It could have been an epic turnaround, a sensation that would have launched the Montenegrin water polo players into the quarterfinals of the European Championship, but against Croatia, the "sharks" simply couldn't do it.
The "Barracudas" celebrated 11:10 in the round derby and secured a direct placement among the eight best teams on the Old Continent with their second triumph in Group A.
There was everything in the clash between great rivals in the "Danube Arena", for a long time it seemed that our team had no chance to even threaten the favorites, because in the second quarter they already had a four-goal deficit, in the third five... But then they showed that can, she noted that even this combined team, with four debutants in the biggest competitions, is inspired by big games and big opponents.
In the end, it's a real shame that Montenegro was not rewarded with even a point, because in the last part in just four and a half minutes, with a series of 5:0, it reached a minus of 10:5, and even had an attack for a reversal.
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An attack that will be talked about, because the impression is that at that moment (minute and 47 before the end), Vladimir Gojković's team had to get a five-pointer because of a foul on Aleksandar Ivović. But the Croats survived that attack...
And they got a new chance, which they didn't miss - the final result was set by Ćavi García in an attack with a player more 72 seconds before the end, and with a lot of luck because the ball grazed the head of Marko Petković during the shot of the born Spaniard...
Even after that, the Montenegrin water polo players had a chance to avoid defeat, but in the last minute they squandered their numerical advantage in the water.
After all, this defeat does not fundamentally change anything, because everything for Montenegro depends on the duel with Germany anyway (Saturday from 17.30:XNUMX). A victory or a draw leads to the round of XNUMX from the second place (where the rival would be Turkey), a defeat would "condemn" them to a clash with the Spaniards or Hungarians...
Our water polo players probably won't have any problems against Germany if they repeat the game from tonight.
In the derby, Montenegro lacked the goals of its best player, Ivović, who missed all five shots (plus a five-pointer in the second quarter), and Bogdan Đurđić (5-0) and Đuro Radović failed offensively.
The young left-handed striker had only one attempt at Marko Bijač's goal.
MONTENEGRO - CROATIA 10:11 (1:2, 2:4, 2:4, 5:1)
Budapest - "Danube Arena" swimming pool. Referees: Naumov (Russia), Colombo (Italy). Player more: Montenegro 10 (3), Croatia 11 (5). Peterci: Montenegro 2 (1).
Montenegro: Lazović (six saves), Brguljan 2, Radović, Petković 2, Čučković, Obradović 2, Vidović 2, Đurđić, Ivović, Spaić, Drašković 1, Pješivac 1, Tešanović.
Croatia: Bijač (10 saves and five goals), Macan, Fatović, Lončar 1, Joković 1, Bukić 3, Vukičević, Bušlje 1, Miloš, Vrlić 2, Benić 1, Garsija 2, Marcelić.
Bonus video:
