CHAMPIONS!!! VK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 10:9 (play-off, final, 2nd match)

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

Yes, we!!!
Oh. My. God. OH. MY. GOD. OH! MY! GOD!!!
I still died a few times during the game. No, the stream didn't die this time, just me, but I still brought you some screenshots with my last breath.

Lining up for the introduction of players

Fair-play (mwahaha) handshakes

The boys are getting ready...

...while the team captains discuss with the referees

Then all hands to quarters...

...and a last group hug before swim-off

Here is a video about the roll-call:

Utakmica je počela! Partizan nastupa u sastavu: Rističević (k), Gielen, Tigkas, Manojlović, Subotić, Drašović, Gogov, Jakšić, Vico, Tanasković, Lazić, Asanović, Brakočević, Radojević.
Posted by Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Then Zvezda took the lead just one and a half minutes after the swim-off. 0:1, unbelievable. First (sudden) death.

Meanwhile this happened. How to strangle Partizan-players slowly but surely

We equalized immediately with Asanović’s goal.

There’s the ball in Zvezda’s box

Then Average Fan blinked twice and it was 2:1, goal scorer: Nikola Jakšić.

Then 3:1. Gogov, from power play. Here Zvezda scored one (3:2), they were also in power play.
We got back our 2-goal advantage almost immediately. Gielen sent a distant cannon shot to Zvezda’s goal and destroyed the right lower corner.

Gilen is swaying the ball just to tear the net into pieces in the next moment

Then Gilen scored another, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry. (5:2) Gilen never acts as chance directs.
Two and a half minutes were left, when Zvezda scored again, now from penalty (5:3).
Then came Gogov’s great moment. Radojević sent him a long cross from the other side of the pool. Gogov pushed it into the box with a delicate movement, almost just stroking it into the net. (6:3)

Gogov celebrating his goal

50 seconds were left from the quarter when Zvezda again scored (6:4) meanwhile both teams were fighting hard with each other.
It was something awful. Partizan played their usual "zone" tactics, while Zvezda came up with the classic man-to-man-fight trick. It meant that whenever we attacked, every Partizan-player got their own barnacle, and these pairs mutually tried to drown each other. The water was boiling sometimes, slap came after slap, and during one of these fights Vico was hit so hard that his nose started to bleed.

This was all you could see. Like when you throw a piece of bloody meat among piranhas

Nemanja Vico could pick himself together, he still had to come out of the pool to get medical attendance

The first quarter finished here.

1/4
Sjajna igra oba tima pred prepunim tribinama Banjice! Nakon prve četvrtine vodimo rezultatom 6-4. Po dva gola su postigli Gogov i Luuk Gielen. #NapredPartizan
Posted by Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

After the goal-rich first quarter the second one brought struggles and clenched teeth. Both teams missed out many chances.
Rističević made some fantastic saves.

Dimitrije "we are closed today" Rističević. He is there behind the water curtain

Zvezda scored their 5th goal only 2 minutes before the end of the first half, in power play, while we couldn’t take advantage of a double power play at the other side of the pool.
This second quarter was a slow brain death in itself, but the third quarter brought the real struggle.
First we made all possible mistakes. Throwing the ball into the goalkeeper from 1 cm, dropping the ball out of the hand in an all-doors-and-windows-open chance and such. Average Fan rapidly grew a lot of new grey hair. Zvezda equalized (6:6). The game turned into more and more ruthless, with a lot of fight and water wrestling. Then 3 minutes before the end we got a penalty. Vico shot and scored. At long last (7:6)

Vico sways, Zvezda’s goalkeeper raises up, but in vain, because in the next moment we were leading again

The problem was that Zvezda equalized again (7:7). Suspends came after suspends on both sides. We had numerous attempts, but we were unable to score. (Thankfully that was true for the opponent as well.)

Time-out at the end of the quarter

3/4
Napeto je u bazenu, a i van njega! Ukupno 3 gola u mrežama, a 7. gol za Partizan je postigao Gavril Subotić. Rezultat je 7-7, u toku je poslednja četvrtina. #NapredPartizan
Posted by Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Something happened for the 4th quarter. I don’t know what Vladimir Vujasinović told (or didn’t tell) the boys, nevertheless six roaring lions arrived for the final, wearing caps with Partizan-logo. Zvezda-players haven’t even splashed into the water when Subotić took back the lead. Only 20 seconds passed from the quarter.

