Radnicki overpower Mladost to set up Euro Cup final clash with Recco
SPD Radnicki produced a powerful final quarter to overturn the three-goal deficit HAVK Mladost inflicted on them in the first-leg to reach the Euro Cup final. The Croatians battled hard and held their aggregate lead until midway through the third quarter, but the tie started to agonisingly slip away from them. A strong 4-0 finish from the Serbians finally ended Mladost’s spirited resistance. Elsewhere on Thursday night, Sabadell restored some pride by drawing 10-10 with Recco at home, but the Italians still comfortably progressed thanks to their 16-6 victory in the opening clash.
2024/25 Euro Cup Men
Semi Finals Second-Legs
SPD Radnicki (SRB) 15-8 HAVK Mladost (CRO)
(Agg: 25-21)
KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 10-10 Pro Recco (ITA)
(Agg: 16-26)
As expected, the clash between SPD Radnicki and HAVK Mladost began at a blistering pace, as nine goals flew in during an intense and frenetic first quarter.
The hosts started with a three-goal deficit from the first-leg and their task soon got worse, as Mladost’s Konstantin Kharkov and Ivan Buljubasic fired in quick goals to extend their overall lead to five.
Dusan Vasic and Valiko Dadvani converted two man-ups to level the scores on the night, then Strahinja Rasovic scored a penalty to edge Radnicki 3-2 ahead.
Both sides hit two more to arrive at the first break 5-4 and the momentum was growing for the Serbians, especially as Mladost’s Matias Biljaka had already been red carded.
The drums and chants were growing louder and louder inside the arena in the second quarter, particularly when Nemanja Stanojevic struck after just 30 seconds to make it 6-4.
At this point, Radnicki were in touching distance of tying the aggregate scores, but they couldn’t find another for a while, despite having two six on five chances.
Instead, it was Mladost’s Luka Bosic who found the net, as he finished off a nicely-worked man-up for 6-5, but Radnicki’s Boris Vapenski had the last say of the half, as he arrowed in a powerful shot from a six on five that flashed through goalkeeper Ivan Marcelic’s hands.
In the third, Franko Lazic opened the scoring for the Croatians from a man-up, before Radomir Drasovic rifled in an unstoppable shot – also from extra – that flew into the top-right corner.
With 5:22 on the clock, Nikola Murisic finally levelled the aggregate scores after finding space on 2m. He delicately looped the ball over Marcelic, who desperately tried to reach it.
Andrija Basic then unleashed a thunderbolt to put Mladost back in front overall, but strikes from Nikola Jaksic and another from Dadvani put the Serbians ahead on the night by four (11-7) – and one in the tie.
The action was relentless, as the visitors continued to battle for every ball, and Josip Vrlic muscled his way in front of his marker to make it 11-8 and even things up again ahead of the decisive final eight minutes.
Unfortunately for Mladost, Vrlic’s goal was his team’s last of the evening, as their attack fizzled out in the fourth, while Nikola Jaksic, Vasic and Drasovic all hammered in to put Radnicki firmly in control at 14-8.
Dadvani added his fourth of the game with 1:44 remaining to make the scoreline even more appealing for the Serbians, who celebrated reaching their second-ever Euro Cup final.
Radnicki won the title in 2013 after beating Florentia, and will now have to beat another Italian team – Pro Recco – if they are to lift the famous trophy once again.
In Spain, Pro Recco arrived with a commanding 10-goal lead from the opening leg, so Sabadell were aiming to restore some pride and put on a show for their fans, which is exactly what they did.
If it hadn’t been for a poor second quarter, which saw the Spaniards fail to score, they could have even been celebrating a win on the night against the Italian giants.
The game started with both teams trading three goals each, with Jan Perez, Kanstansin Averka and Alberto Barroso all on target for Sabadell, while two strikes from Aaron Younger and one from Matteo Iocchi for Recco made it 3-3 at the first break.
Sabadell started firing blanks in the second – much to the frustration of the home supporters – and they also missed four six on five opportunities.
Recco took their chances, though, as Giacomo Cannella converted a penalty and captain Francesco Di Fulvio and Ben Hallock also found the net.
In the third, Marco Del Lungo made several more great saves to keep the Spaniards out, but he couldn’t keep Averka’s effort out with 3:57 on the clock.
Francisco Valera soon made it 5-6 on the night with a shot from outside 6m, then Cannella scored the only goal of the quarter for the Italians for 5-7.
With the overall result beyond doubt, it wasn’t easy for Recco to keep shifting through the gears, but Sabadell looked more determined to get something out of the game, and Averka finished off a six on five for 6-7 just before the penultimate buzzer.
The Montenegro international then tied the game 27 seconds into the fourth, before Hallock struck from the centre to edge Recco back in the lead.
A penalty foul by Cannella gifted Sabadell the opportunity to level again and Valera kept his cool to make it 8-8.
Barroso took the hosts’ next penalty, but missed, then Recco also fluffed a penalty, as Cannella’s shot smashed off the crossbar and behind.
Midway through the quarter, USA star Alex Bowen showed his class by firing in a powerful shot from 6m to put Sabadell ahead for the first time on the night.
However, Bowen’s international team-mate Hallock quickly silenced the celebrations as he scored from a man-up, then Condemi converted a penalty to make it 9-10 with 1:51 remaining.
Bowen was on a mission, though, to not end up on the losing side again, and his six on five shot with 1:14 on the clock was luckily deflected into the net for 10-10.
It was the final act of the night and although the hosts restored some pride as planned, it’s Recco who progress to next month’s final, as they continue their quest for a first Euro Cup title.
The Euro Cup final will take place on Saturday 10th and Saturday 24th May, with Radnicki at home first. You can watch all the action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com, and stay up-to-date with all the results and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play.
Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
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