Jadran Split - VK Partizan 12:13 (Triglav Liga, round 3)

It was a tough, nerve-racking game, and we had to miss two key players. Nikola Jakšić was knocked out by some sickness

get well soon!

and Đorđe Tanasković also had to stay at home.
Well, we could thankfully solve the problem. Stojanović took the whole team on his back and scored his first goal in the middle of the first quarter (0:1). Croatians equalized (1:1) then took the lead with a distant cannon shot two minutes before the end of the quarter (2:1).
In the second part Croatians barely splashed into the pool when Drašović equalized (2:2). The answer was immediate with Gluhaić’s score (3:2). After some wrestling Toholj equalized (3:3).

There are some new names in the team we must learn. One of them is 19-year-old Nebojša Toholj, who scored two goals on this game, the other is our goalkeeper, 20-year-old Lazar Dobožanov, who made a few great saves, especially in the last few minutes of the match.

Two and a half minutes the home team was leading again (4:3), but just one minute later Stojanović, who played in his best form, equalized (4:4). That was the half-time result.
We just came back from the pause, the Croatian team was leading once again. (5:4). We immediately equalized with Radojević’s left hander cannon shot (5:5). Then we even took the lead! Drašović possessed the ball. He was about to make a distant shot. He was swaying the ball, swaying, swaying, the entire Croatian defense line was sinking like Titanic, then Drašović shot with a wide grin and scored. 5:6
What is more, Dobožanov could demonstrate his skills by saving a shot that was almost in the box... Someone from Jadran shot, Dobožanov saved, but the ball slowly started to float towards the goal line. It was almost in, just one little wave was needed to push it inside, but Dobožanov could catch it, right before a cardial arrest and screaming, and saved (probably quite a few lives as well).
Then Jadran took advantage of a double power play and equalized (6:6).
No worries. Two minutes before the end Toholj took back the lead (6:7) and even though Jadran equalized from penalty (7:7), Drašović took back the lead again just 12 seconds before the buzz. I swear I could see a small twitch on Croatian faces after this goal.
Then came the final quarter.
Average Fan died in the final quarter at least five times.
First Croatians equalized, right after the start (8:8). They even took the lead with Visković’s goal (9:8). Stojanović equalized (9:9). It’s unbelievable what this 20-year-old kid was doing. Lukić took us the lead (9:10). What is more, what is more, Stojanović scores and we are leading to 9:11! Jadran’s head coach asks for time-out. Afterwards Croatians didn’t just reduce the difference, didn’t just equalize, but they took back the lead (12:11). Less than one and a half minutes were left. Stojanović. Again Stojanović. He equalizes. 12:12. Less than a minute is left. Average Fan is praying, this draw is enough, hang in there, boys...
For them this draw was not enough.
Dobožanov makes a great save. Partizan attacks. 20 seconds are left. Stojanović possesses the ball... and Stojanović throws a cannon shot, tearing the net into pieces, scoring Partizan’s 13th goal, earning another victory for the team. Well done, boys!

Ognjen Stojanović, the hero of the day

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs/screenshot/ArenaSport 1)

The hero of the day is - of course - Ognjen Stojanović with 5 (!!!) goals. He is followed by Radomir Drašović with 4 scores. Nebojša Toholj scored 2, Filip Radojević and Nikola Lukić both earned 1-1 goal.

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Jug Dubrovnik 12 points
2. VK Partizan 9 points
3. Primorje 7 points
4. Jadran Carine 7 points
5. HAVK Mladost 6 points
6. Budva 3 points
7. Mornar BS 1 point
8. Vojvodina 1 point
9. Jadran Split 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 - Primorje 8:14 (Triglav Liga, Round 14)