Yes, over there, that’s our 8th goal

Here an amazing comedy came. It started somewhere with Gogov missing out a penalty.

Average Fan’s last wish was a defibrillator.

Then a guy wearing red shirt started to yell with the referee in an atrocious manner. The ref didn’t bother too much, he just showed the seemingly frustrated dude the red card.

I got to know later that he was not else than Viktor Jelenić, Crvena Zvezda water polo club’s president

Red card

Jelenić can’t stop, while security guards gather around him to carry him out of the pool

I don’t know who he was (if you know, then please, write it to me in the comment box), but he also had to leave

Meanwhile the water wrestling continued. Zvezda equalized again (8:8), but one of their players also got a red card. (The coach had to push him to the bench, because the player just couldn’t shut up. I’m really wondering about the referee’s report and what it will include about these incidents.)

Just a few minutes earlier I wanted to die, but at this point I swept my tears off that ran out from laugh. It’s unbelievable, this circus...

5 minutes were left, when we took back the lead with Vico’s fantastic goal (9:8). Tigkas got fouled out, but he took out Zvezda’s team captain with himself. (I’m not sure if the XXXXL-sized captain was also fouled out or he got a red card.)
Only one and a half minutes were left, when Jakšić scored such a HUGE goal that the echo came from Jajinci (10:8). Zvezda could handle the tension harder and harder. Their second coach also got a red card

because the head coach was suspended from this game, as he got a red card on the previous match

so Zvezda had to play for the rest of the game without coach. They could still score one more goal about a minute before the end, but then they had no more chance. And then came the end buzz

AND PARTIZAN WAS THE CHAMPION!!!

It was time to celebrate. We deserved it.

4/4
VK Partizan je ŠAMPION Srbije za sezonu 2015/2016. !!! Fantastična igra u 4/4 za pobedu rezultatom 10-9. BRAVO MOMCI !!!
Posted by Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The Preciousssss

Celebrating with the fans

Receiving the medals

Nikola Jakšić among children

Team captain Dimitrije Rističević receives the championship cup from the president of the Serbian Water Polo Association

(photo: hotsport.rs)

(photo: sportske.net)

Family photo with the cup, the team, and... MIŠA TUMBAS

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Here’s a video about how they celebrated:

Šampioni!
Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen - ŠAMPIONI SRBIJE 2015/2016.
Posted by Vaterpolo klub Partizan Raiffeisen on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Radnički Kragujevac - VK Partizan 3:11 (play-off, semifinal, 2nd match)

I don’t know whose idea this was to put the water polo match right to the same time as the football game. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who would have loved to watch the water polo team tearing Team Kragujevac to tiny pieces and enter the final with flags high (because the game was broadcasted live again on Youtube). Nevertheless my warmest (not) greetings to everyone in charge.

Other than this, it was a smooth thing. After the sparkling 9:2 of the previous game it shouldn’t have been any kind of difficulty.
Well, it didn’t. In the first quarter we pushed down the home team deep through the pipes of the Kragujevac city pool. Gogov started the row, followed by Subotić and Jakšić (0:3). Here came a Radnički-goal (1:3), but Subotić and Drašović didn’t allow space for any possible hopes for the hosts (1:5).
Kragujevac started the second quarter with heavy attacks. They scored one more goal (2:5), but then Rističević decided to stop being nice and he saved all the attempts of the home team for the rest of the first half. Meanwhile at the other side Gogov and Tanasković had a parade, bringing Partizan to a 5-goal-advantage for the half-time (2:7).
The second half was easy. Radnički scored their last goal in the third quarter, but practically we controlled the game, and we didn’t even have to push ourselves at all. The end result speaks for itself, in the final we’ll clash with Crvena Zvezda, unti two victories. The first match will be on 22nd May.
This match has three heroes, Subotić, Jakšić and Gogov, they all scored 2-2 goals. The rest of the goals (5) are shared among five players: Gilen, Tigkas, Drašović, Tanasković and Radojević.

Here is Gogov, as he is swinging the ball, and a goal is coming in 3, 2, 1...

