The company is only for self-esteem but he doesn’t avoid the play outs at the Waterpolo Palermo. The team coached by Mario Raimondo it imposes itself at home on Lazio 11-10 on the penultimate day of Southern group of the A2 men’s water polo championship but Acquachiara’s simultaneous away success against Latina maintains the four-point gap between the two teams and sends the Sicilians to the play-offs with Anzio Waterpolis to avoid the nightmare of relegation to Serie B.
A success, hard-earned and arrived two seconds from the end on a penalty converted by Galioto, which allows Waterpolo Palermo to consolidate the third-to-last position at 18 while Anzio Waterpolis, who conquered the swimming pool of the Polisportiva Delta, are in the standings and already resigned to the ranking, she is five points away. This crystallizes the positions and from a play-off perspective gives a nice advantage to the Sicilian red and whites who will play the eventual winner within friendly walls.
Raimondo, “Satisfied with all the kids”
The satisfaction for the good result against a very solid team contrasts with the disappointment for the certainty of having to play in the play outs and not being able to play for salvation on the last day in the direct clash at Acquachiara’s home ground. The coach talks about the match: “We played as a team for almost the entire match. We were almost always ahead and limited their strengths. I am partially satisfied with all the boys and in particular with Modica and Randazzo who are two rookies in the category and yesterday were important in different moments of the race”.
And then he talks about the season: “The team perhaps on paper should not participate in the playouts but unfortunately due to many of our demerits we were not good at being constant and compact throughout the season. In the end the pitch is always right and for this reason we must stay on track to achieve salvation. The company deserves to remain in the category and we must do everything to achieve this objective”.
Waterpolo Palermo concentrated
The match against Lazio, potentially decisive, started well for the home team who with the expert Eskert and Migliaccio took the lead to 2-0 after 3’14”. Costanzo shortens but Galioto converts the penalty at the end to make it 3-1 in the first set.
In the second period the guests have a good start: Marini and Leporale equalize. Eskert puts his team ahead 4-3, then the guests with Dominici make it 4-4. Pettonati, Marini and Randazzo send the two teams into halftime at 6-5 for the Palermo team.
In the third set, Galioto converted a penalty, then Bucan shortened it. The signatures alternate. Mattarella sends the teams to the fourth period at 9-7.
The last half is dramatic: Lazio with Leporale and Dominici grabs the equalizer by eliminating the double advantage. Migliaccio brings the Palermitans back ahead but Olivi with numerical superiority immediately equalizes.
The balance remains until two seconds from the end then Migliaccio is cool from five meters and converts the penalty which gives the three points to the red and whites.
The scoreboard
Waterpolo Palermo-Lazio 11-10
Partial: 3-1 3-4 3-2 2-3
Waterpolo Palermo: G. Cuccia, D. Puglisi, G. Galioto 2, M. Migliaccio 3, N. Eskert 3, L. Modica, F. Pettonati 1, A. Rotolo, D. Geloso, P. Mattarella 1, D. Randazzo 1 , R. Carapezza, V. Rausei, C. Pettonati. Trainer M. Raimondo
Lazio: F. PiccionettiA. Barigelli, F. Dominici 2, G. Giacomone, A. Olivi 1, L. Marini 2, N. Bucan 1, A. Costanzo 1, M. Leporale 2, N. Troiani 1, N. Gatto, A. Nenni, M. Marchetti, D. Tresa. Trainer D. Ruffelli
Referees: Carmignani and Torneo
Note. Trojans (L) out due to fouls in the fourth half. Numerical superiorities: Palermo 6/9 + 3 penalties and Lazio 4/7. Spectators: approximately 200.
Serie A2 men’s South group, the results of the 21st matchday
Saturday 27 April
- Sailing Swimming Ancona-Canottieri Napoli 9-11
- Bricobros Arechi-Rari nantes Auditore 13-15
- Latina-Acquachiara Ati 2000 8-11
- Ischia Marine Club-Olympic Roma 7-11
- Delta-Anzio Waterpolis Sports Center 9-16
- Waterpolo Palermo-Lazio 11-10
Classification
Napoli rowers 56 points; Rare Nantes Auditore 49; Olympic Rome 37; Lazio Swimming 36; Sailing Swimming Ancona 34; Ischia Marine Club and Bricobross Arechi 32; Latin 31; Acquachiara Ati 2000 22; Waterpolo Palermo 18; Anzio Waterpolis 13; Delta 2 sports hall.