I think that's what is called "a day to forget".
There's not much to analyze about it. Primorje was stronger and more experienced, they ran through us. They scored their first goal after 30 seconds (0:1). We could throw two, one by Jakšić, one by Gogov, the standing was 2:2, when only 10 seconds before the end Bošković scored another for the guests. We finished the first quarter with 2:3.
The second quarter wasn’t better at all. There could be an actual water wrestling, Bošković was fouled out around here. Jakšić equalized (3:3), but Croatians quickly scored two more (3:5). Someone from Partizan threw a goal here (either Subotić, who returned at this game after his injury, or Asanović), but Primorje decided to tear us to pieces. We finished the first half with 4:8, Muslim scored one goal right at the end buzz.
In the third quarter we didn’t even splash into the water, it was alredy 4:9. But Partizan is Partizan, not a bunch of whining pussies. Jakšić and Subotić reduced the difference to 7:9. Still, Primorje scored two more. We entered the final part with 7:11.
In the last quarter there was only one goal we earned, Croatians threw three more.
That’s all, folks.
The two heroes of the day are Nikola Jakšić and Gavril Subotić with 3-3 goals. Gogov and Asanović scored 1-1 goal.

League table will be brought later.
Update: current standing of the Liga
1. Dubrovnik 39 points
2. Jadran HN 33 points
3. Primorje 30 points*
4. Partizan 21 points
5. Mladost 17 points*
6. Mornar 13 points**
7. POŠK 7 points**
8. Radnički 6 points
9. CZ 6 points*
10. Vojvodina 6 points

* - played only 12 matches as of yet
** - played only 13 matches as of yet

VK Partizan - Mladost 5:5 (Triglav Liga, Round 13)

This game was in fact a great battle/wrestling in the Banjica swimming pool. The result, this draw and the low number of goals tell it all.

Dimitrije Rističević during the presentation of players

Fair-play handshakes

List of our players

The team is already in the pool, Draško Gogov is focusing

Last discussion before kickstart

(screenshots)

The two teams immediately started a huge battle, they didn’t slow down during the entire game. Both Partizan and the Croatian team attacked heavily for the end. There was barely any attack or attempt that was not in power play. First the Zagreb-based team swam up, but the referees whistled them off. We could come up for a counter-attack, Asanović shot, the goalkeeper saved. Mladost attacked, someone shot, Rističević had a great save. We instantly attacked back, someone from us shot, it was too wide. And so on, and so on... it was going like this, with no stop. Both goalkeepers had 100 % tonight, Rističević as well as Marcelić on the other side, unfortunately.

(screenshot)

Constant goal attempts, constant blocks, we missed out a double power play, meanwhile Stojanović was fouled twice within a short time. Mladost also got into a double power play, they also missed it out. There was less than 90 seconds left from the first quarter, when Mladost got a penalty shot. They scored, why not (0:1). What is more, there were only 18 seconds left, when they scored another, while Gilen’s shot hit a defender, and a bit later the Croatian goalkeeper saved Tanasković’s attempt. We finished the first quarter with 0:2.
In the beginning of the second quarter Drašović scored our first goal (1:2), while Mladost’s player Paškvalin got a red card (I’m not sure if I saw it well, but the Croatian player had to leave the pool). Not much later the steam died.

I could save these two images before it ceased to work

(screenshots)

Desperate search for a working stream - when I finally found one, the standing was 2:3 (our goal was scored by Janković) and there were only 2 minutes left from the first half. Gogov quickly equalized before the end buzz (3:3) and Gilen blocked a Croatian attempt with such a cheeky, amazing movement that it made Average Fan grinning wide. It was high time for some rest.
The third quarter started with a penalty for Partizan. Gilen thanked the chance, shot and scored (4:3). Then another period came with battles, missed out attempts and great saves by goalkeepers.

Timeout in the third quarter

(screenshot)

Mladost’s goalkeeper saved another attempt by us. Croatians immediately swam up for a counter-attack - and they equalized. 4:4
The bitter, fruitless battle continued. Both goalkeepers saved every shot, every attempt and even the fact that Mladost’s player, Pavičić was fouled out, didn’t help us.

Looking at the statistics I realized that Drašović was also fouled out. I swear I don’t remember when it happened.

