A match for all tastes and only a point as a consolation

The Montenegrin water polo team experienced its second defeat at the Olympic Games in Paris - Greece was better in five games (17:16). The "Sharks" had the advantage almost all the time, on two occasions and a three-goal advantage, but they had to accept another failure

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Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

From the special reporter "Vijesti"

Not even after 10 years, Montenegrin water polo players have not beaten Greece in the biggest competitions, and after 32 minutes of fighting in the "Aquatic Center" in Paris, it is not easy for anyone to accept that the negative series did not end just last night in the 2nd round of Group A of the Olympic tournament.

Montenegro simply had everything, head and tail to put it jargon, against the current Olympic vice-champion, but for the umpteenth time, it missed the chance to crown the top game with a triumph over the favorite - it lost by five points (17:16, 12:12 in the regular part ) which she barely managed two seconds before the end, despite being in the lead almost the entire time.

Unfortunately, it must exist for the simple reason that the "sharks" finally played at the top level - just like that, top. Patient in attack, with only one missed shot with a player more (nine out of 10), fanatical in defense... Everything was simply there, but instead of winning three big points, our selection reached one - it's not unimportant either, it can and he should judge at the end, but that would mean that serious calculations were made on the way to the quarterfinals.

Montenegro was already without in the first minute Vladan Spaić who was sent off with the right of substitution after, it turned out, he entered the game too early. The center of Marseille thought that the goal was conceded to the Greeks in an attack with more players, that the action was over, and the pair of referees did not celebrate in that situation. The rules say that Spaić had to be sent off and that his mistake should be punished with a five-point penalty. Thus, the Hellenes took a 1:0 lead Genidunias.

And from that moment on, it's a team Vladimir Gojković was in control of both the game and the results - he led 4:2 at the end of the first quarter, at the beginning of the second and 5:2 when he entered Marko Mršić. The "sharks" flirted then and with a plus four, it didn't happen, and the last time they had three differences was in the middle of the second period when it was 7:4.

In the second part, a "war" was seen in the pool, the Greeks were getting closer, Montenegro was repelling the attack, until four minutes to the end and a goal was scored. Kakarisa for 10:10, and that from a deduction since our national team defended with one less player. Then it was 11:11, Greece took the lead for the first time 29 seconds before the end with the third goal Vlahopulosa, but he had the last word Vasilije Radović.

There were only two seconds left, and Jadran's defender sent the ball under the crossbar in 12:12 and won the five-pointer. Only one mistake was seen in them, he shook the crossbar Bogdan Đurđić, so Montenegro won a point, and Greece two.

Vlado Popadić was a four-time scorer in our team, two goals were scored by Vasilije, Djuro Radovic and Mršić, while they shook the net once each Stefan Vidovic and Đurđić.

The next rival is the toughest possible - Italy, which yesterday easily defeated Croatia (14:11), after being convincing in the opening match with the United States - 12:8.

MONTENEGRO - GREECE 16:17 - AFTER PETERAC (4:2, 3:3, 2:3, 3:4)

Paris - "Aquatics Arena". Spectators: 4.900. Judges: Ome (Germany), Kovač-Čatloš (Hungary). Player more: Montenegro 10 (9), Greece 14 (6). Peterci: Greece 1 (1).

Montenegro: Lazović, Mršić 2, Perković, Vujović, Mačić, Popadić 4, Vidović 1, Đurđić 1, Đ. Radović 2, Spaić, Matković, V. Radović 2, Tešanović (seven saves).

Grade: Cerdevas (dedicated), Genidunijas 1, Skubakis 1, Kalogeropulos 2, Fudulis 1, Papanastasiju 1, Gilas 1, Argiropulos 1, Papanikolaou, Kakaris 1, Nikolaidis, Vlahopulos 3, Corcatos.

Standings provided by Sofascore

Bonus video: