We hit back at the French with Vogel Soma's parade
In the opening match of the Domino Trans International Water Polo Tournament, we beat France 14-13 with five-meter water polo, of which the lion's share was undertaken (again) by Vogel Soma. The Hungarian goalkeeper saved a penalty in the first minute of regular time and in the five-man duel, and the latter was just enough for the victory.
By default, not a Hungary-France men's warm-up match would have a lot at stake, but the situation was different in the opening match of the Domino Trans International Water Polo Tournament. Well, not only because this weekend, before the Paris Olympics, the Hungarian public can see the national team for the last time in the home pool (in the Hajós), but because of the last date between the two teams. If anyone needs to refresh their memory: the French team caused the biggest sensation of this year's Doha World Cup by saying goodbye to our team in the quarter-finals, which brought them close to the international elite. By the way, we will be in the same group with them at the five-a-side games, where they will be able to enjoy the advantages of the home court.
The Hungarian goalkeeper piled up save after save, it's a shame that we couldn't profit from them up front. There were a lot of inaccurate shots and lost balls, then Zalánki bombed a free throw into the short bottom, and after just five minutes, the visitors were on the scoreboard. Entering the last minute, Krisztián Manhercz won the ball in his own half, and since no one attacked him, he ran across the field and finished the action perfectly, but it was not possible to save a two-goal advantage for the second quarter, because half a minute before the end, the French took advantage of a chance. Outnumbered, the Gauls closed in on the wall, and with a huge bomb they reduced their deficit even further. We needed another feat from Vogel in a man disadvantage to keep the lead, then he outsmarted our "good friend", Thomas Vernoux, but we couldn't finish our last attack successfully, but we still went into the break with one.In contrast to the first two, they started the third act better, which also earned them an equaliser, but Zalánki responded immediately, and they scored a goal from a zero angle, as well as Ugo Crousillat from Exszolnok's left rocket, i.e. they took the lead. From 5-2 it became 6-7, while we couldn't make the most of the opportunities. Vogel still tried to save what could be saved, then Vince Vigvári broke the Hungarian deadlock, and then Jansik Szilárd also took advantage of the fact that they did not come out on time. We took the lead again with 1:21 left before the end of the period, and we started the fourth stage in the same way.
Vogel did not get tired even after the third break, but even from the block. received help three times in a row. The problem was that not only ours, but theirs as well, the defense got together, and unfortunately they moved from 8-7, moreover, 5 against 6. But, just like many times before, the answer came immediately, this time with Dániel Angyal's bomb, and then, of course, from them as well. We missed huge jumps, Vogel continued to provide support at the back, and entering the last minute, we could attack with an advantage - unsuccessfully. However, they also made it worse, we had the last attack, but it turned into a goal post, five-meter shots followed.
Varga started well, and Vogel immediately took out Vernoux's! Zalánki did not make any mistakes, nor did Crousillat, Manhercz, Alexnadre Bouet, Vigvári, Romain Marion-Vernoux and Gergő Fekete. And the last good five meant we had drawn the opening game and hopefully prevented the French from becoming our mummies at any level. Of course, the most important clash comes in two weeks in Paris.
Final result
Domino Trans International Water Polo Tournament
Hungary-France 14-12 (3-2, 2-2, 3-3, 1–2, 5–3) - with five meters
In the other match of the tournament: Italy-Japan 13–12