The fourth quarter started with a cardial arrest. Croatians shot from a very sharp angle on the left side. The ball stopped right on the goal line. Referees shook their head, no goal, it’s still 4:4, a big load was off Average Fan’s mind. Partizan had a counter-attack and the very same scene happened at Mladost’s goalmouth. Someone from us shot, the ball stopped on the goal line, the referees said no. Aaaaargghhh, it’s still 4:4!...
A row of missed out chances came. Both teams attacked tirelessly, bitterly and fruitlessly. Asanović had a distant shot, he missed it out. Tigkas also had a cannon shot from far away, hitting the goalpost. For our great luck Rističević made miracles on the other side of the pool.

One of Rističević’s great saves in the last quarter - do you agree this boy should get into the national team?

(screenshot)

Another Mladost-attack, they even get into power play, and BANG, they score. Damn it, 4:5, while we missed out another attempt. Mladost’s coach asks for timeout. Croatians attack, they’re in power play, but the striker’s hand shakes in the critical moment and shoots it above the crossbar. Yessss, it’s our turn! Big upheaval, we get into power play, only 20 seconds are left... aaaaaaaaand, Ognjen Stojanović scores, what a fantastic goal! 5:5, there are just a few seconds left, Mladost tries with a quick attack, someone shoots, but Rističević saves it with eyes closed. He saved the attempt, we saved one point.

League table comes later.

Radnički - VK Partizan 7:7 (Triglav Liga, Round 12)

The two teams had a tough, fierce battle in the Kragujevac pool, at least based on the statistics. It says all that the ratio of fouls is 10:9, what is more, a Radnički-player, Manić was fouled out some time before the end of the 3rd quarter (I checked the live scores first around the end of the 3rd part, at that point there was already a big red "3" near Manić’s name).
The first quarter could have looked smooth. We were leading to 2:4, we all looked flawless and fabulous, probably everyone thought it would be a routine victory against the home team who are stuck on the 9th place of the league table. Then nobody knows what Radnički-players drank, smoked or chewed in the pause before the second quarter, because they returned to the pool being totally sped up (or we made too many mistakes - or both...). They scored 3 goals, we had only one. They equalized, making up the half-time result to 5:5.
For the second half there was only wrestling left. Both teams could score only 1-1 goal in both the third and the fourth quarter, increasing only the number of fouls.
The hero of the day is Mateja Asanović with two goals. The others scored only 1-1 goal, namely Gilen, Tigkas, Gogov, Tanasković and Stojanović.

League table comes later.

Vojvodina - VK Partizan 8:11 (Triglav Liga, Round 11)

The winter holiday has ended in Triglav Liga, Partizan's water polo team started the season in Novi Sad. We were leading to 2:4 for the end of the first quarter, and we didn't slow down even for the second. At the end of the first half our advantage was 4 goals (3:7).
Vojvodina picked themselves together for the third quarter, but it was enough only to reduce their difference to 2 goals (6:8), they couldn't even equalize. In the last quarter Šulc scored from penalty (7:9), then Subotić took the entire team under his armpit and quickly shot two more goals, setting the final result. He was the hero of the day with his 4 goals, followed by Drašović and Asanović (2-2 goals). Manojlović, Gogov and Vico all scored 1-1 goal.

League table comes later.
Update: current standing of the Liga
1. Dubrovnik 30 points
2. Primorje 27 points
3. Jadran HN 24 points
4. Partizan 19 points
5. Mladost 16 points
6. Mornar 10 points
7. CZ 9 points
8. POŠK 7 points
9. Vojvodina 3 points
10. Radnički 2 points

POŠK - VK Partizan 7:14 (Triglav Liga, Round 10)

Another easy training match.
There are again only less-than-nothing infos available, but the most important is that we were leading in the first quarter to 1:4. We increased the difference to 3:8 for the half-time. For the third half the standing was 5:12, finally in the last quarter both teams scored 2-2 goals and settled the final result.
The hero of the day is Marko Manojlović with 4 goals. He is followed by Nikola Jakšić and Marko Janković with 2-2 goals. Lukas Gilen, Dimitris Tigkas, Radomir Drašović, Draško Gogov, Mateja Asanović and Filip Radojević added 1-1 goal to the victory.

League table comes later, not all the matches are finished yet.