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs)

VK Partizan - Radnički Kragujevac 9:2 (play-off, semifinal, 1st match)

"Routine victory", "the odds were with us", as they say.
Well, yes, something like that.
I brought some screenshots. The game was streamed on Youtube, because none of the sports channels broadcasted it. As usual.

The boys line up at the pool side

Last discussion among team captains and referees

Both teams are in the pool, we are about to start

Swim-off

It was something like you blinked twice and we were leading to 1:0 with Asanović’s goal.
Then you blinked once more and it was 2:0 (goal scorer: Tigkas).
Meanwhile Rističević saved everything. He was like as if all the devils of the hell would be sitting with him on the crossbar.

I’m sure after this game Rističević will appear in the nightmares of Radnički-players. He gives them a broad grin, doesn’t even look up and saves even their impossible attempts - and at this point Radnički-players wake up crying and they all swear they would continue their life on Mt. Athos.

The game was smooth. No heavy clashes, no brutal fights, Partizan was playing from routine. We could allow ourselves the luxury of missing out a penalty at the end of the quarter.

Time-out in the first quarter

In the second quarter Radnički tried to pick themselves together. They attacked, but Rističević saved their attempts with the cool manner of an English lord.
Then Gogov scored a cannon shoot goal in the middle of the quarter. He picked the ball in the middle of the pool, made a sway and threw it.
Then he tore the net to pieces. 3:0
Only 47 seconds were left, when Radojević joined the others on the goal-scorers’ list (4:0).
There were only 5 seconds left, when Rističević thought it might bring a negative light on him, if he didn’t get any goal during the match. Also, it is not nice to stretch the power of the host, not allowing the guests to play. So, Radnički could score a goal here (4:1).

In the third quarter Kragujevac scored another goal (4:2). On the other side of the pool their goalkeeper saved our attempts, well, for a while. In the 5th minute Manojlović scored a FANTASTIC goal with a backhand shot. It was that kind of goal that should be taught everywhere.
Meanwhile Rističević saved everything with a phlegmatic face.
After Radnički’s second goal he rolled down the shutters once and for all. Enough of this playground, kids, you got two goals, deal with it. Radnički-players couldn’t score to him even 2 cm from the goal line. Rističević didn’t even look up just raised his hand and caught the ball.

Next time he should take some crossword puzzle with himself to the box, or macrame, or something like that. Or else he’ll fall asleep in the water from boredom.

Then 14 seconds before the end Subotić scored another goal for Partizan. 6:2, we were ready for the last quarter.

The last quarter was a fiesta.
In the second minute Tigkas scored his second goal (7:2).
In the 4th Jakšić showed himself (8:2).
Rističević saved everything.
Finally in the 6th minute Gogov threw the ball from distance and scored a GIANT goal. (9:2)

Next round will be on Saturday at Kragujevac.

VK Partizan - Pro Recco 7:18 (Champions League, Round 9)

Mea culpa: I was fully convinced that the game against Galatasaray was the last one in the Champions League and we have only the Serbian domestic league to focus on. Well, that’s what they call epic fail.
This one was really the last one though.
On this video you can watch the introducing of both teams. You can see what a great applause the former Partizan-players, Dušan Mandić and Filip Filipović receive.

Pro Recco kept the game under control from the face-off. (Duško Pijetlović told after the match, he had expected a bit more resistance from the home team.) The Italian team was in a fantastic shape, they have already qualified to the Final 6, they have good chances to win the title, and this difference was visible on both teams.
Pro Recco immediately took the lead. Jakšić equalized (1:1).
Then nobody knows what happened. Maybe it’s better not to know what happened. Nevertheless the first half ended with 2:8. The Italians were scoring, one after the other, we could earn only one at the very end of the half, by Lukas Gilen.

In the third quarter Pro Recco quickly scored two more (2:10). Gilen threw one more for us (3:10) from power play. We could score a 4th goal as well, yet the guests were leading to 4:12 for the end of the third part. It was one hell of a struggle and there was one more quarter left.

In the fourth quarter we scored three goals, Pro Recco had 6. I think it was high time to end this match as well as this ordeal in Champions League this season.

Gilen and Jakšić scored 2-2 goals, the others (Subotić, Drašović, Asanović) earned 1-1.

A message to Dušan Mandić & co.: after all these please, be kind enough to smash everyone in the F6 down and bring home the silverware. Thanks.

End result of Group B (this time it's really the end result):
1. Pro Recco 22 points
2. Szolnok 21 points
3. Dubrovnik 19 points
4. OSC 9 points
5. Partizan 7 points
6. Galatasaray 1 point

Galatasaray - VK Partizan 9:9 (Champions League, Round 8)

Question of the day: how on Earth is it possible to screw up a match so much that the half-time 3:7 turns into a buzzer beater draw at the end?
You get what I mean.
Galatasaray is at the last place of the group. So far they had zero (0) point. They earned their one and only point at the last game, that happened to be against us.
The official match report doesn’t tell many details, and there isn’t any other available. At first Galatasaray took the lead, then we quickly scored four goals (first one by Asanović, then Subotić threw two, Tigkas also earned one). Turks could get one more at the end of the quarter, ending it with 2:4.
In the second quarter Galatasaray scored one more goal, tighting the standing to 3:4, we urgently had to do something. Gogov quickly threw two goals (3:6), Subotić scored from penalty, the first half ended with 3:7. At this point it all looked swell.
Well, at this point.
No one knows what could happen in the half-time break. Nevertheless Turks overran us. They scored four (!!!) goals, while we could earn only one (by Nemanja Vico). For the end of the third quarter our advantage was only one goal (7:8).

Where were you, Miloš Obilić?...

The last quarter could be a nightmare. Turks equalized (8:8), then 40 (!!!) seconds before the end they took the lead from power play. (9:8)
Only 17 seconds were left from the game. We attacked. That was probably our last chance.
And we took it.
Draško Gogov scored and this way we could save a point. (9:9)
With this game the Champions League-series ended for VK Partizan. We finished it on the 5th place of Group B with 7 points. From now on we have to focus on the Serbian domestic league, which starts for us this Saturday against Banjica, right with the quarter-final.

OSC - VK Partizan 10:8 (Champions League, Round 7)

Not funny at all, believe me.
Even if this time the commentator was a relatively normal one

at least concerning water polo and regular pronunciation of Serbian names
okay, he constantly said "Vičo" instead of Vico, but at least he pronounced "Rističević" and "Subotić" correctly
yes, I’m a grammar nazi, so what?

named István Hajdú B. And even if one could hear the enthusiastic chanting and shouting of 3 (three) Grave Diggers from Nyéki Imre Pool through the TV and the constant murmuring of the commentator.

Greetings and respect to these three Partizan-fans. They were so great that even the commentator talked about them with appreciation.

 Rističević before the game

I have mostly screenshots, because all Hungarian media are a bunch of garbage, mentioning this game only "in brief"-style. The only exception was Nemzeti Sport Online.

The beginning was like a dream. Rističević had great saves, Gogov scored our first goal in the 3rd minute (0:1), approx. a minute later Partizan got a penalty. Subotić shot and scored (0:2).
Here came OSC’s first goal (1:2). Subotić scored another goal in the 5th minute (1:3). We dominated, everything looked fantastic.
OSC just had to get a penalty 6 seconds before the buzz.
The first quarter ended with 2:3.
Then came the second quarter and Drašović’s goal in the 4th minute (2:4). Afterwards OSC took advantage of a power play (3:4).
Then they equalized (4:4) even though Rističević had such saves that even the Hungarian commentator was amazed. While we were struggling. If it was not the goalpost or the crossbar we hit, then the goalkeeper saved our attempts. 4:4 was the half-time result, but at this point it already looked less and less happy.

Lukas Gilen

In the third quarter OSC took the lead in the beginning (5:4). We equalized from a penalty (5:5, Subotić), but the home team took the lead back soon (6:5). No problem, now Gilen scored the equalizing goal (6:6). But OSC just didn’t want to stop (7:6).
8:6.
Vladimir Vujasinović asked for time-out and it could be heard through the TV that he yells off everyone separately as well as the entire team.
I’m sure he was totally right.

