The Serbian men’s water polo team suffered its first defeat at the 4×4 World Water Polo Championship in Dubrovnik. Serbia was defeated by Georgia in the third round of the league stage with a score of 2:3. After four sets, it was 2:2 (2:3, 2:6, 5:2, 5:2), and Georgia won the five-set series with a score of 3:1.
Serbia started the first set well and took a 2-0 lead with goals from Petar Stanić and Aleksa Petrovski. However, Georgia turned the score around by the end and won the set 3-2.
The Georgians were better in the second set as well. Serbia twice came close to equalizing with goals from Stanić and Đorđe Ljubenović, but their rivals then scored four goals and won 6:2. One of Georgia’s goals, scored by Giorgi Meschi with a shot from their own half, was worth two goals.
Serbian water polo players played much better in the third set. Aleksandar Kovačević and Filip Ćorić gave Serbia a 2:0 lead, and Petar Jović then increased the lead to 4:1 with a goal from his own half, which was worth two goals. Radosav Virijević saved Davit Chkheidze’s five-pointer, and Miroslav Ranđić scored for 5:1. Georgia reduced the lead to 5:2 by the end.
Serbia won the fourth set with the same result. Petar Stanić scored two goals, while Kovačević, Petrovski and Ćorić scored one each, so the winner was decided by a five-pointer.
In the penalty shootout, Georgia scored from Giorgi Meshi, Luka Giorgadze and Davit Chkheidze. Miroslav Ranđić hit the post, while the only penalty for Serbia was scored by Filip Ćorić, giving Georgia a 3-1 victory.
The most efficient player for the Serbian national team was Petar Stanić with four goals. Petar Jović, Aleksa Petrovski, Aleksandar Kovačević and Filip Ćorić scored two goals each, while Đorđe Ljubenović and Miroslav Ranđić scored one goal each.
Serbia will play the last match of the league phase on Thursday, September 3, at 7:40 PM against Spain.
Serbia – Georgia 2:3 (2:3, 2:6, 5:2, 5:2 – five-goal score 1:3)
SERBIA: Virijević, Jović 2, Petrovski 2, Ljubenović 1, Ranđić 1, Kovačević 2, Ćorić 2, Stanić 4.
Selector: Goran Krstonošić.
GEORGIA: Kapanadze, Chkheidze 4, Kikaleishvili, Malisau 2, Machavariani 2, Giorgadze 2, Meshki 2, Kyriakides 1.
Coach: Gela Tukvadze.
Peterci: Serbia 2/2, Georgia 1/2.
Bonus points: Serbia 0/0, Georgia 0/0.
Penalty series: Serbia 1/2, Georgia 3/3.
Referee: Nora Nikola Debreceny (Hungary).
