In the first match of the semi-final series of the Serbian Super League, the Radnički water polo players easily defeated Red Star Belgrade, at their home pool, with a score of 15:6 (7:0, 3:1, 1:3, 4:2)
The “Red and Whites” had major problems with their health report before this match, so coach Aleksandar Filipović had only eight players and two goalkeepers at his disposal. On the other hand, Kragujevac’s strategist, Uroš Stevanović, shuffled the cards and rested several standard players: Strahinja Rašović, Nikola Dedović, Nikola Jakšić, Nikola Murišić, Boris Vapenski and Stefan Todorovski, and gave the young Jovan Simović, Andrija Stanarević, Samuil Ivanov, Veljko Dončić, Jovan Guduric and Bay Fountain a chance. In addition, the other more experienced water polo players from Radnički, who were in the squad, watched most of the match from the bench.
Even with that lineup, the team from Šumadija was too strong for the Belgrade team. They furiously won the first quarter in their favor (7:0), then had a 10:0 lead, before Rodoljub Gajić scored the first goal for Red Star after thirteen and a half minutes of play (10:1). Radnički then slowed down the pace and calmly brought the match to an end. The most efficient player in the winning lineup was Valiko Dadvani with four goals, while Veljko Dončić added three.
The semi-final series is played on two won matches, and the return match is scheduled for Sunday, at 7:30 PM, in Futog, where Red Star will play as the host. Then, the Kragujevac team awaits the return match of the Cup semi-final, in Marseille, on May 9.
Radnicki – Red Star 15:6 (7:0, 3:1, 1:3, 4:2)
SPD “Radnicki” swimming pool. Referees: Goran Jovančević (Vrnjačka Banja) and Vuk Milović (Kraljevo).
STAFF: Filipović, Simović, Stanarević, Randjelović, P. Jakšić, Pijetlović 1, Prlainović 2, Ivanov 2, Dončić 3, Guduric 1, Vlahopulos 1, V. Rasović 1, Fountain, Dadvani 4. Coach: Uroš Stevanović.
RED STAR: Misovic, Dankovic 1, Gajic 2, Krstic 1, Zivkovic, Popovic, Cikaric 1, Radanovic 1, Kasum, Savic. Coach: Aleksandar Filipovic.