Players wilting down

It didn’t use much. OSC dominated more and more, we made mistakes that was painful to see, and the cold shower was the home team scoring their 9th goal only 1 (one!!!) second before the buzz.
The last quarter was about hitting the goalposts and the crossbar. Really. I don’t know why it is so that we kill the wooden goal pieces. If water polo was played for goalpost/crossbar-hitting instead of goals, we would have won this game with flying marks.
Instead we had a penalty (9:7, Subotić) and Jakšić’s great goal at the end (9:8).
And the coup de grace just before the end buzz. 10:8

(photo: nemzetisport.hu)

Current standing of Group B:
1. Pro Recco 16 points
2. Dubrovnik 16 points
3. Szolnok 15 points
4. OSC 9 points
5. Partizan 6 points
6. Galatasaray 0 point

2 in 1 - handball and water polo

I almost forgot about these two matches played in the previous week-end. Apologies from everyone. You get the two in one blogpost.

In the 16th round of the handball superliga Partizan welcomed Radnički in the Banjica sports hall. The game was very easy, despite the guests took the lead in the beginning with two goals (0:2), we equalized for the 5th minute, and two minutes later Maksić took us the lead (3:2). From then on we kept our advantage for the very end of the game. We were leading always with 4-5-6 goals, what is more, in the half time we were ahead with 10 (!!!) goals (24:14). We kept this pace in the second half as well, our advantage was 10 goals a couple of times, finally we won "only" with a 9-goal-advantage (41:30).
The hero of the day was Aleksa Maksić, scoring 7 goals. He is followed by Nemanja Živković (6), Lazar Kukić (5), Stevan Sretenović, Mihajlo Radojković and Živan Pešić (4-4), Igor Mršulja (3), Matija Pižurica, Darko Stevanović and Ivan Popović (2-2) as well as Mihajlo Stošljević (1).
Photos from the match:

Ivan "The Terrible" Popović

Lazar Kukić

Kukić rising up into the skies

Matija Pižurica

The unstoppable Captain

(photos: srls.rs)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 26 points
2. Metaloplastika 24 points
3. Sloga 22 points
4. Partizan 21 points
5. Požarevac 18 points
6. Jugović 17 points
7. Morava 14 points
8. Rudar 9 points
9. Radnički 8 points
10. Železničar 1 point

***

In the last (20th) round of Triglav Liga Croatian team POŠK was Partizan’s guests. The game was important for us

yes, yes, I know, every game is important for us, but this one was especially important

because if we can win over POŠK, and at the same time Mladost gets beaten by Radnički, then we can qualify to the Final Four of the league.
In short: we couldn’t.
Even though we tore POŠK to small pieces (it ended with 15:4 for us), the Zagreb-based Mladost also won against Radnički

honestly, the chance for Radnički to win was less than minimal

therefore Triglav Liga has ended for us for this season.
The game itself meant no difficulties for us. Vladimir Vujašinović tried out a few young players at certain places, e.g. our goalkeeper was the young talent Lazar Brakočević instead of Dimitrije Rističević. In the first quarter the Croatians just kindly assisted for us while we kept on scoring (we threw 6 goals in the first part). They made it then to our goalmouth (it wasn’t that easy for them) only 2 seconds before the end buzz, and they took advantage of their chance and scored (6:1).
We slowed down in the second quarter, because it’s not nice to be a rude host, not even letting the guests breathe. POŠK scored two goals, but still, we had to make sure who rules the roost - we also scored two goals, the half time ended with 8:3.
After the break it was time to take control of the events. We ran through the Croatians like a steam roller and scored 3 goals. We were leading to 11:3, then came the final part.
The last quarter was in fact a formality. Croatians scored one more goal, we did four, then at the very end junior national team member Marko Kruška debuted as our goalkeeper.
The hero of the day was Filip Radojević with 3 goals, followed by Gavril Subotić, Radomir Drašović and Danilo Adžić (2-2) as well as Lukas Gilen, Draško Gogov, Marko Janković, Đorđe Vučinić and Mateja Asanović (1-1).

