Courtesy: LEN Media
Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) and Marseille (FRA) used the home advantage to win the first leg of the respective semifinals. The Montenegrins narrowly beat OSC (HUN) while the French downed Ortigia (ITA) by three goals.
Euro Cup, semi-finals, 1st leg
Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) v A Hid-OSC Budapest 11-10
CN Marseille (FRA) v CC Ortigia (ITA) 7-4
Jadran played a sparkling match against OSC which offered the very best of attacking water polo and plenty of twists and turns. The Hungarians began the match overwhelmingly and took a 0-3 lead but Jadran ‘arrived’ to the match in the second period and netted six goals to level the score by half-time at 6-6. After 6-7 the Montenegrins netted three in a row and were 11-9 up late in the fourth but OSC managed to pull one back with 25 seconds remaining.
On the contrary, the defenses decided the outcome in Marseille. Though the Italians jumped to a 0-2 lead and held on for 2-3 in the first period, they could score only one more goal in the remaining three quarters. The French took control after a while and managed to build a three-goal gap which looks promising before the return match in one month.
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