Update: current standing of the liga
1. Dubrovnik 27 points
2. Primorje 24 points
3. Jadran HN 21 points
4. Partizan 16 points
5. Mladost 16 points
6. Mornar 10 points
7. POŠK 7 points
8. CZ 6 points
9. Vojvodina 3 points
10. Radnički 2 points

Mornar - VK Partizan 6:12 (Triglav Liga, Round 9)

This was the match of invalidated goals.

(screenshot)

In the first quarter Asanović scored first after a few attempts on both sides (0:1). After him Gogov also scored, but the referee invalidated his goal for unknown reasons. Even Radojević shot a goal, but referees whistled off that one as well. Instead of 0:3 the standing was still 0:1.
For our great luck our goalkeeper Rističević at the other side of the pool was as persistent as a concrete wall and saved all attempts of the home team.
Then Jakšić’s goal was valid at long last (0:2). At this point, almost at the end Croatians could score one (1:2), but Manojlović quickly threw a goal right before the buzz, as it’s always better to be safe than sorry. We finished the first quarter with 1:3.
In the second quarter we got a penalty shot. It followed a wrestling scene in front of the Croatian goal line, then all Average Fan could see was the referee whistling, Mornar’s head coach explaining something to him with big gestures, then the referee shows him the yellow card and waving for Partizan to throw a penalty shot. Excellent. Jakšić shot it and scored (1:4). Croatians started to attack continuously. They put our goalmouth under heavy pressure, but Rističević saved their attempts with a Buddha-expression. (Or our defense line blocked their shots.) They could still reduce the difference to 3:4, but Subotić scored as well, followed by Drašović. The home team also threw one goal, the first half ended with 4:6.
In the third quarter the referee again took a goal from us (Subotić threw it, the refere didn’t like it, nobody knows why), and then they even put the home team into double power play (aka they sent off two of our players at the same time).
But they couldn’t score to Rističević, even if we were two men less. Rističević himself was the Serbo-Hungarian defensive army of the Siege of Belgrade from 1456 against the Turkish Croatian team being in superior numbers power play. It was again amazign what Partizan’s goalkeeper made on this match. Referees put Croatians into power play time after time, but they couldn’t score from any. Yet Asanović did score (4:7), so did Lazić (4:8). The home team again scored only at the end of the quarter, the standing was 5:8 at the end of the third part.
In the last part Gogov scored (5:9) after almost two and a half minutes of wrestling. Then Jakšić (5:10), from power play.

Professor Jakšić teaches Croatians how to score from power play, bwahahahahaha

Mornar started to fall into pieces, as for us, we were not in a hurry at all. Rističević saved whenever it was needed, and even Asanović’s third personal foul (and being fouled out) didn’t mean any upheaval for Partizan. Then referees invalidated a Croatian goal as well. There were less then one and a half minutes left, when Lazić scored again (5:11). At this point the stream died for a few seconds, I just missed out the sixth Mornar-goal as well as Partizan’s 12th one. (Running through post-match statistics I think it was scored by Radojević, but correct me if I’m wrong.)
The hero of the game is Dimitrije Rističević, among goal scorers Nikola Jakšić with 3 goals. Mateja Asanović and Đorđe Lazić both scored 2-2 goals, the others (Marko Manojlović, Gavril Subotić, Radomir Drašović, Draško Gogov and Filip Radojević) added 1-1 goal to the victory.

League table will be brought later.

3 in 1 - volleyball, water polo and rugby

I owe you a few results from the week-end, now you get them all in bulk.
I start with the bad news, okay?...
Partizan’s volleyball team visited Novi Pazar in the 3rd round of the superliga and practically they were served with a K.O. The home team had an easy, 3:0 victory over us. They won the first two sets most probably without any special effort (the result of the first was 25:14, the second ended with 25:19). We picked ourselves together for the last part, we were even leading for a while, but Novi Pazar turned out to be stronger.
The hero of the day was again Dimitrije Pantić with 18 points

remember this name, I think we’ll hear about this kid later a lot

he is followed by Luka Veličković (9 points) and Aleksa Polomac (5 points). Marko Popović and Ivan Kostić both earned 4 points, while Dušan Lopar and Boris Buša both scored 3.