Triglav Liga regular season end result:
1. Jug Dubrovnik 51 points
2. Primorje 51 points
3. Jadran HN 42 points
4. Mladost 29 points
5. Partizan 27 points
6. Mornar 22 points
7. Radnički 13 points
8. Vojvodina 12 points
9. POŠK 11 points

VK Partizan - Mornar 5:6

We screwed it up. Okay, half the team is sick and/or injured. What is more, with this defeat we crawled back to the 5th place and if we don’t pick ourselves together for the last round on Sunday against POŠK, we can wave byebye to our chances to get to the Final Four.
Though we were leading at the beginning. It was 2:0 for us with the goals of Asanović and Subotić. Then something happened, because all of our attempts failed. We made a lot of mistakes and it always pays off.
So did it now. The opponent equalized in the last minute

don’t ask me how, I don’t even want to know

the first quarter ended with 2:2.
The second quarter could be awful. The guests seemed to hearten up, because they scored 3 goals, then rolled down the shutters and sent us evil grinnings, while we were struggling. The half-time standing was 2:5.
For the third quarter we came back to life. Most important was that we got no goals - the guests kept on hitting the crossbar -, yet we could score one (by Đorđe Lazić).

Reports say it was high time to do so, after we missed out five (!!!) chances.

For the last quarter Mornar got fed up with our fumbling. They jumped to 3:6 and it all looked to be very sad. Asanović scored two goals, but we had no time to equalize.

Mateja Asanović some time during the game

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs)

At the moment the league table looks like this:

1. Jug Dubrovnik 48 points
2. Primorje 45 points
3. Jadran HN 39 points
4. Mladost 23 points
5. Partizan 21 points
6. Mornar 19 points
7. Radnički 13 points
8.  Vojvodina 12 points
9. POŠK 8 points

So, if we want to qualify to the Final Four, on one hand we must knock out POŠK tomorrow, also Mladost (4th place) must get defeated by Radnički. (Mladost’s goal difference is 146:146, ours is 142:126).

VK Jadran - VK Partizan 9:8 (Triglav Liga, Round 18)

This is the last match report I owe you from the week-end.

Though I’m not sure if there’s anyone who is yearning to read about another defeat. Okay, we had to fight without Gogov, Jakšić and Tanašković, what is more, Subotić was fouled out around the end.

Reports talk about an excellent game, where the end result was unsure until the end. Jadran was leading to 2:0 after 2 minutes. It didn’t look any better for the end of the quarter (4:2), then the home team was leading with 3 goals in the second part (5:2).
In the middle of the quarter something happened.
Ognjen Stojanović scored (5:3) and Partizan started a fantastic series. We didn’t stop until 5 goals! For the half time we reduced the difference to 5:4, then in the third quarter we scored 3 more goals and took the lead (5:7). Jadran could earn only one goal, we headed to the final part with 6:7.
Right at the beginning Jadran equalized (7:7). Subotić took the lead back to us (7:8), but the home team equalized again (8:8), then in the middle of the quarter they took back the lead for themselves (9:8). That didn’t change for the rest of the game.
The hero of the day was Ognjen Stojanović with 3 goals. He is followed by Gavril Subotić (2) as well as Gilen, Lazić and Vučinić (1-1).

Current standing of the League:
1. Dubrovnik 45 points
2. Primorje 42 points
3. Jadran 39 points
4. Partizan 21 points
5. Mladost 20 points
6. Mornar 16 points
7. Radnički 13 points
8. Vojvodina 12 points
9. POŠK 8 points

Dubrovnik - VK Partizan 9:6 (Triglav Liga, Round 17)

Compared to earlier results we made a pretty good job that we ended up only 3 goals behind them.

Don't look at me like this. You should be glad that I try to stay positive, especially after yesterday. Normally after such events I can only mumble "yada yada yada" for two days.

In the first half the two teams were just strangling each other in the beginning, then approx. 3 minutes before the end of the first quarter Croatians scored the first goal of the game (1:0). Almost immediately (about 30 seconds later) came their second one (2:0). From us Asanović scored soon before the end buzz, setting the result of the first part (2:1).
In the second quarter we equalized right in the beginning, after Subotić scored from penalty (2:2). From this point on the scheme was "Croatians score, Partizan equalizes". But when they scored one more goal 20 seconds before the buzz, we had no time to equalize. Half time, 5:4.
The third quarter brought another episode of water wrestling. The two teams stayed without any goal for a long while, then two and a half minutes before the end Croatians scored (6:4). Then another (7:4). It couldn’t be a happy sight for any Partizan-fan who watched this game instead of the handball eternal derby.

What is more, looking at the statistics, two players from us were fouled out (Drašović and Lazić).

