Novi Beograd after a comeback and penalty shootouts sank Mladost, Zvezda and Šabac celebrated
Water polo players of Novi Beograd achieved their ninth victory in the Premier regional league, as they won away against Zagreb's Mladost after penalty shootouts with a score of 16:15, thus maintaining a perfect record. Crvena Zvezda easily defeated Primorac 12:10, although they had a larger lead during the match, while Šabac broke Valis' resistance in the third period and ended up with a convincing 16:9 win.
Jug suffered their seventh consecutive loss, as they were defeated by Primorje 16:12, while Jadran from Split was better than Solaris in Šibenik with a score of 16:13.
Zagreb's team was in the lead for most of the match, and the team coached by Živko Gocić only had the lead twice in the first quarter. Mladost took a three-goal lead early in the last quarter with a goal by Andrija Bašić, making it 9:6 for the home team six minutes before the end, seemingly close to victory. Just like many times this season, the players from Novi Beograd played excellently in defense and with goals from Dimitrios Skumpakis and Vasli Martinović, they managed to equalize. Miloš Ćuk had the opportunity to secure the victory eight seconds before the final buzzer, but his shot was off target.
However, the young team from Novi Beograd once again showed mental stability and deservedly celebrated after penalty shootouts. The decisive penalty in the seventh series was saved by Milan Glušac, the goalkeeper of the guests, and then the hero, Vasilije Martinović, was flawless for another celebration of the current Serbian and regional champions. The most efficient in the winning team was Vasilije Martinović with three goals, while Dimitrios Skumpakis and Đorđe Vučinić scored twice each.
Mladost led 9:6 six minutes before the end, but Novi Beograd, with goals from Vasilije Martinović, managed to equalize and win two valuable points after penalty shootouts. This is the second victory for Živko Gocić's team after penalty shootouts this season, as they also defeated Jadran from Split the same way two months ago. It is the teams from Split who are in second place in the table with three points less, and in this round, they defeated Solaris 16:13.
The red and whites led 5:1 after eight minutes, and later had a lead of five or six goals on several occasions, leading 10:4 after the third period. However, the team coached by Aleksandar Filipović clearly relaxed with such a high lead, allowing Primorac to reduce the gap from -6 to just one goal in four minutes. With 69 seconds left, the score was 11:10, and then Kristijan Šulc's goal for 12:10 cleared all doubts. He was the most efficient with three goals, while Dušan Matković scored two on the other side.
After a significant victory against Panathinaikos in the European Cup, Šabac started slightly weaker in the duel with Valis. The team from Valjevo had a minimal lead three times in the first quarter, and later took the lead 5:3. However, the hosts regrouped, quickly turned the game around to 7:5, and in the third quarter, when they led 12:6, everything was clear. Luka Pljevančić stood out for Šabac with three goals, while five more players scored twice each, just like Veljko Krstić, Srđan Baucalo, and Petar Stanić on the other side.
Jug's water polo players suffered their seventh consecutive loss in the regional competition, as they lost to Primorje 16:12, so after nine rounds, they are second to last on the table with seven points, six more than Valis. Dubrovnik's team last won in the Premier regional league against Valis, more than two months ago. Recently, Jug made a surprise by winning the Croatian Cup, defeating Jadran from Split in the final, then reached the round of 16 of the European Cup but failed to break the streak of defeats on the regional scene despite these successes.
The ninth round concludes with Radnički and Jadran from Herceg Novi, who will meet in Kragujevac on Monday at 7:00 pm.
Novi Beograd is first with 25 points, Jadran Split has 22, Mladost and Radnički share third place with 19 points, with Kragujevac having one game less, just like fifth-placed Jadran from Herceg Novi, who has 15 points. Šabac and Crvena Zvezda have 12 points each, Solaris 10, Primorje 9, Primorac 8, Jug 7, and Valis is at the bottom with one point.
Premier regional league, 9th round
Primorje – Jug 16:12 (3:2, 5:3, 4:4, 4:3)
Šabac – Valis 16:9 (3:3, 4:3, 7:1, 2:2)
Solaris – Jadran Split 13:16 (2:6, 5:3, 5:5, 1:2)
Crvena Zvezda – Primorac 12:10 (5:1, 2:2, 3:1, 2:6)
HAVK Mladost – Novi Beograd 15:16 (2:3, 3:1, 3:2, 1:3 – 6:7)
Radnički – Jadran HN (Monday at 7:00 pm)
Standings: Novi Beograd 25, Jadran Split 22, HAVK Mladost 19, Radnički 19 (-1), Jadran HN 15 (-1), Šabac 12, Crvena Zvezda 12, Solaris 10, Primorje 9, Primorac 8, Jug 7, Valis 1.
