The battle for the Montenegrin champion, well-known bitter rivals, the second act - and once again a great match, once again decided through a penalty shootout. And once again with the same winner.
The Jadran M:tel water polo team defeated Primorac in the second match of the final for the Montenegrin champion 15:14 and now only a victory separates them from the championship crown.
The team from Kotor had a big plus three (8:5) at the end of the third quarter, the team from Novi came back and with the score tied at 9:9, they had an attack to win, they did not use it, but they were calmer when taking the penalty kicks and are getting closer to returning the cup to Škver.
The hero was again Darko Đurović, who saved a penalty from Dragan Drašković in the sixth series, after which Aleksandar Ivović was safe on the other side.
Strahinja Gojković's mesmerizing lob was all Jadran had in the attack during the first quarter. During that time, Primorac, led by Đorđi Stanojević and Srđan Janović, went up 3:1.
By the break, the team from Novi woke up a little, despite the great defense from Kotor - thanks to Matija Sladović, it was 4:4, but Primorac was much better in the third quarter.
During those eight minutes, Vjekoslav Pasković's team reached a big 8:5, and Vladimir Gojković's team was not helped by the fact that Darko Đurović "took down" two penalty boxes.
Just as Primorac didn't give up in the first match, Jadran didn't give up this time either, and with goals from Jovan Vujović (a great assist from Uroš Vučurović), Sladović (another great lob) and Danilo Stupar, they reached 8:8 midway through the final period.
When it was the hardest for the 2009 European champions, the captain was there - Draško Bruguljan scored for 9:8.
However, that didn't "kill" the team from Novalja either - Vasilije Radović, after a great assist from Sladović, brought another equalizer, and Vujović had the match ball for 2:0, but his shot was saved by Dragoljub Ćetković, so the second final match also went to a penalty shootout.
And, the Adriatic was calmer and better there this time too.
The third, perhaps decisive, match will be played on Saturday in Herceg Novi.
PRIMORAC - JADRAN M:TEL 14:15 (3:1, 2:3, 3:2, 1:3, 5:6)
Kotor: Zoran Džimi Gopčević Pool. Spectators: 1.100. Judges: Andrija Đurašković and Stanko Ivanovski.
Primorac: Massaro (five saves), Brguljan 1, S. Ćetković 1, Šušiašvili 2, Murišić 1, Drašković 1, Matković 3, Janović 1, Vico, Brkić 1, P. Ćetković, Stanojević 4, D. Ćetković (five saves), Vučković 2.
Jadran: Đurović (16 saves), Holod 2, Vučurović, Obradović, Vujović 1, D. Radović 2, Lazić, Gojković 2, Ivović 2, Sladović 4, Milojević, V. Radović 1, I. Radović, Stupar 1.
Bonus video:
