The Serbian women’s water polo team repeated their placement from the last European Championship in the Netherlands. After losing to Great Britain 10:9 (1:1, 3:3, 3:2, 3:3), they took tenth place.
The game was tough for a long time, tied without many goals. Serbia took the lead through Ilić, Britain turned it around to 2:1. Two minutes before the end of the second quarter, brutality in favor of Serbia, which Radonjić took advantage of to equalize from the five-pointer to 2:2.
By the time the teams were complete, Serbia had not gained an advantage, it was 4:4. In the middle of the third period, the Serbian team was left without Lukić and Milićević due to three fouls. It was a big handicap that the British took advantage of. They led 7:5, but captain Jelena Vuković reduced it, so Serbia entered the last quarter with a minus one. Elena Ćuk equalized with a player more than five minutes before the end. Dickens scored from the third five-pointer for Britain to lead 8:7, only for the third personal goal of Hristina Ilić Cutlerova to bring two goals to the surplus. Elena Ćuk immediately responded.
Coach Miloš Bradić called a timeout two minutes before the end. Diaz Mesa converted the opportunity to make it 9:9. In the last minute, the British women had a minute of rest after the third exclusion of Maša Ćuk. They missed the first opportunity, but Cutler brought victory to her team after a throw-out by Elena Ćuk. Jovana Radonjić tried in the last attack without success.
The referees also left a bitter taste. Serbia had players sent off 17 times, and the British team earned three five-pointers. Bradić’s team finished the match without four players. On the other hand, Serbia had six more players and two five-pointers, but also had a period of four minutes more players due to brutality. Interestingly, during that period, our team had a player sent off four times. The referees were, in a word, bad.
Serbia – Great Britain 9:10 (1:1, 3:3, 2:3, 3:3)
Referees: Ciger (Turkey) and Alexandrescu (Romania). Player more: Serbia 10 (5), Great Britain 12 (6). Peterci: Serbia 2 (2), Great Britain 3 (3).
Serbia: Travar, Shvec, Zelic, Milićević 1, Šarac, Radonjić 1, Ilic 1, Mandic 1, Diaz Mesa, Vuković 2, E. Ćuk 2, Lukić, Dulic, M. Ćuk.
Great Britain: Jackson, Howe, Peters, Turner 4, Falway, Brown, Cutler 2, Tafazolli, Rogers 1, Dickens 2, Blankinship 1, Cornell, Ball, Ross.
