A1 M - Savona vs Pro Recco 7-12
After Mladost, Pro Recco also defeats Savona 7-12. This happens after a challenging match, with Savona taking the lead and going 3-0 up in the first five minutes of the game. The Italian champions, led by Condemi and Hallock, turn the tide after the initial blackout and make a comeback in the middle of the third quarter: the home team loses their composure, with Rocchi and Rizzo committing two violent fouls on Iocchi Gratta and Haverkampf, resulting in two ejections for violent play; Angelini, with just 7 players left, sees Pro Recco pull ahead securing three crucial points in the race for the top spot.
Coach Sukno gives Durik his debut in the center forward position alongside Hallock. The white and blue team waste their first two power plays, and Savona takes the lead 130 seconds into the game with Figlioli scoring over Del Lungo. Nicosia makes saves against Haverkanpf and Fondelli, and the home team doubles their advantage halfway through the first half with a quick goal from Rocchi. The Italian champions struggle with the man advantage (0/5 by the end of the quarter), and Figlioli scores the third goal with a shot under the crossbar. A penalty, won by Cannella and converted by Condemi with 140 seconds left, unlocks Sukno's team. Pro Recco narrows the gap with a fast break finished off by Younger's diagonal shot: it's 3-2 after eight minutes.
As the game resumes, tensions rise in the pool: Di Fulvio and Figlioli are both ejected for mutual foul play after 50 seconds. Merkulov's center shot makes it 4-2. Sukno replaces the goalkeeper with Negri, and Condemi converts the seventh power play from position 4. From the same position, with Haverkampf in the hole set, Erdelyi scores (5-3). The Hallock-Durik duo draws multiple ejections near the center forward position, and Condemi completes his hattrick with a beautiful wrist shot deceiving Nicosia to make it 5-4 midway through the second quarter. Pro Recco finds the equalizer for the first time 100 seconds later through Cannella, making it 5-5 at the end of the second quarter.
The balance lasts only 25 seconds as Patchaliev puts Savona ahead again. Pro Recco levels the score with a goal from Hallock after they secured a man-up situation and well-assisted by Fondelli (6-6); then the American center scores a penalty to potentially take the lead, but Fondelli's shot is blocked by Nicosia. Hallock then takes matters into his own hands with a brilliant shot to make it 6-7. Tensions do not subside in the water, as Rocchi is expelled for violent play against Iocchi Gratta: a definitive ejection, four minutes of man-down play, and a penalty converted by Younger (6-8). It's Condemi's show at the "Zanelli" pool, with the number 11 scoring two more goals against Nicosia (one from 25 meters with a lob) to make it 6-10 at the end of the third quarter.
Savona loses Patchaliev halfway through the final quarter, and Younger completes his hattrick while Presciutti scores from position 1, increasing Pro Recco's lead against the white and red team (6-12) with two minutes remaining.
"At the beginning, we were a bit tense, but then the team came out and showed good things. We have to keep going like this and continue working – the words of Condemi, who scored five goals -. In the water, we are ready for anything; these challenges are always tough because in Italy, the games are different from those in European competitions. I do not feel comfortable commenting on what happened; we will continue on our path. Zagreb and Savona were two crucial challenges, and we were good at being ready."
RN SAVONA-PRO RECCO WATERPOLO 7-12
RN SAVONA: G. Nicosia, N. Rocchi 1, L. Damonte, P. Figlioli 2, D. Occhione, V. Rizzo, D. Merkulov 1, L. Bruni, B. Erdelyi 1, M. Guidi, A. Patchaliev 1, A. Gullotta, N. Da Rold, T. Cora 1. Coach: Angelini
PRO RECCO WATERPOLO: M. Del Lungo, F. Di Fulvio, Durik, G. Cannella 1, A. Younger 3, A. Fondelli, N. Presciutti 1, G. Echenique, M. Iocchi Gratta, S. Scarmi, F. Condemi 5, B. Hallock 2, T. Negri, Haverkampf. Coach: Sukno
Referees: Severo and Petronilli
Partial scores: 3-2, 2-3, 1-5, 1-2.
Players ejected due to fouls: Bruni (S), Erdelyi (S) in the third quarter, Cannella (R), and Iocchi Gratta (R), Patchaliev (S) in the fourth quarter. Power play opportunities: Savona 1/5, Recco 5/13 plus 4 penalties. Players ejected for mutual foul play: Figlioli (S) and Di Fulvio (R) at 0’53 of the second quarter, and for violent play: Rocchi (S) at 4’06 and Rizzo (S) at 7’56 of the third quarter. Nicosia (S) and Del Lungo (R) in goal. Negri (R) substitutes Del Lungo at 1'01 of the second quarter. Nicosia (S) saves a penalty from Fondelli at 2'50 of the third quarter and one from Condemi at 4'50 of the third quarter. President of the Italian Swimming Federation Paolo Barelli was present in the stands.
Press Office Pro Recco Waterpolo
Photo Credit: Schenone
