Novi Beograd sinks Radnički and advances to the final of the Serbian Cup
The water polo team of Novi Beograd reached the final of the Serbian Cup by defeating Radnički 11:9 in the first semifinal match of the final tournament in Šabac.
The team from Kragujevac started the match better, leading 2:0 initially, and 3:1 after the first quarter. However, the guests quickly returned to the game and with three consecutive goals they managed to turn things around. At halftime, the score was tied at 4:4, and Radnički had a two-goal lead several times in the second half and managed to hold on to that advantage until the end.
In the clash between the two best Serbian teams, a fierce, uncertain, and balanced battle was fought from the very beginning. Kragujevac had a better start, scoring two goals through Valik Dadwani and Radomir Drašović (2:0), and maintained that lead going into the break after a goal by Nikola Murišić - 3:1.
However, Novi Beograd scored three consecutive goals before halftime to overturn the result (4:3). Yet, the first half ended level as Marko Janković scored five seconds before the end - 4:4.
In the middle of the third quarter, Novi Beograd had a "plus two" lead (7:5), but it was short-lived as Nemanja Stanojević and Nikola Jakšić brought the match level at 7:7.
Five seconds before entering the final quarter, Miroslav Perković put Novi Beograd back in the lead with a powerplay goal, but at the beginning of the period, Drašović equalized - 8:8.
Novi Beograd then regained a two-goal lead with precise shots from Martinović and Lukić (10:8), and Strahinja Rašović gave Radnički hope with a goal, less than five minutes before the end (10:9). However, Radnički failed to capitalize on their chances, and any doubts about the winner were dispelled in the closing moments by Miloš Ćuk.
Miloš Ćuk and Đorđe Vučinić were the top scorers for the winners with three goals each, while Vasilije Martinović scored two, as did Radomir Drašović and Nikola Murišić on the other side.
In the second semifinal at 18:30, Red Star and NBG Vukovi will play.
Radnički - Novi Beograd 9:11 (3:1, 1:3, 3:4, 2:3)
RADNIČKI: Filipović, Rašović 1, Stanojević 1, F. Janković, M. Janković 1, Pijetlović, Drašović 2, N. Jakšić 1, Vasić, Vićković, P. Jakšić, Murišić 2, Todorovski, Dadvani 1. Coach: Uroš Stevanović.
NOVI BEOGRAD: Glušac, Gbadamasi, Skumpakis, Martinović 2, Ćuk 3, Radović, Vučinić 3, Dimitrijević 1, Perković 1, Gladović, Lukić 1, Krstić, Pajković, Trtović. Coach: Živko Gocić.
