A1 M – Pro Recco vs Ortigia 14-11
Pro Recco beats Ortigia 14-11 in the postponed match of the sixth day and responds to Brescia's victory by reaching the top of the championship along with them. The match had two faces for the Sukno boys, leading 10-3 at the beginning of the third quarter and then seeing the Sicilians come close in the second half of the game.
Negri guarded the goal for the white and blue team, starting off well with Di Fulvio scoring against Tempesti from six meters and opening a 4-0 run, interrupted by Inaba's goal one minute before the first siren, who was their best player with five goals.
Napolitano shortened the gap after two minutes of the second quarter, but then it was all Pro Recco: Younger scored in a double advantage for 5-2, Durik won a penalty converted by former player Condemi. Four seconds before changing ends, Iocchi Gratta surprised Tempesti with a shot from position 4, ending the period 7-2.
A generational clash at the start of the third quarter, the 2009-born Gardella against Tempesti, thirty years his senior: the left-handed player from Pro Recco scored against the much older goalkeeper from position 1. Condemi was once again calm from the penalty spot, then the Italian champions reached double digits thanks to Hallock, well served by Fondelli (10-3). The Sicilians reacted and scored with Cassia, Inaba, and Carnesecchi (10-6), but in the last minute of the period, Pro Recco regains momentum with Presciutti from position 3 and Haverkampf's goal (12-6). Inaba closed the first 24 minutes with a penalty, making it 12-7.
In response to Carnesecchi, Durik scored with an extra man, Ortigia tried to stay in the game with Inaba and La Rosa's goals, but Hallock's goal with a touch in the air on the post in a man-up situation dashed any hopes of a comeback (14-10) halfway through the period.
PRO RECCO WATERPOLO-CC ORTIGIA 1928 14-11
PRO RECCO WATERPOLO: M. Del Lungo, F. Di Fulvio 1, Durik 1, G. Cannella 1, A. Younger 2, A. Fondelli 1, N. Presciutti 1, Gardella 1, M. Iocchi Gratta 1, S. Scarmi, F. Condemi 2, B. Hallock 2, T. Negri, Haverkampf 1. Coach: Sukno
CC ORTIGIA 1928: S. Tempesti, F. Cassia 1, L. Giribaldi, G. La Rosa 1, S. Di Luciano 1, G. Marangolo, G. Kalaitzis, A. Carnesecchi 2, E. Campopiano, Y. Inaba 5, F. Scordo, C. Napolitano 1, D. Ruggiero. Coach: Piccardo
Referees: Calabrò and Ercoli
Scores: 4-1, 3-1, 5-5, 2-4.
Players excluded due to fault limits: Campopiano (O) and Scordo (O) in the fourth quarter.
Man-up situations: Recco 4/9 + 2 penalties and Ortigia 1/9 + 3 penalties.
Del Lungo replaced Negri in goal from the sixth minute of the third quarter.
Pro Recco Waterpolo Press Office
Photo Credit: Schenone
