Vojvodina in Top 4 Challenger Cup for Women
Vojvodina has made another significant step forward on the European scene. The red and whites have qualified for the final tournament of the Challenger Cup for water polo players.
In the first two rounds of the semifinal tournament at Slana bara, Novi Sad women defeated Blau Weiss from Bochum and Mladost from Zagreb. Considering the other results, a day before the end of the tournament, Vojvodina's water polo players secured not only passage to the Final Four, but also first place in the group.
In the first round, Novi Sad women left no chance for the German team Blau Weiss from Bochum, defeating them 19:8.
The next rival of Slađana Drezgić's team was Mladost from Zagreb, who had prevailed over Benfica from Portugal 12:10 in the first round. Even before the tournament, it was clear that the clash between the Novi Sad team and the Zagreb team was one of the key battles for the top two spots and advancement to the next round.
Vojvodina set the tempo from the beginning. At halftime, they were leading 5:2, and two minutes before the final break, they extended the lead to five (8:3). Mladost scored two goals from penalties towards the end of the third period, narrowing the score to 5:8, but the home team did not allow them to get back into the game and triumphed 11:6.
The result of the second match of the second round favored Vojvodina. Blau Weiss unexpectedly defeated Benfica 15:10, meaning that regardless of the outcome of the match against Benfica on Sunday, Vojvodina would finish in first place. Mladost and the German "Blue-Whites" will compete for the second spot at the Final Four.
In the other group playing in Istanbul, the issue of first place, which will go to Izmir, the winner of the first Challenger Cup, has been resolved. Galatasaray and Jadran from Split will battle for the second spot on Sunday. The winner of that match will be Vojvodina's opponent in the semifinals of the Final Four.
For the second year in a row, Serbia will have a representative in the final tournament of the Challenger Cup for women. Last year, in the first edition of the newly established competition, Crvena Zvezda made it to the Final Six and eventually won the silver medal.
Women's Challenger Cup, second phase, tournament in Novi Sad
First round
Vojvodina - Bochum 19:8 (7:1, 4:2, 5:3, 3:2)
Vojvodina: Travar, Švec 2, Kovačević 1, Trmčić, Amliaeva 6, Kavlakante 1, Popov 3, Savčenko 2, Damnjanović 1, Radonjić 1, Moćan 2, Đurić.
Mladost - Benfica Lisbon 12:10 (3:3, 1:0, 5:3, 3:4)
Second round
Vojvodina - Mladost 11:6 (3:1, 2:1, 3:3, 3:1)
Vojvodina: Travar, Švec 1, Pantović, Kovačević, Trmčić, Amliaeva, Kalvankante, Popov, Savčenko 5, Damnjanović 3, Radonjić 2, Moćan, Đurić.
Blau Weiss - Benfica Lisbon 15:10 (4:3, 4:1, 4:0, 3:6)
Standings: 1. Vojvodina 6, 2. Mladost 3, 3. Blau Weiss 3, 4. Benfica 0.
Third round (Sunday)
Mladost - Blau Weiss
Vojvodina - Benfica
