A1 F – SIS Roma defeated in Trieste
The championship of the Serie A1 women's water polo league heats up, with four teams separated by just three points, indicating a high level of technical competition in the regular season.
Yesterday, in the advance of the sixth round, SIS Roma was defeated (10-8) in the away game against Trieste, in a very balanced and at the same time unlucky match for the Romans, who remain tied for first place with Orizzonte Catania in the standings.
Both leading teams, in fact, were defeated in this round of the championship, with Catania losing in Rapallo and SIS in Trieste.
In Trieste, SIS had an off day, with many shots hitting the post of the goal defended by Sparano and errors in accuracy.
Nevertheless, SIS had a strong start, with authority and determination, being ahead 2-0 after 2 minutes (Di Claudio-Ranalli). The Trieste team responded vigorously with Gragnolati scoring a brace in the first quarter, while SIS still closed the first half leading 3-2. Worth noting is that Olimpia Sesena saved a penalty shot from specialist Vukovich just seconds before the end.
The impression was that the Romans would increase the pace and impose their game in the subsequent playing time. At the beginning of the second half, Agnese Cocchiere delighted the audience with a spectacular flying shot that received applause and approval. Another brace from Gragnolati (one goal from a penalty shot) balanced the match, ending the half with both teams tied at 4-4. The third quarter started with Chiara Ranalli scoring for SIS (5-4), followed by another equalizer from Gragnolati through a penalty shot.
Midway through the third quarter, Trieste managed to take the lead due to some inaccuracies from the Roman team, with Vukovich and Gragnolati scoring to make it 7-5. Izabella Chiappini equalized with a penalty shot in the last 25 seconds, setting the score at 7-7.
The fourth quarter began with SIS in the lead thanks to a great goal from captain Domitilla Picozzi from the outside. However, towards the end, the Capanna team lost control, made some mistakes, while Trieste managed to come back strong. Vukovich equalized with a shot slipped from Sesena's hands, and Gragnolati scored the winning goal for Trieste immediately after.
The coach of the Romans, Marco Capanna, acknowledged the value and strength of the opponents: “Trieste deserved to win. No doubt about it. The Friulian team played their game and sought victory with determination, playing, in my opinion, better than SIS. SIS struggled to find their game and the right movements in the large spaces of the pool against a very physical team. That's where the nervousness and mistakes in decision-making, construction, and finishing showed. We accept the defeat (the first against an Italian team between the league and the Italian Cup) and it will be useful for us to be certainly better in the future, starting from next Saturday, in Athens, against Olympiacos for the Champions League, a match that we value a lot and always has a special appeal. Lastly, a defeat at this point in the championship and in the regular season can happen; I remain proud of this team and confident, but we all need to raise our level of focus.”
SCORECARD
PALLANUOTO TRIESTE – SIS ROMA 10-8
(2-3: 2-1; 3-3; 3-1)
PALLANUOTO TRIESTE: F. Sparano, G. Citino, E. De March 1, S. Cordovani, V. Gant, L. Cergol, G. Klatowski, F. Colletta, A. Gragnolati 7, J. Vukovic 2, G. Matafora, G. Zizza, R. Apollonio, V. Koptseva. Coach: Zizza
SIS ROMA: O. Sesena, E. Zaplatina, A. Gual Rovirosa 1, A. Aprea, C. Ranalli 2, I. Chiappini 2, D. Picozzi 1, L. Di Claudio 1, L. Papi, S. Centanni, A. Cocchiere 1, S. Carosi, G. Bottiglieri, G. Aprea. Coach: Capanna
Referees: Guarracino and Grillo
Notes: Trieste 2/8 + 2 penalties (1 missed by Vukovic saved by Sesena in the first half), Rome 3/12 + 3 penalties, 2 of which were missed (Ranalli hit the post in the first half, Ranalli's shot saved by Sparano in the third quarter). Gant and Zizza (T) left the game due to fouls in the fourth quarter. Approximately 200 spectators.
SIS Roma
Press Office
