A1 M – Brescia vs Pro Recco 13-12
Pro Recco falls to Brescia 13-12, leaving the Lombards at the top of the standings due to the results in head-to-head matches: the first defeat of the season in the championship will lead the white-and-sky-blue team to face Savona in the Scudetto semifinals starting on Sunday, April 27th. Always chasing throughout the game, captain Di Fulvio's five goals are not enough. With Brescia leading 13-9, Pro Recco almost stages a comeback, but Presciutti's goal to make it 13-12 comes 54 seconds before the final buzzer, and on the last shot of the match, Di Fulvio is denied by Baggi Necchi.
Sukno without Echenique and Fondelli, while Faraglia is absent from Brescia. Less than two minutes into the game, a magic move by Di Fulvio, dribbling past Irving, puts the Italian champions ahead. Del Lungo saves two Lombard man-up situations, but cannot stop Del Basso's turnaround at two meters to tie the game early in the second half. Pro Recco immediately plays well with a man-up situation as Di Fulvio sets up Hallock for a goal (1-2). Two converted penalties by Balzarini and Dolce allow the Lombards to turn the match around (3-2) with 120 seconds left: the score remains unchanged, and the first eight minutes see Brescia in the lead.
A penalty scored by Irving early in the second half puts the home team up by two. Pro Recco earns a penalty as well with a great move by Condemi: Younger converts from five meters (4-3). At the fourth minute, Brescia regains a two-goal lead with a shot by Del Basso in a man-up situation assisted by Dolce (5-3). Pro Recco also takes advantage of their man-up opportunity with Iocchi Gratta rising high to score a deflected ball past Baggi Necchi (5-4). With 90 seconds left, Di Fulvio equalizes from position 2 (5-5). The balance lasts only for a moment as Irving, with Demarchi in the pit, beats Del Lungo from position 3. Thirteen seconds before the buzzer, Captain Di Fulvio scores his third goal: white-and-sky-blue number 2 is fouled by Ferrero, who is expelled, and manages to beat the home goalkeeper for 6-6 to conclude the first half.
Irving, from position 2 in a man-up situation, puts Brescia ahead again early in the third quarter. Condemi scores from a penalty to level the game. The balance does not last long: Guerrato turns at center and scores to make it 8-7, then Dolce does the same for a new two-goal lead for Lombardy. Pro Recco relies on Di Fulvio, who scores his fourth goal in a man-up situation with 100 seconds left for 9-8. However, towards the end of the third quarter, a stolen ball from Younger opens the door for Del Basso, who scores easily in front of Del Lungo to make it 10-8, closing the first 24 minutes of play.
In less than a minute of the fourth quarter, Condemi earns a penalty that Younger converts (10-9). Despite Gitto, Irving, and Balzarini being expelled for three fouls, Brescia still finds a two-goal lead with Guerrato, lethal in a man-up situation. Ferrero in a counterattack puts the home team up 12-9, then Guerrato takes advantage of Younger's expulsion to make it 13-9, sealing the victory. Pro Recco doesn't give up, with Iocchi Gratta shortening the lead three minutes before the end, and Di Fulvio scoring his fifth goal with 80 seconds remaining (13-11). The Italian champions come close with Presciutti breaking free in front of Baggi Necchi with 54 seconds left. Sukno's team would have had the chance to equalize, but Di Fulvio is stopped by Baggi Necchi.
"Brescia has always been ahead of us, we couldn't bring our game to the pool - admits Sukno after the game. Our commitment was maximum, but we couldn’t make it. We move forward, we are second but today we didn't lose any cups, just a game that meant a bit more. We prepare for Savona, we try to forget this evening, after defeats you always have to start fresh: there will be a lot of tension, a Ligurian derby, but we train for these matches and hope to recover as much energy as possible."
AN BRESCIA-PRO RECCO WATERPOLO 13-12
AN BRESCIA: T. Baggi Necchi, M. Del Basso 4, S. Guerrato 2, N. Casanova, A. Balzarini 1, T. Gianazza, V. Dolce 2, M. Giri, J. Alesiani, F. Ferrero 1, M. Irving 3, N. Gitto, F. Massenza Milani. Coach: Bovo
PRO RECCO WATERPOLO: M. Del Lungo, F. Di Fulvio 5, Durik, G. Cannella, A. Younger 2, L. Demarchi, N. Presciutti 1, S. Scarmi, M. Iocchi Gratta 2, J. Larsen, F. Condemi 1, B. Hallock 1, T. Negri, Haverkampf. Coach: Sukno
Referees: Navarra and Ercoli
Periods: 3-2, 3-4, 4-2, 3-4.
Each team was man-up 5/15 times for Brescia + 3 penalties, and 5/14 times for Pro Recco + 2 penalties.
Players ejected due to fouls: Gitto (B) in the third period, Irving (B), Ferrero (B), Guerrato (B), Cannella (PR), Younger (PR), and Del Lungo (PR) in the fourth period.
Pro Recco Waterpolo Press Office
Photo Credit Schenone
