In an extraordinary match, a performance by top players in the semi-finals of the European Cup, Radnički defeated Marseille 17:14 (3:2, 3:5, 7:5, 4:2) and travels to France with a three-goal advantage, where the second leg will be played on May 9. Three goals is a nice advantage, but after everything we’ve seen, it means absolutely nothing.
Strahinja Rašović, Duško Pijetlović, who celebrated his 41st birthday today, goalkeeper Filipović (13 saves), Nikola Jakšić, who played half the game with one eye half-closed, and the calm Vlahopulos played brilliantly…
The first quarter was marked by very good defenses on both sides. Strahinja Rašović with two goals and Duško Pijetlović with an excellent roll were the more prominent individuals. Top player Thomas Verneuil was well stopped. A real trench battle was seen, where the opponent’s mistake was expected. Marseille led all the way, Radnički turned it around for plus one at the first break.
In the second half, with the score 4:3 for Radnicki, Marseille made a turnaround with two goals. The first was scored by Spaić after a previously great save by Filipović and a rebound, and the second by a Gbadamasi screw. However, during the first goal in the duel between Vernou and Nikola Jakšić, the Serbian player was hit in the eye and the referees did not react to it. Jakšić did not return to the match until the end of the quarter. Vapenski equalized at 5:5, and Pijetlović converted a great assist from Strahinja Rašović into 6:5. The home team did not preserve the advantage, several mistakes in attack, so Kalogeropulos from distance and the awakened Thomas Vernou brought a minimal advantage to the French team.
After the break, a real explosion of Kragujevac’s attack. Nikola Jakšić returned at his own insistence, with his eye half-closed. The home team was almost flawless in attack, scoring seven goals, Vlahopulos and Strahinja Rašović excelled, but the referees played a key role at the moment. With the score at 12:10 for Radnički, Pijetlović’s action was not sanctioned with an obvious five-pointer. The home team’s bench went “half crazy” and while the protests were going on, the French performed an action that the referees now justifiably sanctioned with a five-pointer, a decision they should have made a few seconds earlier in favor of the home team. The home team’s assistant coach was sent off. Radnički kept the lead, which was reduced by Nađi seven seconds before the end of the third quarter. Marseille held Verna and Krusi
Nikola Jakšić immediately scored in the last part. Agile Radnički had 16:13 before the guest captain Krusi reduced the score. The French were angry with the referees, Šćepanović received a red card. The French could have gone down to minus one, but the brilliant Filipović saved Nađo’s shot. In the last attack, the enthusiastic Vlahopulos put the ball in Tešanović’s net, and in the last 27 seconds Filipović neutralized the player more twice for a big victory 17:14.
Uroš Stevanović was satisfied with the victory:
– Congratulations to Jaksic who played with one eye half-closed. The team also deserves congratulations, we were calm, we knew that this was the first match and that everything was important now. This is the maximum difference in this match. Nothing is over, the audience enjoyed it. We will have to endure everything in Marseille. They were looking for each other just like we did in the first part of the season. Let’s go, defense by defense, attack by attack. We have to be patient, we will try to win another final .
In the second semi-final match, Jadran defeated BVSC 13:12 (1:2, 5:3, 4:2, 3:5) in Split.
Radnicki – Marseille 17:14 (3:2, 3:5, 7:5, 4:2)
Radnicki Pool. Referees: Severo (Italy), Kourtidis (Greece). Player more: Radnicki 13 (8), Marseille 8 (4). Peterci: Radnicki 1 (1), Marseille 2 (2)
Workers: Filipović, S. Rašović 4, Dedović, Randjelović 1, P. Jakšić, Pijetlović 2, Prlainović 2, N. Jakšić 2, Murišić, Vapenski 3, Vlahopulos 3, V. Rašović, Funtain, Dadvani.
Marseille: Tesanovic, Laroumbe, Cruzia 4, Spaic 1, Nagi 2, T. Vernoux 4, Drasovic, Bue, M. Vernoux, Bodegas, De Nardi, Kalogeropulos 1, McKnight, Gbadamasi 2.
