The Serbian men’s water polo team failed to qualify for the final of the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, after being defeated by hosts Italy in the semi-finals after a hard-fought battle with a score of 11:10 (3:1, 2:6, 3:0, 3:3).
Coach Vladimir Vujasinović’s team played an excellent second half, scoring six consecutive goals to turn the score from 1:5 to 7:5. However, Italy fought back in the second half and maintained a minimal lead in a dramatic finale.
The semi-final match was also marked by a large number of controversial refereeing decisions to the detriment of Serbia, which significantly influenced the course and final outcome of the match. Of particular note is the expulsion of Vasilije Martinović, the best player of the tournament, which left the Dolphins without one of their main players in key moments. With uneven refereeing criteria and several uncalled fouls against the Serbian water polo players, our team was faced with additional difficult circumstances in the dramatic finale.
The nets were scoreless for more than three minutes at the start of the match, and the first goal was scored by Filippo Ferrero, who used an extra player after three minutes and 10 seconds of play. The same player scored from the center position a minute and nine seconds later, giving Italy a 2-0 lead.
Vasilije Martinović converted a five-pointer for Serbia’s first goal after five minutes and 31 seconds. However, just 16 seconds later, Alessandro Gullotta used the extra man to make it 3-1 in the first quarter. Serbia missed a chance to reduce the deficit in the final minutes, as Dušan Trtović hit the post with an extra man, while Francesco de Michelis stopped Đorđe Vučinić’s shot from six meters.
The Italians started the second half better. Ferrero scored from the penalty spot after one minute and three seconds of play, and Alessandro Carnesecchi converted a player more a minute and 11 seconds later for a big 5:1.
Then came a great response from Serbia. After two minutes and 43 seconds of play, Viktor Urošević used an extra player, then scored from the field for 5:3, and with his third consecutive goal, again with a numerical advantage, reduced the score to 5:4.
Bogdan Gavrilović converted a player more one minute and 47 seconds before going on a long break and brought Serbia an equalizer. Martinović then scored from the penalty spot for the first lead for the Serbian team, and eight seconds before the end of the half, he increased the score to 7:5 with a precise shot from six meters. The Serbian captain received a red card with the right to be substituted immediately after that goal.
Italy reduced the deficit after exactly one minute into the third quarter, when Francesco Casillas scored from six meters. A scoreless period followed, during which Trtović hit the post, while Milan Glušac stopped Matteo Jokic Grata’s attempt from the center position.
Midway through the third period, Andrea Mladosic and Nemanja Stanojevic committed their third personal fouls, and were suspended for the rest of the game with the right to be substituted. Karneseki used an extra player after four minutes and six seconds of play to tie the game at 7:7.
Serbia failed to break the opponent’s net in the third quarter, and Joki Grata scored 27 seconds before the end, giving Italy a minimal lead before the decisive eight minutes – 8:7.
Serbia equalized again after 48 seconds of play in the final period, as Urošević shot accurately from six meters. Italy quickly responded, and Casillas made it 9:8 with a player more.
Trtović converted a player more three minutes and 51 seconds into the fourth quarter and tied the score at 9:9. However, Ferrero scored from six meters just 28 seconds later, and Joki Grata gave the home team a two-goal lead in the next attack – 11:9.
Đorđe Vučinić used the extra man two minutes and 10 seconds before the end to bring Serbia back within a goal of the deficit. Glušac saved a shot by Cassija with an extra man 46 seconds before the final whistle, leaving Serbia with a chance to equalize. After a timeout, Urošević shot 26 seconds before the end, but De Michelis saved his attempt and preserved the victory for Italy.
The most efficient player in the Serbian national team was Viktor Urošević with four goals, while Vasilije Martinović scored three. Dušan Trtović, Đorđe Vučinić and Bogdan Gavrilović scored once each. Milan Glušac played the entire match and made seven saves.
Serbia will fight for the bronze medal against Spain on Thursday, September 3, at 12 noon.
Coach Vladimir Vujasinović emphasized that the team is used to difficult circumstances, but that they did not expect to be without one of their most important players during the match.
– We knew something like this would happen, but we couldn’t have imagined that they would exclude not only our best player but also the best player in the tournament. To throw him out of the game because of simulation is completely unthinkable. Afterwards, they wonder how our sport can’t break through and become more popular. So how will it? Everything else is within the service period. We fought until the very end. Unfortunately, we were left with a small number of players, fouls were not played, especially on the outside line, and it was a complete Krkljan game. However, we found the strength and I congratulate the boys for holding on until the end. We had a shot for the equalizer and five-pointers, but we didn’t score a goal in the last attack, in a seven-on-six game – said Vujasinović.
The Serbian coach emphasized that the team must now recover and focus on the match for third place.
– We have to pull ourselves together and win a medal tomorrow. We are playing against Spain for third place and I hope that we will once again show that we have character and play our best. We have trained with the Spanish and we know them well. There is no big preparation, we just have to come back psychologically. We came to win gold and this defeat is not easy for us, regardless of the fact that we are at the Mediterranean Games – added Vujasinović.
National team player Luka Pljevančić did not hide that he had a hard time gathering his impressions after the dramatic match.
– We knew what the match would be like and how much it would be, both psychologically and physically. The Italians are recognizable by their style of play and we know how they play well. We prepared for it, primarily mentally, because they play extremely aggressively and dirty. We tried to respond to them in the same way and I would like to congratulate all the guys from my team. I think we showed our teeth and did not allow them to humiliate us in any way. The result is what it is, we lost 11:10 and the nuances were decisive. There were a lot of controversial decisions that I will not go into, that is for a deeper analysis. We made a lot of mistakes and the Italians scored a large number of goals after our mistakes. We have to fix that. We have a match with Spain for third place. We have to cool down, calm our heads, prepare for that match, win bronze and return home with a medal – said Pljevančić.
Italy – Serbia 11:10 (3:1, 2:6, 3:0, 3:3)
ITALY: De Michelis, Casilla 2, Mladosic, Alfonso Posso, Occhione, Pacalijev, Ferrero 4, Gullotta 1, Joki Grata 2, A. Condemi, F. Condemi, Carnesecchi 2, Izzo, Balzarini.
Coach: Alessandro Campagna.
SERBIA: Glušac, Pljevančić, Stanojevic, Urošević 4, Trtović 1, Milojevic, Vučinić 1, Dimitrijevic, Božović, Martinović 3, Gavrilović 1, Misović, Čonkić.
Coach: Vladimir Vujasinovic.
Player more: Serbia 5/10, Italy 6/13.
Peterci: Serbia 2/2, Italy 1/1.
Referees: Maxim Gerasimov (Great Britain), Spyridon Achladiotis (Greece).
