Defending champions Jug avenged their day two loss to Strasbourg by beating the French side in Dubrovnik on Thursday to keep their hopes of making the Eight Finals alive. Elsewhere, Vouliagmeni scraped past Panionios to maintain the pressure on Ortigia, Szolnok eased past Duisburg to retake second place from Mladost, and Sabac and Panathinaikos are all set for a do-or-die clash in Serbia after both emerged victorious in round five.
Group A
AN Brescia (ITA) 11-11 (5-4P) GS Apollon Smyrnis (GRE)
VK Jug AO Dubrovnik (CRO) 15-11 Team Strasbourg (FRA)
- AN Brescia – 14 – 14pts
- VK Jug AO Dubrovnik – 6 – 6pts
- Team Strasbourg – 6 – 6pts
- GS Apollon Smyrnis – 4 – 4pts
Title-holders VK Jug AO Dubrovnik had some scores to settle with Team Strasbourg after their disappointing 16-13 loss in France on day two.
The hosts may have been missing their Croatian ace Maro Jokovic, but the rest of Vjekoslav Kobescak’s young squad more than made up for his absence by storming into an 8-3 lead by half-time.
Strasbourg struggled to break through Jug’s rigid defence, and with Vlado Popadic and Martin Gardasevic both seeing their penalties saved by Toni Popadic in the first half, the tone of the game was possibly set.
With the drumbeat inside the arena growing louder with each passing minute, Jug expertly closed the match out, always maintaining a four-goal lead. Marko Zuvela top-scored with four goals for the Croatians, who will also be pleased with the winning margin as it might be crucial in the race for the final runners-up spot in the group.
Elsewhere, GS Apollon Smyrnis were three seconds away from pulling off what would have been a sensational victory away at AN Brescia.
After an end-to-end thriller, which saw the visitors lead by two late in the fourth quarter, Mateo Giri became Brescia’s saviour. His two goals inside the final minute levelled the scores at 11-11. His equaliser was a stunner, halting a counter-attack with three seconds remaining and scoring in one motion. Apollon goalkeeper Konstantinos Limarakis could only watch as the ball fizzed past him.
In the shootout, Brescia’s Max Irving and Apollon’s Nikolaos Gardikas both had penalties saved, and Nikola Bogdanovic’s miss allowed Brescia to take the two points.
Group B
CC Ortigia 1928 (ITA) 10-9 BVSC-Manna ABC (HUN)
Panionios GSS (GRE) 10-11 Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)
- BVSC-Manna ABC – 12 – 12pts
- CC Ortigia 1928 – 9 – 9pts
- Vouliagmeni NC – 6 – 6pts
- Panionios GSS – 3 – 3pts
BVSC-Manna ABC’s winning run came to an abrupt end as CC Ortigia 1928 deservedly claimed the three points to tighten their grip on second place.
A powerful 3-0 surge inside the opening four minutes, with two goals from Giorgio La Rosa and one from Eduardo Campopiano, gave the Italians the perfect foundation. BVSC managed to level twice but never took the lead. Francesco Cassia’s hat-trick sealed the win, with his final goal coming just as the shot clock expired.
BVSC’s David Tatrai nearly sent the game to penalties with a late effort, but veteran Stefano Tempesti and the crossbar denied him.
In the other match, Vouliagmeni NC edged Panionios GSS in an all-Greek affair. Despite a strong start from Vouliagmeni, including a five-goal lead at the final break, Panionios mounted a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter but fell just short. Vouliagmeni’s win keeps their hopes of qualification alive as they prepare for a decisive match against BVSC.
Group C
Szolnoki Dozsa-Praktiker (HUN) 16-12 ASC Duisburg (GER)
Pro Recco Waterpolo (ITA) 7-4 HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
- Pro Recco Waterpolo – 15 – 15pts
- Szolnoki Dozsa-Praktiker – 8 – 8pts
- HAVK Mladost Zagreb – 7 – 7pts
- ASC Duisburg – 0 – 0pts
Szolnoki Dozsa-Praktiker moved back into second place with a commanding win over ASC Duisburg. A spectacular 6-1 second quarter set up the victory, despite a late push from Duisburg.
Head coach Zoltan Hangay expressed satisfaction with the result but noted areas for improvement as Szolnok gears up for a decisive clash against Pro Recco.
In the group’s other match, Pro Recco maintained their perfect record with a 7-4 win over HAVK Mladost. Despite a low-scoring affair, Recco’s defense and game management ensured they remain the only team with maximum points.
Group D
VK Sabac Elixir (SRB) 12-10 CN Barcelona (ESP)
Panathinaikos AC (GRE) 14-11 Endo Plus Service Honved (HUN)
Standings:
- CN Barcelona 12pts
- Panathinaikos AC 9pts
- VK Sabac Elixir 9pts
- Endo Plus Service Honved 0pts
VK Sabac Elixir delivered a thrilling 12-10 victory over CN Barcelona, overcoming an early deficit to set up a decisive final-day clash against Panathinaikos.
Despite trailing at halftime, Sabac’s resilience shone through, with Ognjen Stojanovic scoring six goals, including the decisive strikes in the fourth quarter.
Panathinaikos’ victory over Endo Plus Service Honved also kept their hopes alive. A strong second half saw them overturn a halftime deficit and secure a 14-11 win, setting up a dramatic final showdown with Sabac for the runners-up spot.