The Serbian men’s water polo team convincingly defeated Slovenia with a score of 32:1 (7:0, 7:0, 9:1, 9:0) in the first round of Group A at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto.
Coach Vladimir Vujasinović’s team completely controlled the match from the start. Viktor Urošević scored the first goal after just 23 seconds, and then Đorđe Vučinić, Nikola Lukić, Bogdan Gavrilović, Marko Dimitrijević and Vuk Milojević scored. Vučinić scored twice in the first half, giving Serbia a 7-0 lead after eight minutes.
Serbian water polo players continued in the same rhythm in the second quarter. Vasilije Martinović and Đorđe Vučinić quickly increased the lead, and then Marko Dimitrijević further increased the lead with three consecutive goals. Viktor Urošević and Dušan Trtović were precise at the end of the first half, so the second period ended with a score of 7:0.
Serbia went into the break with a 14:0 lead, having not allowed Slovenia to score a single goal in the first 16 minutes.
The dominance continued in the third period. After goals by Nikola Lukić and Nemanja Stanojević, Serbia took a 16:0 lead. Enej Potocnik then scored the first and only goal for Slovenia in the match, but the Serbian water polo players responded with another series. They won the third quarter with a score of 9:1 and had a convincing 23:1 lead before the last eight minutes.
Serbia did not slow down in the final quarter. Vasilije Martinović scored two goals, and Zoran Božović, Đorđe Vučinić, Nemanja Stanojević, Marko Dimitrijević, Vuk Čonkić, Dušan Trtović and Viktor Urošević also scored. The Serbian water polo players won the last quarter with a score of 9:0 and achieved a convincing victory with a score of 32:1.
The most efficient players in the Serbian team were Viktor Urošević and Marko Dimitrijević with five goals each. Đorđe Vučinić and Vasilije Martinović scored four goals each, and Dušan Trtović three goals. Luka Pljevančić, Nemanja Stanojević, Vuk Milojević and Nikola Lukić each scored twice, while Zoran Božović, Bogdan Gavrilović and Vuk Čonkić each scored one goal.
Serbia will play against Montenegro in the second round of Group A on Sunday, August 30, at 5:30 p.m.
After the match with Slovenia, our water polo players and the coach summarized their impressions from today’s match.
National team player Vuk Čonkić emphasized that Serbia started the competition in Taranto in the best way.
– I can freely say that we opened the tournament and the match in the best possible way. We entered aggressively, we did not underestimate our opponent at any point and we showed how much we are really worth. That will be shown in the rest of the tournament – said Čonkić.
Coach Vladimir Vujasinović praised the serious approach of his players throughout the match.
– With all due respect, Slovenia is far from our level, but I have to praise the guys because they played a serious game from start to finish. I think that is very important for the start of the tournament. We have a day off, we will have a stronger training session with Spain, and then we have a game against Montenegro, which will more or less be the real start of the Mediterranean Games for us – said Vujasinović.
The Serbian coach also addressed the conditions in Taranto and certain organizational problems.
– Everything is going well. We solve small problems on the fly, but that’s part of the sport and we have patience. I’m glad that some organizational mistakes didn’t affect the boys at all, that they reacted in the right way and showed that they came here to play water polo and that they are not interested in anything that happens outside the pool – added Vujasinović.
Viktor Urošević did not hide his satisfaction with the performance of the Serbian national team.
– The team entered the match in a great way and I am pleased with the boys, who adapted very well to the conditions. I want us to enter Sunday’s match against Montenegro with the same approach – concluded Urošević.
Slovenia – Serbia 1:32 (0:7, 0:7, 1:9, 0:9)
SLOVENIA: Udovč, Berić, Šantak, Čanč, Miletić, Kacić, Strömejer, Ficur, Seljak, Ćetković, Fumo, Potočnik 1.
Coach: Mirko Vičević.
SERBIA: Misovic, Pljevancic 2, Stanojevic 2, Urosevic 5, Trtovic 3, Milojevic 2, Vucinic 4, Dimitrijevic 5, Bozovic 1, Martinovic 4, Lukic 2, Gavrilovic 1, Glusac, Chonkic 1.
Coach: Vladimir Vujasinovic.
Player more: Serbia 9/11, Slovenia 0/2.
Peterci: Serbia 5/7, Slovenia 0/0.
Referees: Gregory Courbin (France), Cihan Buyukburc (Turkey).
