Ferencvaros produced a devastating first-half performance against Novi Beograd, while Alvaro Granados scored an extraordinary 15 goals for Pro Recco as the Black Sea International Cup got underway in Georgia on Thursday.
Three matches opened the competition, with Ferencvaros, Pro Recco and Marseille all recording convincing victories. However, it was the Hungarian champions’ remarkable start against Novi Beograd that provided the most striking contest of the day.
Ferencvaros overwhelm Novi Beograd
Ferencvaros underlined their quality with a commanding 20–14 victory over Novi Beograd, having established a ten-goal advantage midway through the second quarter.
The Serbian side actually opened the scoring through a Vasilije Martinovic penalty, but what followed was an extraordinary response from Zsolt Varga’s Hungarian champions.
Ferencvaros scored ten consecutive goals without reply, taking control of the contest with a 5–1 first quarter before extending their advantage to 11–1 during the second period.
Novi Beograd eventually found some attacking rhythm, but the damage had already been done. Ferencvaros led 11–4 at half-time, and although the Serbian club outscored their opponents 10–9 after the interval, the result was never seriously threatened.
Stylianos Argyropoulos, Edoardo Di Somma and Vendel Vigvari scored three goals apiece for Ferencvaros, while Dusan Mandic, Marton Vamos, Krisztian Manhercz and Vince Varga each contributed two.
Martinovic finished as the match’s leading scorer with six goals for Novi Beograd, with Nika Shushiashvili adding three.
The six-goal final margin arguably flattered Novi Beograd, such was the gulf between the teams during the opening stages.
Granados scores 15 as Recco cruise
Alvaro Granados delivered an astonishing individual performance as Pro Recco defeated Japanese representatives Bourbon Kashiwazaki 26–5 in Group A.
The Spanish international scored 15 goals from 21 attempts, accounting for more than half of Recco’s total.
Sandro Sukno’s side raced into an 8–1 lead after the opening quarter and held a 13–3 advantage at half-time. A dominant 7–0 third period removed any remaining doubt about the outcome.
Max Irving and Tommaso Gianazza contributed three goals each, while Gergo Zalanki added two. Giacomo Cannella registered four assists.
For Bourbon Kashiwazaki, Takanori Maeno scored twice, with Sora Ikeda, Tatsumasa Yoneda and Issei Noda each finding the net once.
The Japanese club entered the competition following the withdrawal of Olympiacos and Barceloneta.
Marseille overcome stubborn Dinamo Tbilisi
Marseille began their campaign with a 13–4 victory over Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi, although the final score did not entirely reflect the resistance offered by the hosts.
Dinamo opened the scoring through Artsiom Dzikhtsiarenka before Marseille responded with four unanswered goals to lead 4–1 after the first quarter.
The Georgian team then produced an impressive defensive second period, preventing Marseille from scoring and reducing the deficit to 4–2 at half-time.
However, Marseille eventually asserted their superiority, winning the third quarter 5–1 before adding four further goals in the final period.
Thomas Vernoux led the French side with four goals, including three penalties, while Ugo Crousillat contributed two.
Dzikhtsiarenka scored twice for Dinamo, with Fiodar Averka also on the scoresheet.
Hannover delayed by travel disruption
The opening day’s programme was also affected by travel difficulties involving Waspo Hannover.
The German side were stranded in Istanbul for two days due to adverse weather conditions, forcing the postponement of their Group A fixture against tournament hosts A-Polo Sport Management.
The match has been rescheduled for Saturday, 17 October, at 10:00 CEST.
Results – Thursday, 15 October
Group A
Pro Recco 26–5 Bourbon Kashiwazaki
Group B
Dinamo Tbilisi 4–13 Marseille
Ferencvaros 20–14 Novi Beograd
Friday, 16 October – Fixtures (CEST)
12:00 – Novi Beograd vs Marseille
14:00 – Bourbon Kashiwazaki vs Waspo Hannover
16:00 – Ferencvaros vs Dinamo Tbilisi
18:00 – A-Polo Sport Management vs Pro Recco
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