Current championship standings:
1. Novi Pazar 7 points
2. Niš 6 points
3. CZ 6 points
4. Vojvodina 6 points
5. Spartak Ljig 6 points
6. Klek 5 points
7. Radnički 3 points
8. Partizan 3 points
9. Ribnica 2 points
10. Inđija 1 point

***

The water polo team welcomed PVK Jadran in the 7th round of Triglav Liga.
It wasn’t a happy match. The guests were leading for the whole time. The first quarter ended with 2:3, it became 5:8 for the half time. At the end of the third quarter guests were leading to 8:11, and the game ended with 10:12.
The best player of the match was actually our goalkeeper Dimitrije Rističević, with 11 saves (at the other side Kandić had 7 saves). Among our goal scorers Gavril Subotić was the best with 3 goals, followed by Nikola Jakšić (2 goals). Lukas Gilen, Marko Manojlović, Radomir Drašović, Đorđe Tanasković and Filip Radojević all scored 1-1 goal.

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Dubrovnik 24 points
2. Jadran HN 21 points
3. Primorje 18 points
4. Partizan 10 points
5. Mladost 10 points
6. Mornar 7 points
7. CZ 6 points
8. POŠK 4 points
9. Vojvodina 3 points
10. Radnički 2 points

***

And finally some good news: Partizan’s rugby team won over Crvena Zvezda to 30:26 and so they qualified to the championship final, where they’ll clash with Dorćol for the title.

(photo: zurnal.rs)

VK Partizan - Jug Dubrovnik 6:8 (Triglav Liga, Round 7)

Partizan's water polo team welcomed Croatian team Jug Dubrovnik in the 7th round of Triglav Liga.

There was no broadcast, so again I have to put the events together based on the very few infos. For some reason the Mladost - Mornar game was more important for ArenaSport.

In the first quarter we were leading to 3:1, our goals were scored by Subotić, Radojević and Jakšić. For the half time Croatians equalized (3:3), throwing their two goals only 8 seconds before the end in power play.
For the third quarter the guests took control in their hands. Their defense rolled down the shutters, we couldn’t score any goals, yet they threw two, taking the lead (3:5). In the last part we scored three. It was Drašović, who broke the silence and reduced the difference (6:4). The Dubrovnik-based team also scored one (4:7), at this point Nikola Jakšić brought a goal (5:7). Croatians could throw one goal even in the last minute (5:8), but Tanasković also threw one just before the final buzz, reducing the difference to two goals.

League table will be brought later.

Update: you can find the highlights at this link, click on it, the page doesn't have embed function.

VK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 15:3 (Triglav Liga)

WE WON WITH 12 GOALS!

WITH 12 GOALS!!!

