Euro Cup M – Vasutas vs Pro Recco 16-11
Pro Recco loses the challenge for the top spot against the Hungarian's Vasutas: in Budapest it ends 16-11, with the home team ahead in physical condition. The Biancocelesti without Fondelli, with Hallock at half-service and just ten days of preparation behind them, still hit the target of passing to the next round of the Euro Cup: tomorrow at 11 the draw for the group.
Sukno chooses Negri for the goal and the start of Pro Recco is convincing: a super goal by Vujosevic from position 4 opens the match after less than a minute, Echenique in superiority doubles. Meszaros shortens for the Hungarians, but at half time the Biancocelesti go to 1-3 with Cannella who guesses the winning diagonal. Vasutas, driven by the home fans, turns the match around in less than three minutes with a hat-trick by Konarik. Ekler's counterattack with a lob is worth 5-3, then before the siren Iocchi Gratta from position 1 beats Gyapjas for 5-4 that closes the first eight minutes.
We start again and the Hungarians extend their lead: Ekler counterattacks on the left side and Tatrai with the extra man increase the gap (7-4). Sukno replaces Negri with Del Lungo, the Italian champions try to shake things up and Hallock earns a penalty that Di Fulvio doesn't miss. The Hungarians, however, have a different pace and Ekler with the extra man still hurts the Pro Recco defense on the counterattack (8-5). The score is even heavier at the change of sides because Csacsovszky and Szelghalmi beat Del Lungo for the 10-5 at half time.
Sukno puts Negri back in goal, Di Fulvio after 55 seconds finds the cross from position 4. The biancocelesti try to raise their heads and Iocchi Gratta from the post slams Younger's assist into the net (10-7). Meszaros beats Negri, then Younger from a central position removes the spiderweb (11-8). Csacsovszky and Benedek, son of the unforgettable Tibor, bring the home team back to +5. A gap that remains unchanged at the siren: Tatrai in fact responds to Cannella for the 14-9 that closes the half.
Just under three minutes and Di Fulvio beats Gyapjas over the head (14-10). The captain scores his poker on a penalty won by Condemi halfway through the quarter. Ekler's goal for 15-11 two and a half minutes from the end is the tombstone on any hope of a comeback.
"I thank the team and Sandro because it was too important to advance to the next round, it wasn't easy after what happened, with just ten days of training, Hallock bursting his eardrum after two strokes in the first match - the words of president Felugo -. We were in a difficult group, with two excellent teams like Primorje and Terrassa, and Vasutas who have great talent and could easily have entered the Champions League. Now we return home to train and get organized. We're off, we're not even off again, a new adventure that we can't wait to experience: the new swimming pool, three goals to achieve, an ownership that has great enthusiasm; I'm happy, it's a pleasure to see the boys work hard, suffer and even lose because it's all experience for the future; only in this way can we create the conditions for a great year”
Vasutas: Gyapjas, Tatrai 2, Csapo, Konarik 3 (1 pen.), Csacsovszky 2, Ekler 4, Jansik, Szeghalmi 1, Kovacs, Benedek 1, Bundschuh, Meszaros 3, Korom. Coach Varga
Pro Recco: Del Lungo, Di Fulvio 4 (2 pen.), Demarchi, Cannella 2, Younger 1, Vujosevic 1, Presciutti, Echenique 1, Iocchi Gratta 2, Scarmi, Condemi, Hallock, Negri. All. Sukno.
Referees: Mueller (Germany), Sap (Holland)
Partials: 5-4, 5-1, 4-4, 2-2
Numerical superiorities: Vasutas 5/10, Pro Recco 2/14 . Penalties: Vasutas 1/1, Pro Recco 2/2
Pro Recco Waterpolo Press Office
Photo (Credit BVSC/Szucs Attila)
