Radnički played great for ten minutes, then suffered a heavy defeat in the first match of the European Cup final
The water polo team of Radnički suffered a heavy defeat in the first match of the European Cup final, as the Italian team Pro Reko won against a packed crowd in Kragujevac with a score of 16:12 (2:4, 5:2, 3:2, 6:4). The rematch will take place in Genoa on May 24, but Uroš Stevanović's team faces a tough task.
The match between two teams that could certainly compete for the Champions League trophy lived up to expectations, as the audience could enjoy a top-quality game with beautiful goals. Fans were particularly pleased in the first ten minutes when the home team led 2-0, then 5-2 and 6-3, but then there was a significant drop in the home team's performance and a brilliant series by the visitors, who managed to overturn the result by the end of the first half.
The hosts started the game excellently and took a 2-0 lead with goals from Nikola Jakšić and Valiko Dadvani, maintaining that lead until the end of the first quarter – 4-2. The people of Kragujevac even had a "+3" advantage at the start of the second period, following a goal from the experienced Duško Pijetlović from the center (5-2), but then they faltered and allowed the experienced opponents to recover from the initial shock and turn the score around before halftime – 7-6.
At the start of the second half, Strahinja Rašović leveled the score (7-7), but then a new series by the Italians followed, giving them a three-goal lead (10-7).
The people from Šumadija had quite a few problems adapting to the referee's criteria, which often sparked strong reactions. They played almost the entire second half without the left-handed Boris Vapenski, whose expulsion further limited their options.
Stevanović's players did not give up, and after two minutes of play in the final quarter and two consecutive goals by Valiko Dadvani, they closed in to 11-10, but then Pro Reko got an advantage with two extra players and used that momentum to fend off the attack. They took advantage of it and built a substantial lead before the rematch at their own pool.
The Italian team was led to victory by the captain of the national team, Francesco di Fulvio, with five goals, followed by Matteo Aicardi with three. In Radnički's team, Strahinja Rašović and Valiko Dadvani scored three goals each, while captain Nikola Jakšić added two.
The rematch is set for May 24 in Genoa.
Radnički – Pro Reko 16:12 (4:2, 2:5, 2:3, 4:6)
RADNIČKI: Filipović, Rašović 3, Stanojević, Janković, Dadvani 3, Pijetlović 1, Drašović, N. Jakšić 2, Vasić 1, Vapenski, P. Jakšić 1, Murišić 1, Todorovski. Coach: Uroš Stevanović.
PRO REKO: Del Lungo, Di Fulvio 5, Durik 1, Kanela 2, Janger, Fondeli 2, Prešuti, Ečenike 1, Joki Grata 3, Vujošević, Kondemi 2, Halok, Negri. Coach: Sandro Sukno.