In the last quarter both teams scored 2-2 goals, settling the end result.
The hero of the day was Gavril Subotić, he scored 3 goals. He is followed by Ognjen Stojanović, Mateja Asanović and Filip Radojević, all scoring 1-1 goal.

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs)

League table will be brought later.

VK Partizan - Jug Dubrovnik 6:10 (Champions League, Round 6)

I have to confess it to you all, I was watching this game on a Croatian stream. The Serbian broadcaster RTS 2 was blocked at everywhere.

I swear those guys at the state-owned TV make some kind of sport of it that whenever they broadcast an important game, all stream sites show up only error messages.

There was one advantage of this situation though. Croatians broadcasted on ArenaSport 1 in HD-quality, so I could make some really good screenshots during the match.

Introducing the teams

Vladimir Vujasinović

Last discussion and captain Rističević’s encouraging words before kick-off

But the sad reality was that Croatians scored their first goal after 25 seconds (0:1). We missed out two attempts, at one we literally hit the head of a Croatian defender instead of the goal.

Partizan-attack some time in the first quarter

Croatians quickly scored their second goal from penalty (0:2). Our attempts were either saved by the goalkeeper or blocked by defenders. We tried, we attacked, but God knows what Croatians chewed before the game, chips soaked into plutonium or something, they ground us.

Lukas Gilen

Jug soon scored their 3rd goal. The end of the quarter was approaching when we could make our first score by Dimitris Tigkas.

And that was the end of the first quarter (1:3).
In the second quarter (though it was visible even at the end of the first one) our defense line got a bit stronger. We defended more aggressively, we bravely got into one-to-one fights with Croatians, while Rističević made fantastic saves.
Just the problem was that Jug scored their fourth goal, from power play.
We didn’t have to wait long for Partizan’s answer. Tanasković came, saw and threw. 2:4

Croatians immediately, instantly scored another (2:5). It was awful. They were strong, they had great rutin, while Partizan consisted of a lot of very young players.

Meanwhile it was rather depressing to listen to the Croatian commentator’s whoops of joy.

We missed out our chances, all our attempts were blocked. Vladimir Vujasinović asked for time-out...

...but even that didn’t help much. There were only 10 seconds left from the first half, when Croatians scored another goal. 2:6, it was high time for a longer pause.

It wasn’t a cool game, nor was it an exciting game. Nothing special happened, only grinding, struggling, and heavy battles without any spectacular movement.

Mateja Asanović and Dimitris Tigkas in the half-time

Jug started the second half, hitting the goalpost heavily with a shot. After that Stojanović scored our 3rd goal (3:6)

The ball is resting in the corner of the net...

...Stojanović calmly acknowledges it

Here came a short period when nothing happened, then Croatians scored one more goal. The standing was 3:7, it started to get more and more bitter. Partizan-players were fighting hard, but Croatians were just too strong.

One of them is trying to suffocate Nemanja Vico into the pool

Another time-out

Dimitrije Rističević some time during the third quarter

Draško Gogov is trying with a shot at the end of the quarter, but the goalkeeper saved it - so did he with all our other attempts

That’s all about the third quarter.
In the last one first Asanović shot, the goalkeeper saved. We got the ball back, first we shot it right into the goalkeeper from 10 centimetres, maybe. The ball dropped out, we got a corner shot, and this time we made it. Gilen scored, 4:7
The struggling and fighting continued. Subotić got two Croatians on himself as an extra weight, he still shot, the goalkeeper saved. Well, this one he could save. Because the next one left him helpless, Subotić shot and scored, our drawback was only 2 goals (5:7)
Dubrovnik attacks. Great upheaval in our goalmouth, referees whistle, they are convinced that Jakšić made a foul. Croatians get a penalty shot again.

Jakšić can’t believe his ears

Whistle, the Croatian player shoots... and Rističević saves! We swim up, we attack, but the Croatians steal the ball, counter-attack... and they score. 5:8, damn it.
At this point the stream collapsed and stayed in the state of apparent death for a while. When it was willing to work again, only a few seconds were left from the game and Croatians were leading to 5:10. But Subotić scored one last goal only 2 minutes before the end. That was the end result, a very brave, never backing down Partizan against a (compared to us) too strong Dubrovnik.

League table will be brought later.