OSC ties with Brescia in crucial clash
Olympiacos (GRE) and Szolnok (HUN) did a clean job as both collected three points in Group A and their advantage grew to three points ahead of OSC as the other Hungarian side played a 7-7 draw in the crucial home match against Brescia (ITA). In group B the favourites won, Recco stands with four wins in as many matches and enjoys a five-point lead.
Olympiacos left the bad memories behind in Berlin where they had had to settle for a tie last season despite leading by four goals against Spandau (GER) before the last period. Now they led 4-8 at halftime and never looked back. Konstantinos Genidounias was the man of the match, he scored four of the five goals Olympiacos netted in succession while going 3-7 up after 3-2.
Szolnok blew away Nice (FRA), last year’s F6 bronze medallist produced a 7-0 rush in the second period against the Champions League’s newcomer for a 10-1 lead. At the end the Hungarians remained one goal shy of Recco’s scoring record in the prelims (18), still, they were satisfied after the 17-4 win.
In the match of the day OSC and Brescia shared the points in a hard-fought battle. The hosts controlled the match for most of the time, led 4-2 after the opening period and after a scoreless second they were still 5-3 up early in the third but couldn’t score for more than eight minutes and the Italians came back to 5-5. OSC regained the lead in the fourth but Brescia hit back with a double and for the first time in the evening they went in front (6-7) with 2:13 to go. Still, the Magyars managed to keep at least a point at home, courtesy of Bence Batori’s equaliser as 43 seconds were remaining on the clock. A disallowed goal from Brescia add some extra tension to the finish but the game ended in a draw, just as it happened in the second round of the qualifying process when the two teams played in Brescia.
Group B action brought less excitement as the favourites didn’t leave too much chance for their respective opponents. 2015 winner Recco (ITA) made 4 out of 4 beating 2014 champion Barceloneta (ESP). The Italians took a flying start and led 5-1 at halftime but in the third they failed to score and in the fourth the visitors came even closer at 6-4 and 7-5 and 3:13 minutes were still remaining. But the Spaniards couldn’t reduce the gap any further and Filip Filipovic’s penalty decided everything 72 seconds before the end.
Eger (HUN) had some ups and downs against Hannover (GER) but by half-time they managed to build a three-goal cushion (7-4) and maintained that difference till the end (10-7), despite only three home players could score in the match (Balazs Erdelyi netted 4).
Title-holder Jug Dubrovnik (CRO) didn’t let the young side of Partizan (SRB) smell blood. The Croats rushed to a 0-4 lead in a span of 2:55 minutes, led 1-6 after the opening quarter and were 3-10 up at halftime. The second half was more balanced (6 goals apiece), Partizan came back to 8-12 early in the fourth but two fast goals in 44 seconds restored the order in the game.
Champions League Water Polo, Day 4
Group A
Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN) v Olympic Nice (FRA) 17-4
Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 6-11
A Hid-OSC Budapest (HUN) v AN Brescia (ITA) 7-7
Standings:
- Olympiacos 10, 2. Szolnok 10, 3. OSC 7, 4. Brescia 4, 5. Spandau 3, 6. Nice 0
Group B
Partizan Raiffeisen Belgrade (SRB) v Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) 9-16
Pro Recco (ITA) v CN Atletic Barceloneta (ESP) 8-6
ZF Eger (HUN) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 10-7
Standings:
- Recco 12, 2. Jug 7, 3. Eger 6, 4. Barceloneta 5, 5. Hannover 2, 6. Partizan 1
Next round: 8 February
Source: LEN