A place in the Top 8 phase of the Champions League seemed so close for the Jadran water polo players, "just" a victory against a team that was defeated in the first half and on the away field was enough, but it turned out that such an undertaking was too far away for Vladimir Gojković's boys.
Playing as hosts in Trebinje, the team from Novi Beograd was comfortably defeated by Novi Beograd - 15:12.
There was not a shred of uncertainty, as the final score perhaps suggests, because the guests led 9:3, then 13:5...
Jadran finished the competition in third place in Group B, with two wins and six points from six matches played, with four losses. They will continue their competition in the Eurocup.
Leading team Pro Reko won the maximum 18 points, Novi Beograd nine, and the last, and only one behind Jadran, was the namesake of Novljan from Split, with three points. Pro Reko and Novi Beograd advanced.
Gojković's team failed in attack, and Milan Glušac excelled in the visitors' goal, making 13 saves. On the other side, Lazar Andrić made only one save before being replaced by Ilija Radović.
Strahinja Gojković scored four goals, Merkulov and Stupar two each for Jadran.
For Novi Beograd, Vasilije Martinović scored four goals, Nikola Lukić three, and Dušan Trtović two.
Bonus video:
