With a solid defense and fantastic fighting spirit, Serbia defeated Hungary 10:7 (3:2, 2:3, 2:1, 3:1) in the final of the European Championship and became the European champion for the sixth time. A great evening for Serbian water polo, without the sick Ćuk, the team found the strength to reduce a great team like Hungary to seven goals, to defeat them for the second time in the championship.
WELL DONE SERBIA!
Scorers: Mandić four, Lukić two, Lazić, Martinović, Vico and Drašović one each for Serbia, Wendel Vigvari three, Akoš Nađ, Janšík, Fekete, Varga one each for Hungary.
The packed Arena welcomed and greeted the finalists. Then it erupted with “March on the Drina”, played for the first time at this competition. It was an introduction to a sports war, to a trench battle worthy of the final.
Tough defenses on both sides marked the first quarter. Serbia scored through Lukić on a pass from Mandić, who drew the entire Hungarian defense. With a player more, Drašović scored, and the enthusiastic Lukić again brought the score before the break with a great shot. For Hungary, Wendel Vigvari and Akoš Nagy scored twice with a player more.
Serbia struggled with the attack in the second half. Mandić and Nikola Jakšić were brilliantly guarded, it was clear how much Ćuk was missing. The Hungarians turned it around, taking the lead 4:3. Mandić had an unsuccessful screw and a parable but he corrected it with a goal from the penalty spot. With a player more, Serbia performed a great action, Vico converted captain Jakšić’s assist into the lead. However, there was no big break, with the score tied at 5:5 after Varga’s goal. Both teams’ defenses were on par and the attacks waited literally until the last second to find a solution for the shot.
Nothing changed after the big break as far as the defense was concerned. Mandić scored through two blocks, then in lightning-fast fashion with the player Martinović higher up, and Serbia led for the first time with a two-goal difference of 5.32 until the last break. Varga called for a timeout, which resulted in a goal by Fekete. And that was all the goals in the third period. Defense, defense, defense, who can hold out.
The war of nerves began and Milan Glušac felt his moments. He drove the Hungarians, especially Manherc, crazy with brilliant defenses. In the middle of the quarter, Uroš Stevanović requested a timeout with a player more. A five-pointer followed for Serbia after a foul on Jakšić. After that decision, Varga requested a challenge. Justifiably, the decision was not changed, Mandić was precise for 10:8 (4.13 to the end). Milan Glušac’s blinds worked flawlessly, “MVP, MVP” echoed and the attack was implemented through Lazić with a player more – 9:6 (2.59). Mandić then won a live ball with two players less as the icing on the cake, scoring the fourth goal in his own way. The celebration in the Arena could begin.
Well deserved, a final for all time.
Serbia – Hungary 10:7 (3:2, 2:3, 2:1, 3:1)
Pool Belgrade Arena Spectators 12,500, Referees: Ohm (Germany), Bourget (France). Player more: Serbia, Hungary Peterci:
Serbia: Filipović, Mandić 4, S. Rasović, Radelović, Lazić 1, Drasović 1, N. Jaksić, Vico 1, Dedović, P. Jaksić, V. Rasović, Glušac, Martinović 1, Lukić 2.
Hungary: Choma, Anâl, Manherc, Ak. Nagy 1, Vin. Vigvari, Ad. Nagy, Fekete 1, Tatray, Kovacs, Ven. Vigvari 3, Yanchik 1, Vogel, Vizmeg, Varga 1.
