A1 M - La Florentia beats Roma Vis Nova and celebrates in the water and stands
In the home debut of the second day of the Serie A1 men's championship, Florentia, led by Minetti, beats Roma Vis Nova in a photo finish and gifts itself not only with invincibility in the top league but also with the thirty-seventh consecutive positive result in the regular season (between A2 and A1).
A victory with a scent of achievement for the lily team, which after trailing for three periods and being down four goals halfway through the final period, performs a miracle in the end, aided by the naivety of Penava (expelled after the goal for unsportsmanlike conduct), overturning the fate of the match with 1.08 on the clock with the newcomer Hofmeijer, who sends the warm and numerous Bellariva crowd into raptures.
For Florentia, a victory of heart and mind after a slow start, overturned by a second half of the game with character and hunger. For the Romans, the regret of having reopened the match, with Penava's expulsion and a few too many fouls in Florentia's best part, which took advantage and believed until the end.
For the lilies, in addition to the satisfaction of the team's victory, there is great joy for the excellent performances of the two new acquisitions, Bini and Hofmeijer, with the former scoring an important double in the crucial phase of the match and the latter scoring the decisive goal for the Dutchman.
At the beginning and end of the game, tributes were paid by the Governor of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani, the Sports Councilor of the Municipality of Florence Letizia Perini, and many local authorities to pay homage to Caterina Banchelli, former goalkeeper of Florentia and the Italian National Team, and to the four-time Italian Paralympic champion team of Laura Perego and Allegra Lapi.
RN FLORENTIA-ROMA VIS NOVA WATER POLO 10-9
RN FLORENTIA: M. Cicali, G. Chemeri, M. Stocco, C. Di Fulvio 1, T. De Mey 2, M. Calamai, T. Turchini 1, G. Cardoni 1, S. Sordini 1, N. Benvenuti 1, G. Bini 2, N. Hofmeijer 1, G. Gioia, F. Bambi. Coach Minetti
ROMA VIS NOVA WATER POLO: V. Correggia, M. Ciotti, A. Poli 2, A. Agnolet, M. Di Corato, A. Grossi 1, J. Penava 3, A. Salipante, A. Viskovic 1, P. Smiljevic 2, M. Spione, M. Antonucci, F. Castrucci, P. Cicchetti. Coach Calcaterra
Referees: Colombo and Nicolosi
Notes
Quarters: 1-3 0-2 4-3 5-1 Penava (R) expelled for violent play at 4'39" of the fourth quarter. Man-up situations: RN Florentia 8/15 and Roma Vis Nova 4/10. Coaches Calcaterra (R) and Minetti (F) were cautioned for protests in the third quarter. Spectators: about 350.
Gianluca Rosucci
Press Office Rari Nantes Florentia
