The visiting teams recorded wins in the dramatic derby matches of the Premier VRL League 11th round. The league-leader Radnicki beat Sabac 13:12. Jadran Herceg Novi defeated Novi Beograd 17:16, scoring a last-gasp goal.
Premier VRL League, Round 11
(quarters 5:3, 2:6, 4:3, 5:5)
The duel in Belgrade saw several twists and turns. In the middle of the first period, Jadran led 3:2. Novi Beograd scored three goals in two minutes and headed into the second quarter with a 5:3 advantage.Jadran, playing strongly on defense, set the pace in the second quarter. In the 12th minute, they regained the lead after Strahinja Gojkovic made it 7:6 from a counterattack. Martinovic immediately equalized, but it was the hosts’ last goal in the first half, while the visitors scored two. Jadran was 9:7 up at halftime break.
At the start of the second half, the teams quickly exchanged goals. Jadran regained a 2-goal lead after Valera converted a penalty shot to make it 10:8. Before that penalty shot, Novi Beograd left without its captain Milos Cuk, who was red-carded. Even though the hosts had to continue the match without one of their key players, they refound their rhythm. The hosts went on a 3:0 run in 85 seconds, taking an 11:10 lead. But, the visitors closed the quarter with two goals, and Jadran was one step ahead of Novi Beograd before the final eight minutes – 11:10.
rdjan Janovic opened the fourth period with a powerplay goal, doubling Jadran’s lead. Midway through the final period, Jadran extended their advantage to three goals when Janovic scored from the 5m line, bringing the score to 16:13. This was Jadran’s sixth penalty shot, of which they successfully converted five.
Photo by Miloš Milivoojević
However, Novi Beograd managed to stage a comeback, led by Nikola Lukic, who scored three consecutive goals to level the score at 16:16. With 44 seconds remaining, Jadran earned their seventh penalty shot, but Novi Beograd’s second goalkeeper, Pavle Gavrilovic, saved the attempt from Kholod. Jadran retained possession of the ball after a corner throw and the drama continued. The visitors earned a man-up. Their extra player shot was blocked by Novi Beograd’s defense, but they continued to press. Just three seconds before the end of the match, Strahinja Gojkovic scored from a distance, setting the final score at 17:16.
With this victory, Jadran moved to 4th place, with two points more than Novi Beograd.
Strahinja Gojkovic and Nikola Lukic were the best scorers with five goals each.
(quarters 3:4, 3:3, 2:4, 4:2)
Radnicki kept 1st place in the standings, but Sabac proved it belongs in the circle of the best clubs in the VRL League.
The favorite had to dig deep to earn three points. Radnicki opened the match with a 2:0 lead and maintained the difference until 5:3. Midway through the second quarter, Sabac produced a 3:0 run and went ahead 6:5. Still, Vlachopoulos and Jaksic responded, and Radnicki entered the third quarter with a slim 7:6 advantage.
Dusko Pijetlovic and Mihajlo Repanovic Photo by Đorđe Đorđević
Radnicki increased its lead to 11:7 in the 21st minute. However, Sabac didn’t say its last word yet. The hosts started coming back and cut the deficit to one (11:12). Vlachopoulos made it 13:11 with 03:20 minutes left on the clock. Repanovic Sabac’s deficit immediately. Still, there were no further goals. Both teams defended well in the final minutes. Sabac had the last chance in the match, but eight seconds from the end, Ognjen Stojanovic’s shot went too high.
Vlachopoulos led Radnicki with five goals, and Aljosa Macic scored four for Sabac.
Played earlier: Primorac – Partizan 14:8
February 25: Crvena Zvezda – Buducnost at 16:30.
- Radnicki 11 – 28
- Primorac 11 – 25
- Šabac Elixir 11 – 22
- Jadran m:tel 11 – 22
- Novi Beograd Tehnomanija 11 – 20
- Crvena zvezda 10 – 6
- Partizan 11 – 3
- Buducnost One 10 – 3
Visit the Premier League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena for the live scores, schedule and standings.
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