The group phase of the men’s water polo tournament at the European Universities Games has ended, and the play-offs will determine the final standings. Two teams from two host cities of the Games – Rijeka and Zagreb – will meet in what will be a grand Croatian final.
The first semifinal was dominated by the team from Rijeka, who used the home advantage to win against the Hungarians 8:5. The Rijeka team had a 3:0 lead after the first quarter, and it seemed the winner was settled. However, the Budapest team came back to life in the second quarter. Rijeka took matters back in their hands soon after; it appears the Hungarians spent the last ounce of energy they had as they were no match for the home team the second half. The Hungarians had to settle with two ‘consolation’ goals in the last quarter.
Aron Jansik scored two goals for the Hungarians, while Mislav Vrtić and Demi Cernar scored two each for the winning Rijeka team.
Two Croatian teams met in the other semifinal match: Zagreb and Split played an attractive and tense match. In the end, the University of Zagreb managed come ahead and produce a 7:6 win.
‘The teams know each other very well, the stakes were high and we expectedly saw a very tense match. Neither team managed to maintain more than a single goal lead; only in the third quarter did the University of Zagreb succeed in creating a two goal margin. Zagreb managed to preserve their lead and advance to the final.
Luka Brčić was Zagreb’s hero with four goal scored; he also scored the last Zagreb goal in the match, the one which proved decisive for the outcome of the semifinal.
In addition to the grand final, the playoffs for the fifth to eighth place are scheduled tomorrow.The University of Portorož and the University of Lyon will clash for fifth place, while the team from Semmeweis University will meet University of St. Cyril and Methodius in a match for seventh place. St. Petersburg and Edinburgh will fight for ninth place, while Amsterdam holds the last spot at the tournament.
Results
