Champions League F - SIS Roma, beats Alimos 11-9
SIS Roma in championship mode triumphs over the strong Greek team Alimos with a score of 11-9, placing themselves in second position in Group C led by Olympiacos (6 points). The fight for the top spot will now be decided in the direct clash with the Greek team, scheduled in Athens on November 25th.
The match between SIS and Alimos was intense, as expected from two top teams in European women's water polo, with outstanding plays on both sides, many opportunities for beautiful play, emotions, and repeated hits on the post. The Roman team took control in the second and third quarters, building a decisive advantage (10-7) which they cleverly maintained until the end.
It was also a duel between Italy's Marletta, the driving force of the Greek team with three excellent goals, and Sara Centanni, who had an excellent day scoring four goals that propelled SIS to an internationally prestigious victory.
The first half was balanced, with the Greeks taking the lead (6'56") with a delicate lob by Elliniadi, answered by Domitilla Picozzi (6') within a minute. Defensive scares and offensive mistakes postponed the game to the second half. The second quarter began in a similar fashion, with Alimos scoring through Elliniadi (6'04") and Centanni leveling the score (4'26"). After a series of near misses including hitting the post three times in a row, SIS managed to close the first half in the lead with goals from Chiappini and Centanni.
In the third quarter, the decisive stretch arrived as Centanni's double put SIS 6-3 ahead, followed by Marletta's attempts to rally her team. Luna Di Claudio (3'37") extended SIS's lead to +3 (7-4). Towards the end, Alimos tried to come back, but SIS responded strongly and maintained their lead, closing the quarter 10-7 with a fantastic goal by Chiara Ranalli in the final seconds.
In the last quarter, fatigue started to show as Marletta's two goals brought Alimos close at 10-9 with 4'40" left. At 3'17", Agnese Cocchiere drew a foul, and SIS restored a 2-goal lead through Chiappini, a lead they cleverly maintained until the end.
Coach Marco Capanna expressed satisfaction: "The girls played the game very well. We knew Alimos well; they are a team somewhat similar to us and they certainly know how to make their presence felt. In the first half, we didn't execute all the necessary movements to develop the game better, but then we stepped up. In the end, we achieved the result we believed in and wanted, a good outcome that puts us in second place in the group today."
"It was great to see the stands full at the pool; many came to support us, and we tried to repay their trust with a good performance. Now, after a long time, we will have a whole week to manage recovery and prepare for the upcoming series against Rapallo and Trieste in the league, and finally, in the last Champions League match before the break, against the Greek team Olympiacos. We'll be ready."
MATCH SUMMARY
SIS ROMA - ALIMOS NAC BETSSON 11-9
(1 - 1; 3 - 2; 6 - 4; 1 - 2)
SIS ROMA: SESENA, ZAPLATINA, GUAL ROVIROSA, APREA, RANALLI 2, CHIAPPINI 2, PICOZZI 1, DI CLAUDIO, PAPI, CENTANNI 4, COCCHIERE 1, CAROSI, BOTTIGLIERI
Coach: MARCO CAPANNA
ALIMOS NAC BETSSON: STAMATOPOULOU, MAUD DI MEGENI, CHYDIRIOTI, ELLINIADI 3, BITSAKOU 1, CHALDAIOU, ASIMAKI, PATRA, KOVATSEVITS, RYBANSK 2, MARLETTA 3, KONTOGIANNI, LAZARI
Coach: VERGOS PANAGIOTIS
REFEREES: CABANAS Marta (ESP) | SILVA Eurico (POR)
SIS Roma
Press Office
Photo by Marika Torcivia
