Water polo, series C: The Giallorossi take three points against Jesina, second in the standings
Ravenna Water Polo – Jesina Water Polo: 10 – 9 (2-23-23-2, 2-3)
Ravenna Water Polo: Natalino, Cimatti (2), Amore, Merlo (1), Giulianini, Baroncelli (1), Bandini, Valentini (1), Ciccone (5), Ponti, Agatensi, Dradi. All. Cukic.
Jesina Water Polo: Nitrati, Mattei, Sebastianelli, Gambelli, Mocchegiani, Ciampichetti (3), Zannini (2), Mancinelli, Chitarroni (2), Paolucci, Chiorrini, Moreschini (2), Pecci.
Referee: L. Borsari
The Ravenna team coached by Vladimir Cukic continues its positive streak and also wins in the return match, within friendly walls, against Jesina who are fighting for the play offs for promotion to Serie C, at the end of a hard-fought match played with great intensity from both teams.
The Marche team are a very difficult and well-prepared team, despite the problems of the swimming pool in Ancona which forces them to train in conditions that are certainly not ideal and their season proves it, since they sail in the very top parts of the table.
Very intense match from the start, with the guests defending with very aggressive pressing and taking the lead, but first Ciccone in numerical superiority and then Baroncelli with a precise shot from outside put the Giallorossi back ahead, who however suffered the opponent’s equalizer and we went at the change of ends at 2-2.
The second period of play starts again with the Marche players scoring with numerical superiority but then there is a break for the Ravenna team who extend their lead with a 3-0 partial thanks to Cimatti’s goal with an insistent action that puts him in front of the goalkeeper opponent, Ciccone from distance and Merlo in numerical superiority. The guests, however, remain attached to the match, scoring with numerical superiority and we go to the change of ends with the Giallorossi ahead with a score of 5-4.
Mister Cukic: “It was a very difficult match and we knew it. For us it was essential to give continuity to the results we are achieving in this second round. We are still growing and we had prepared well for the match. We still have to work on controlling emotions, because today we risked compromising everything due to excessive reactions from some of our kids.”
In fact, Baroncelli and Giulianini, after being expelled for reaching the limit for fouls, protested excessively and blatantly and will certainly be disqualified for the next match against Carpi.
After the change of pitch and the guests’ draw, the Giallorossi had to deal with a series of temporary expulsions which put their defensive phase to the test, but Natalino’s excellent saves and a few too many errors from the Marche team allowed the Ravenna to maintain and increase the advantage thanks to two more goals from Ciccone and the beautiful goal from Valentini from a mid-point position and we go to the last and decisive period with the score 8-6 and the game still very open.
The fourth and final period begins with the guests getting closer but then it’s Cimatti who scores his brace of the day with another good entry from position 1 and Ciccone who scores from long distance, bringing his team to +3 to minus two minutes to go.
The last two minutes are managed by the Ravenna team in a somewhat confusing manner and allow Jesina to get closer, but it is too late and the Giallorossi can legitimately celebrate another good victory, albeit a very painful one.
Cukic again: “The match was very intense and we confirmed our good moment. Apart from the battleship Rari Nantes Bologna, we are achieving excellent results against the teams ahead of us in the standings and this is important, even if a better start to the season would have led us to a quieter championship and in the medium-high positions of the standings. Today went well, but in such tight matches, mistakes are punished and we have to learn to stay calm in crucial moments. Now we will have to face the match against Carpi without Baroncelli and Giulianini, two fundamental players. ”
Next Saturday, May 1st, the Giallorossi will receive Coopernuoto Carpi, which is playing an excellent championship with the starting whistle at the “Gambi” swimming pool at 6.30 pm.
In the photo: Eugenio Natalino, decisive with his interventions in defense of the Ravenna posts
