EURO CUP Final leg 1

Euro Cup – Finale – Gara 1
FLORENTIA-RADNICKI 4-8

 

Results :

http://lenresults.jumbograndieventi.it/MatchDetails.aspx?idMatch=1a9bfbea-2b3e-4e4f-a845-b771e0c69eae

Referees :
BUCH F.Xavier (ESP); BENDER Axel (GER)
Delegate:
György MARTIN (HUN)

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Excelling goalie helps Radnicki get big first win

Waterpoloworld

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Wednesday 20 March 2013, 20:47

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Tim Hartog

© Vojislav Petrovic

 

  

Behind a nice performance from goalie Zdravko Radic Serbian powerhouse Radnicki Kragujevac has made a big step towards their first even major trophy. In the Euro Cup final against Florentia the visitors emerged victorious recording a 4-8 victory with a the second leg to be played at home on April 6. The sometimes precarious Radic was right on place several times on Wednesday in Florence to save the multiple long distance shots fired at him as the Serbian well-organised defence made it hard for Florentia to reach the centre-forwards. The Radnicki-goalie made sure that Florentia couldn't make a comeback in the second half after a dominant 0-4 second-quarter performance by the Dejan Udovicic coached side gave Radnicki a 3-6 lead at half time. In the second half the title favorite clearly gave defense the priority letting Florentia struggling to create any danger and looked forced to try from distance with Radic at the right place to block the attempts. With just a little lucky backhanded goal by center Boris Popovic for Radnicki the goals in the fourth quarter were counted as Radnicki takes home a four-goal advantage while Florentia has a daunting task of making up for the deficit in Serbia in two weeks time.


Euro Cup 2012-2013
Final

Leg 1

Wednesday March 20

RN Florentia (ITA) vs. VK Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) 4-8 (3-2, 0-4, 1-1, 0-1)

Game 2 to be played on March 6

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A thoughtful favorite

Waterpoloworld

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Tuesday 19 March 2013, 12:15

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Tim Hartog

© Vojislav Petrovic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although not walking away from the role as title favorites, they realize the Euro Cup outcome will be decided over two games. Home-and-away, or rather vice versa in case of VK Radnicki from Kragujevac, the fourth largest city in Serbia. Battling the Italian side of Rari Nantes Florentia in the finals the new-look LEN Euro Cup tournament will see a debutant as winner. For the newly formed squad of Radnicki, full of experienced world-class players, every succes they will get this season is new and fresh while the Italian club is a nine-time Italian national champion, although the last title dates back to 1980. The current Italian league's number four's most recent success was internationally as Florentia clinched the LEN Cup winners Cup in 2001. But overcoming Radnicki in this year's Euro Cup finals will be a daunting task. Winning the tournament is one of the two top priorities for the Serbian side who currently leads the Serbian league, tied with Crvena Zvezda with both teams facing off this Saturday. 2011 FINA player of the year Filip Filipovic expressed his expectation of a decision in game 2 at home against Serbian national newspaper Mondo on Monday: ''Florentia is a very good and young team in an easier situation than we are because they do not have the pressure that we as favorites have'', he said.

With big names like captain Vanja Udovicic, Filipovic, 2012 Olympic champion Damir Buric and Montenegrin center Boris Zlokovic on one side, Florentia is led by two world-class players as well. The Spanish tandem of high-scorer Albert Español and national team captain Guillermo Molina prooved vital for the squad that surprised many along their way to the finals which included eliminating another title favorite and outgoing champs, RN Savona in the semi-finals.

Although a recent precarious phase saw Florentia falling to Promogest, then tying with league leaders Brescia and beating the league's number ten, Ellevi Nervi, by 'just' two (9-7) last Saturday, they have prooved more than once to be a dangerous contender, especially at home. The Serbs seems to realize that and will have to come up with a tactital plan to shut down the team's scorers to take home a good result. The Euro Cup finals game 1 will start at 20.00 hrs local time in Italy.

Euro Cup 2012 - 2013

Finals

Game 1

Wednesday March 20

20.00: RN Florentia (ITA) vs. VK Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)

 

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Florentia, impresa cercasi

Waterpolodevelopmendworld

Gioia per giocare una partita del genere, orgoglio per un percorso che ha permesso di arrivare a questo appuntamento, ambizione e speranza di provare a giocarsela. Leonardo Sottani sintetizza lo stato d’animo della Rari Nantes Florentia in vista del più importante appuntamento stagionale. Domani (ore 20.30) a Bellariva finale di andata di Euro Cup con i serbi del Radnicki. “Possiamo tranquillamente affermare – dice il tecnico biancorosso – che siamo di fronte a una serata speciale, forse la più importante per noi perché non so se saremo in grado di ripeterci in campionato. Siamo consapevoli che ci troveremo di fronte una corrazzata che abbiamo già incontrato nel girone di qualificazione e che si è trovata a giocare in Euro Cup con un organico da Coppa dei Campioni. Siamo comunque a finale europea frutto di un cammino più che positivo che a inizio stagione non era ipotizzabile. Ci siamo e quindi vogliamo dimostrare di che non siamo arrivati qui per caso”.

Il cammino biancorosso per arrivare a questa doppia finale (la gara di ritorno in Serbia il 6 aprile) ha visto le vittorie sull’Istanbul Yuzme (16-5), Potzdam (15-4), Sabadell (9-7) e la sconfitta col Radnicki (4-8) nel girone di qualificazione, la vittoria (8-6) seguita dalla sconfitta (9-10) nei quarti di finale col Szolnoki Dosza e la vittoria (6-8 in trasferta) e il pareggio (11-11) in semifinale col Savona.

“Come sempre daremo il massimo – aggiunge Sottani – e stavolta qualcosa in più. Mi aspetto il sostegno del nostro pubblico che ci aiuterà a superare i momenti difficili che inevitabilmente ci saranno”.

Coppoli, pur inutilizzabile, sarà nella lista dei 13. “E’ giusto – conclude Sottani – che anche lui viva questo momento”.

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