade on May 25.
2026 Serbian League, playoffs, final (best of five)
Radnicki – Novi Beograd 15:10 (5:5, 4:1, 4:2, 2:2)
Radnicki: V. Rasovic 3, N.Jaksic 2, Vapenski 2, Dedovic 2, S. Rasovic 2, Randjelovic 1, Prlainovic 1, Pijetlovic 1, Dadvani 1.
Novi Beograd: Lukic 4, Cuk 2, Pljevanvic 1, Sulc 1, Trtovic 1, Martinovic 1.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: total-waterpolo.com
