Gzira. Pro Recco falls from the throne of Europe after three consecutive triumphs. They handed over the scepter to Ferencvaros who prevailed 12-11 in the last act of the Final Four of the Champions League in Malta.
At the National Pool Complex in Gzira, an uphill match for the Italian champions who struggled to contain the physicality of Ferencvaros. As reported by Federnuoto.it, the Recchelini paid for the heavy 3-0 break they received in the second set. The Hungarians lead 6-4 after two periods and reached their maximum advantage (8-5) in the third period. In the last quarter we restart from 9-7 for the Hungarians. Pro Recco pulls out its claws by shortening with Younger on a penalty. Iocchi Gratti scores the equalizer, but it is canceled out by the VAR: Zalanki, in fact, commits a naivety (foul on Merkulov) and is sent off for brutality. Recco punished with a penalty against – converted by Mandic – and four minutes, out of as many remaining, in numerical inferiority. It is obviously the decisive episode of a spectacular match, very close and played between two powers of European water polo.
In third place is Olympiakos who beat Novi Beograd 9-6 in the final for third place.
The Pro Recco-FTC Telekom Budapest match. The first attack comes from the Ligurians: Di Fulvio shoots at the post, the ball returns to Younger who misses the target. The Hungarians pass with Vigvari’s accelerating shot which goes over Del Lungo’s head, perhaps slightly late in his save (1-0). Iocchi Gratta responds immediately with a fantastic volley on a pinpoint assist from Younger (1-1). Recco turns the score around with the counterattack started by Di Fulvio and concluded by Cannella, his turn is excellent, for the 2-1. Del Lungo is monumental on Fekete’s close shot; Vogel is equally reactive on Condemi’s scarf. Ferencvaros takes advantage of the chance with a double superiority: Di Somma scores for the 2-2 which ends the first half.
It resumes with a rare powerful bolt from Mandic from eight meters for the 3-2 which brings the Hungarians back ahead. The 3-3 comes immediately with Younger leaving Vogel no chance from the perimeter. Magiari were deadly in extraplayer and took the lead again with Jansik’s diagonal shot which made it 4-3. Iocchi Gratta takes center stage as he evades Mandic’s mark from two meters away and capitalizes on Zalanki’s “cross” (4-4); Jansik responds with a superb volley from a tight angle (5-4). Ferencvaros escapes with Mandic who surprises Del Lungo from zone four for the 6-4 midway through the match.
The Ligurians get off to a flying start and get back in the wake of the Kakaris Bedouin (6-5). The Italian champions increase the pressure but do not reap the benefits: Condemi is too soft in marking Argyropoulos who scores the 7-5 from three metres. It’s 8-5 with Varga converting the penalty won by Di Somma (foul by Presciutti). Sukno calls time out, to try to shake up his boys who listen, understand and close the gap with Zalanki (extraplayer) for 8-6 and an eternity still to play. Di Somma commits a foul in transition and Hallock is released and turns the invitation into a goal with Cannella’s counter (8-7). Del Lungo is encyclopedic on Di Somma’s stone from the perimeter but then can’t do anything on Argyropoulos (zone two) to make it 9-7. Tired teams and rhythms that drop a bit. Pro Recco wastes a couple of chances on the counterattack and Ferencvaros starts to play with ball possession. It’s 9-7 with eight minutes to go.
Pro Recco increases the pressure but Condemi, too hasty, wastes the double opportunity in extra player (outside Di Somma and Fekete). Cannella starts coast to coast and takes the penalty which the glacial Younger converts for the 9-8 which gives six minutes to live. Del Lungo surpasses Mandic, relaunches the action and Iocchi Gratta from seven meters establishes the 9-9 but the twist arrives: goal canceled because Zalanki is sent off for brutality (foul in the center on Merkulov). Recco was obviously punished with a penalty against and four minutes in numerical inferiority. Mandic converts the penalty to make it 10-8. Ball in the center and recchelini in the wake with Di Fulvio served perfectly by Echenique (10-9). There isn’t a moment’s respite: a very quick back and forth between Varga (perimeter) and Di Fulvio (short side) to make it 11-10. Mandic scores the 12-10 with a nice splash shot. Kakaris bends Vogel’s hands and brings the score to 12-11. All schemes fail. Del Lungo is miraculous on Argyropoulos and Vogel on Kakaris: fifty seconds left to go. Del Lungo is still exceptional on Janski. Sukno takes his second time out nineteen seconds from the end. Last shot entrusted to Condemi but on his way he finds the arm of Mandic who recovers the ball and gives the Champions League to Ferencvaros.
Malta’s Final Four grid
Finals – Friday 7 June
1st place final: Pro Recco-FTC Telekom Budapest 11-12 (2-2, 2-4, 3-3, 4-3)
PRO RECCO: Del Lungo, Di Fulvio 2, Zalanki 1, Cannella 1, Younger 2 (1 pen.), Fondelli, Presciutti, Echenique, Condemi, Kakaris 2, Iocchi Gratta 2, Hallock 1, Negri. All. Sukno
FTC TELEKOM BUDAPEST: Szakonyi, Mandic 4 (1 pen.), Pohl, Merkulov, Argyropoulos 2, Di Somma 1, Fekete, Vigvari 1, Nemet, Varga 2 (1 pen.), Jansik 2, Nagy, Vogel. All. Nyeki
3rd place final: Olympiakos-Novi Beograd 9-6 (4-1, 3-3, 1-1, 1-1)
Scorers of the match: for Olympiakos Fountoulis 3 (1 pen.), Vamos 2, Genidounias 2 (1 pen.), Dimou, Gkillas; for Novi Beograd Cuk 2 (2 pens.), Martinovic, Drasovic, Jaksic, Vlachopoulos.
Semi-finals – Wednesday 4 June
Pro Recco-Olympiakos 13-11 dtr (9-9 – 3-0, 1-2, 3-3, 2-4 – 4-2)
Scorers of the match: for Recco Echenique, Cannella, Condemi, Younger 2, Hallock, Di Fulvio 2, Zalanki; for Olympiakos Genidounias 3 (1 pen), Vamos 2 (1 pen), Fontoulis, Papanastasiou, Alafragkis, Dimou.
FTC Telekom Budapest-Novi Beograd dtr 18-17 (13-13 – 4-4, 3-2, 5-4, 1-3 5-4)
Scorers of the match: for Budapest Vigvari, Mandic 5 (1 penalty), Janisk, Argytopoulos 2, Di Somma, Merkulov 3; for Beograd Pijetlovic 2, Drasovic, Vlachopoulos 4, Lukic, Radulovic, Filipovic, Skoumpakis, Cuk 2 (1 pen).