Amazing, unbelievable.
We should make a bronze plaquett and hang it at the entrance of the Banjica swimming pool, with date, players’s name, highlighting the goal scorers. We defeated them with 12 goals, we didn’t just humiliate them, we tore them to pieces, buried them to 3 metres deep and even danced on their graves.
You get what I mean. When it’s about an eternal derby, one excepts the two teams to clash like roaring lions. The water boils up, underwater wrestling, one-to-one fighting, one sending-off after the other, with one or maybe two goals during an entire quarter, tension, drama and everything else.
Instead it was like a training match against a well-meaning, amateur team.
We walked out to the pool, the boys jumped into the water, we grabbed the ball at the kick-off and soon Radojević scored our first goal (1:0). Greek player Tigkas was the next (2:0), then Subotić scored from penalty (3:0). Partizan’s defense line worked perfectly, and if Zvezda could ever break our wall, then there was our Rističević, who saved their attempts. Jakšić also scored in the meantime, the result of the first quarter was 4:0.
We just started the second quarter, Zvezda’s players were still jumping into the water, when Subotić scored our 5th goal. Adžić also said ’hi’ (6:0), while at the other side Rističević saved all the attempts of the opponent with the elegance of an English lord. Radojević scored another (7:0), while Rističević was doing his job in an exemplary way.
Zvezda could do nothing with us. Our players tackled them smoothly, without struggle, while their attacks were desperate and extremely weak. The difference between the two teams was at least 3 leagues, but maybe more.
Subotić scored again (8:0). Red team can thank only their goalkeeper, that we were leading with 8 goals instead of 14, at least he had some try to keep us away from the goal line. (Not much though.) They pressed their very first goal into our net, sweating blood, right before the end buzz of the first half. The half-time result was 8:1.
Then we walked out to the second half. Manojlović settled back World Order in red heads right at the beginning, to make them clear who’s the boss in the house (9:1). Here the opponent could score another goal (9:2), but it meant no problem for us, because so could Drašović (10:2).
What is more.
In the second half of the quarter the referees gave a penalty to Zvezda.
And Rističević saved it!!!
Radojević quickly scored our 11th goal, we could start the final quarter with 11:2.
The guest team tried to pick themselves together for the last quarter, they had attempts, shots from distance and from near, but in fact on this match anybody could shoot from anywhere to Dimitrije Rističević. Dimitrije Rističević rolled down the shutters, let himself cradle with the waves, maybe even made a cocktail for himself while his teammates kept on scoring at the other side of the pool. Manojlović increased our difference to 10 goals (!!!), the standing was 12:2. Zvezda scored a third goal after a lot of struggles, but we settled back the two-digit advantage with Radojević’s goal (13:3). And as it’s always better to be safe than sorry, Drašović and Gogov scored two more for the end, demolishing the opponent into tiny pieces.
Dear Grave Diggers, fellow fans, I think this is definitely a match to remember!

(photos: hotsport.rs)

(photo: Facebook/Partizan is life)

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Dubrovnik 15 points
2. Primorje 12 points
3. Jadran HN 12 points
4. Partizan 10 points
5. Mornar 6 points
6. CZ 6 points
7. Mladost 4 points
8. Radnički 1 point
9. POŠK 1 point
10. Vojvodina 0 point

Primorje - VK Partizan 15:3 (Triglav Liga, Round 4)

In a short and laconic style: Croatians killed us.
None of the channels broadcasted it, as usual, the available informations are minimal. What is known is that Primorje was leading to 4:1 in the first quarter. For the half-time it grew to 7:1, at the end of the third quarter it was already 10:1. We could score two more goals in the final quarter, but the Croatians scored 5 at the same time.
Nevertheless it says all that 60 % of all Croatian attempts reached the goalmouth, while Partizan's ratio is only 20 %... or the fact that Primorje's goalkeeper saved 72 % of our attempts, while Rističević could do only 11%...

Where the hell has our defense gone?...

Our goals were scored by Subotić, Jakšić and Vico.
Now go and cry.

Current standing of the Liga:

1. Dubrovnik 12 points

2. Jadran HN 12 points

3. Primorje 9 points*

4. Partizan 7 points

5. CZ 6 points

6. Mladost 4 points*

7. Mornar 3 points*

8. Radnički 0 point

9. Vojvodina 0 point

10. POŠK 0 point*

Teams marked with * have played only 3 games so far.

Mladost - VK Partizan 9:9 (Triglav Liga, Round 3)

What a game it was. Even though we started with great pace and power, at the end we were struggling to equalize.
I have brought you screenshots about the match, I don’t want to wait until official photos will be released, if there’s any at all.

(screenshots)

We got a penalty shot right in the beginning, we scored (0:1). Some time around the half of the quarter Mladost equalized (1:1). A couple of attempts were missed out on both sides, then Gogov took back the lead (1:2), then he scored another, because it’s always better to be safe than sorry (1:3). Rističević made great saves, in the meantime Drašović shot and scored (1:4). The home team reduced the difference just a few seconds before the buzz (2:4).

Partizan’s timeout soon before the end of the first quarter

(screenshot)

In the second quarter Mladost quickly scored from power play (3:4). We increased the difference from penalty (3:5), but the Croatian team immediately scored from a counter-attack (4:5).

