B M – Beautiful halfway performance by Club Aquatico against Libertas Roma

Club Aquatico Pescara: Jurisic, Cantò, Van Vierzen (3), Polifemo, Mazza, D’Antuono, Riccitelli (4), Santarelli (1), Guerzoni, Terrenzio, Gagliardi, D’Onofrio, Di Nardis, Di Cristofaro. Coach Giannouris

Libertas Roma Eur: Tulli, Raffi, Barchiesi (3), Petrini, Olivieri, Suter, Calvi, Cavallucci (3), Colonna, Bernacchia (1), Galli, De Luca(1). Coach Carretta

A draw that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of Club Aquatico, whose first half of the match was played at high paces, and after having reached a maximum three-goal lead twice, failed to close the match at 8-5 at the beginning of the third period, losing steam and allowing the opponents to come back. The credit goes to the players of Libertas Roma for never giving up, continuing with a proactive play consisting of quick counterattacks and good game organization.

Regarding the report of the match, the first quarter was played at a furious pace, with the Orange team immediately taking a 2-0 lead, thanks to a center turn by Van Vierzen and the first perimeter goal by a graceful Riccitelli. The first solo counterattack by Cavallucci, a thorn in the side for the Pescara team, narrowed the gap, but Riccitelli once again secured the double lead before Bernacchia and Barchiesi tied the game by the end of the quarter.

In the second period, Coach Giannouris's troop stepped up the pace and managed to score four times, taking control of the match with precision advantages concluded by Santarelli and Riccitelli, a penalty by Van Vierzen, and another goal in the opposing zone by Jacopo Riccitelli. The opponents managed only to limit the damage with a goal in advantage by De Luca and another counterattack at the end by the usual Cavallucci.

Just when everything seemed to predict an uneventful afternoon, after the third goal by a powerful overhead shot from Van Vierzen and being three goals ahead, the players of the Club, perhaps feeling the effort of the previous period, lost clarity without being able to capitalize on their chances towards the end of the match, including five rushed man-up situations. The opponents took advantage, with a high-quality double by Barchiesi from outside on man-up and then with the final goal by Cavallucci from position 1, thanking their lucky stars and taking home a golden point to prevent being caught up in the standings by the same Club.

Consistent with the comment, the post-match statement by Edoardo Santarelli: "The final draw felt like a defeat. We played a great game, showing good offensive play at times, but in some situations, we were not sharp and perhaps too hasty. The score was often in our favor, with a lead that we failed to consolidate. This draw makes our race to the playoffs more complicated, but in such a balanced championship, where each match has its own story and the outcomes are unpredictable, nothing is yet decided."