B M – Pescara, bitter penalties. Roma 2020 wins game-1 of the final. Now they need to win in Monterotondo

Penalty shots give Roma 2020 game-1 of the Serie B playoff final, after the 11-11 result at the end of the four quarters. An ending that effectively shifts the balance, giving the Romans the home court advantage and especially the match point at home, on Wednesday night, when game-2 will take place in Monterotondo. The game at Palapallanuoto was tense and balanced, with Pescara starting stronger and the guests doing well in the second half. The Delfino managed to recover from a three-goal deficit in the last minutes, also thanks to Brandoni's saves, but errors from De Santis and Di Pasquale in the penalties paved the way for the visitor's victory. Game-2 will be on June 5th starting at 9:30 PM.

For Pescara, goals by Foglio (5), Calcaterra (3), Di Pasquale, Micheletti, and Cunko. For Roma 2020, goals by Moroni (3), Spinelli (2), Valenti (2), Cariello (2), Fiorita, and Alessandrini.

Penalty Sequence: Cunko goal, Cariello goal, Calcaterra goal, Fabrucci goal, De Santis saved, Alessandrini goal, Volpe goal, Valenti post, Di Pasquale saved, Giacomozzi goal.

QUARTERS: 2-1, 3-5, 3-3, 3-2

"Losing on penalties is disappointing, but we must immediately focus on game-2," said coach Emanuela Iezzi at the end. "We faced a tough team, well-prepared. In the first part, we tried to take control of the game, then we found ourselves chasing. Probably we were a bit hasty in attack, but with a lot of determination we managed to equalize. Then we know that penalties are a lottery." But the series is not over: "It won't be easy, but now our goal is clear, to win in Monterotondo to force a decisive match back here in Pescara. The players need to be able to digest the disappointment of game-1 because the games are not over yet."

Adriano De Stephanis
Press Office Pescara Water Polo
In the picture, the team with coach Di Fulvio and coach Iezzi