The clash between the two teams that were both unbeaten after six rounds of the Premier VRL League, was not a particularly close contest.
Radnicki secured an 18:13 away victory over Novi Beograd in the postponed game od the 7th round. The Kragujevac side built a commanding lead in the first half, going into the break 8:4 ahead. Novi Beograd threatened a comeback late in the game but failed to cut the deficit to fewer than three goals.
Radnicki dictated the pace from the early stages. Angelos Vlachopulos scored twice in the first three minutes to give the visitors a 2:0 lead. Cuk responded with a goal, but Radnicki responded with a 4:0 series, building a commanding 6:1 lead in the middle of the second quarter. The hosts twice reduced the deficit to three goals, making it 3:6 and then 4:7, but Strahinja Rasovic scored on a man advantage in the final second of the first half to make it 8:4.
Just two and a half minutes into the third quarter, the gap widened to six goals at 11:5. Radnicki then maintained its advantage, although Novi Beograd mounted a brief comeback attempt in the final three minutes of the period. A 3:1 run, with all three goals scored on a man advantage, brought the hosts to within 9:13 and gave them renewed hope.
However, just as in the previous quarter, Radnički scored in the closing seconds to extend its lead. This time, Vlahopulos struck from distance to make it 14:9, completing his fourth goal of the match.
Vlachopoulos (RAD) and Martinovic (NBG) Photo by Milos Mliivojevic
Novi Beograd made an excellent start to the final quarter. Martinović converted a penalty before Pljevančić scored on a man advantage, reducing the deficit to three goals for the first time in the second half at 11:14. The hosts then had two more opportunities to move closer, but Radnički goalkeeper Filipovic produced excellent saves on both occasions.
Novi Beograd had two further chances to get back into the contest. After some good defensive work, the hosts found themselves trailing 13:16, but consecutive mistakes in attack cost them the opportunity to make the closing stages more competitive. With 83 seconds remaining, Radnicki won a penalty, which Lukić converted to seal the visitors’ victory.
Vlachopulos led Radnicki’s attack with six goals, while Strahinja Rasovic added three. Radoslav Filipovic also played a crucial role in the win, posting 14 saves. For Novi Beograd, Vasilije Martinovic and Kristian Sulc were the leading scorers, with three goals each.
Radnicki converted seven of its 11 attempts with a man advantage, while Novi Beograd managed five goals from 10 opportunities. However, the hosts failed to score from any of their man-up opportunities in the first 20 minutes, whereas Radnički was almost flawless in that period, converting six of seven chances.
2027 Premier VRL League
Round 7
(quarters 1:4, 3:4, 5:6, 4:4)
First games of Round 8
(quarters 2:6, 1:6, 0:6, 3:5)
(quarters 3:4, 4:5, 2:7, 4:7)
(quarters 3:4, 1:7, 4:6, 1:3)
(quarters 2:2, 5:2, 5:5, 3:3)
Standings: 1. Radnicki 21 (7 games), 2. Jadran HN 18 (8), 3. Novi Beograd 18 (7), 4. Primorac 15 (8), 5. Buducnost 15 (8), 6. Sabac 15 (8), 7. Budva 14 (8), 8. Partizan 13 (7), 9. Valis 3 (8), 10. Nais 3 (7), 11. Vojvodina 3 (8), 12. Zemun 0 (8).
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: total-waterpolo.com