(screenshot)

Subotić quickly shot a goal (4:6), and it was around this point, when a nasty ordeal occurred for us.
We just couldn’t score any goal for a long time.
For our great-great luck we had our Dimitrije Rističević.
It was amazing what this man performed. He saved everything. We can thank especially to him that the Croatian team didn’t kill us.
Because in the meantime nothing worked for us. We always hit the goalpost or the crossbar, no matter if we shot from the distance or from nearby. Mladost reduced the difference, what is more, just a few seconds before the half-time they equalized. (6:6)
The third quarter was awful. We demonstrated how not to play water polo. We screwed up everything possible.
Yet at the other side Rističević saved even the impossible with the persistence of a rock.
So, dear Reader, now you overcome your laziness, stand up straight and salute to him.

(photo: Google)

While Average Fan died a bit after every missed-out chance.
Then Mladost took the lead after a counter-attack. (7:6)
Our boys kept on hitting the crossbar. Gilen, Subotić, Gogov all missed it out. No matter from where they tried to shoot, the ball always hit the plastic instead of the net.

(screenshot)

Vladimir Vujasinović asked for time-out, trying to tidy up the chaos in the heads. But even this didn’t work out. Jakšić was sent off, Mladost was in power play and they took advantage of it. (8:6)

(screenshot)

At the end of the quarter, after more than 8 minutes we could score and reduce the difference (8:7).
In the final quarter we continued to perform the "how not to play waterpolo"-movie as well as tearing up fans’ nerves into small pieces. Manojlović hit the crossbar almost from the goal line, then he missed out another attempt as well. If we didn’t hit the crossbar, then Croatian defenders inactivated us. And in this unbelievable, surreal circus Mladost scored another goal. 9:7, and there are barely one and a half minute left.
And Subotić scored!!!! 9:8!!!!
There’s only one minute left!

May all the devils of the hell take ArenaSport’s technicians for a sledge ride on his birthday, because on the screen "9:7" could be seen for a very long time. Average Fan thought the referees invalidated Subotić’s goal - which was a cheeky, amazing goal by the way - and Croatians are still on the lead with 2 goals. So, the channel owes me a number of hairs that grew grey for me extremely quickly during this last half minute.

And then, for the very last seconds we sped up and right before the end buzz Gogov equalized with a fantastic goal. 9:9!
The end. And we are happy, because we could steal a point from Zagreb.
The hero of the day was Gavril Subotić no, actually it’s Dimitrije Rističević, but Subotić scored the most goals (4) - there’s no info about Rističević’s saves though. Subotić is followed by Gogov with 3 goals. Drašović and Radojević both scored 1-1 goal.

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Dubrovnik 9 points
2. Jadran HD 9 points
3. Partizan 7 points
4. Primorje 6 points*
5. CZ 6 points
6. Mornar 3 points
7. Mladost 1 point*
8. Radnički 0 point
9. Vojvodina 0 point
10. POŠK 0 point

Teams marked with * played only 2 matches so far.

VK Partizan - Radnički Kragujevac 11:7 (Triglav Liga, Round 2)

Partizan’s water polo team again earned a smashing victory, now against Radnički in the 2nd round of Triglav Liga.
The available informations are less than minimal, what is important that Gavril Subotić was again the hero of the day with 4 goals. He is followed by Mateja Asanović, Nemanja Vico and Nikola Jakšić, all scoring 2-2 goals. Marko Manojlović earned 1 goal.

Nemanja Vico

(photo: vaterpolovesti.com)

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Dubrovnik 6 points
2. Partizan 6 points
3. Jadran HN 6 points
4. CZ 6 points
5. Primorje 3 points
6. Mladost 0 point
7. Radnički 0 point
8. Mornar 0 point
9. Vojvodina 0 point
10. POŠK 0 point

VK Partizan - Vojvodina 12:1 (Triglav Liga, Round 1)

While yesterday everyone was busy with the basketball team being humiliated and washed off in France, Partizan’s water polo team played the 1st round of Triglav Liga.
Or rather, in the course of an easy maintenance training they tore Vojvodina to pieces in the pool near Banjička šuma.

The "shrine" in Banjica

(the author’s photo)

From the very moment our players jumped into the water the only question was how many goals we should score. Gavril Subotić, who won world championship with the Serbian national team in the summer took the team on his back and in the first quarter we were leading to 3:0.
In the half time it was already 7:0.
Even though Vojvodina’s goalkeeper Vitorović saved even the impossible. He had 11 saves (!) during the game.

I hope after the opponent returned back to Novi Sad, they engilded his hands.

But there was no stop even in the second half so much that we were leading to 9:0 at the end of the third quarter. Subotić kept on scoring, he himself shot 3 goals, while our 9th goal was scored by young Nikola Radonjić - this was his first ever goal for Partizan.
Vojvodina could score only in the last quarter, that only goal was shot by youth national team member Kristijan Šulc.
The hero of the day is of course Gavril Subotić with his 3 goals. He is followed by our Greek player Dimitris Tigkas, who earned 2 goals. Danilo Andžić, Nikola Radonjić (mentioned above), Filip Radojević, Nemanja Vico, Filip Janković, Đorđe Lazić and Nikola Lukić all scored 1-1 goal.
Our goalkeeper Dimitrije Rističević also deserves to be mentioned in the Daily Hall of Fame with his 10 saves.

Gavril Subotić

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Current standing of the Liga:
1. Partizan 3 points
2. Jadran HN 3 points
3. Dubrovnik 3 points
4. Primorje 3 points
5. CZ 3 points
6. Radnički 0 point
7. Mladost 0 point
8. Mornar 0 point
9. POŠK 0 point
10. Vojvodina 0 point

VK Partizan - Jadran ST 12:6 (Triglav League)

It's unbelievable, this manifestation of amateur attitude, when in one hand the water polo team's match is not broadcasted at all

but the red team's match is

but the details are barely mentioned, maybe only in the deepest depths of the internet. Even if the water polo boys had a shining victory in the Banjica pool, running through Jadran mercilessly.
The match was one big Gilen-festival, he scored 4 goals, followed by Mandić and his 3 shots.
If there’s anything, photo, video, report

there won’t be any, I know

I’ll update.

VK Partizan - VK Crvena Zvezda 12:9 (Triglav League)

It was a great match.
The two teams started immediately a heavy fight. Nemanja Vico scored the first goal (1:0). Mandić quickly brought two more (3:0, the latter one from penalty), meanwhile on the other side Slobodan Soro saved all tryings of Zvezda with a wide grin.
They could still threw two (3:2), then Draško Gogov shot one just before the end buzz, because it’s better to be safe than sorry. (4:2)

In the beginning of the second quarter the stream died. Me too, a bit.

More than 3 minutes passed until the first goal of the second part, scored by Subotić (5:2). Goalkeeper Šefik just watched with shock, not knowing what happened... Yet Zvezda couldn’t take advantage of a double power play (two Partizan-players were sent off). They still reduced the difference from a counter-attack (5:3), they made a speed-swim to our goal line and shot.
Mandić again scored from penalty (6:3), Soro was the strong bastion of our defense. At the end of the first half, just 10 seconds before the buzz the opponent scored, so we went to the half-time pause with 6:4.
The 3rd quarter started and Zvezda didn't even pushed themselves at the swim-off. Mandić didn’t hesitate much, but scored another goal (8:5).
Then referees showed the red card for Vladimir Vujasinović. (He complained after a foul, referees didn't like it.) The head coach found a place on a tribune, from that point on the second coach was in charge.
Soro was still our biggest strength, Subotić had a brilliant try left, he wanted to shoot with a backhand twist, but he missed. (Had he scored, it would have been the Goal of the Month.)
The final part was opened by Stojanović (9:5), Zvezda had an instant reply (9:6) - but us, too! Repanović scored, immediately (10:6). Zvezda kept on trying (10:7), our rapid reaction came by Manojlović (11:7). What is more, Mandić stole the ball, swam up to Zvezda’s goal line like a shark on speed (all defenders were left far behind him) and threw the ball into the net without mercy (12:7). Zvezda had two goals left to score, but they couldn’t switch the standing to their benefit.

(photo: sportske.net)