Water polo World Cup, bitter defeat for Settebello: out in the quarterfinals, Serbia passes on penalties

Bitter defeat for Settebello at the Fukuoka Water Polo World Cup in the quarterfinals. Sandro Campagna’s Azzurri were defeated against Serbia only after penalties for 15-14 and also saw the first chance of obtaining a pass for the Paris 2024 Olympics vanish. After 11-11 in regular time, Di Somma and Damonte’s mistakes in the lottery of fatal penalties for Italy. In the semifinals, Serbia will now face Greece, who previously beat Montenegro 10-9.

The blues, often in the lead throughout the match, have never managed to disengage. So in the end Serbia passes after equalizing with Ubovic center forward 48 seconds from the end. Serbia breaks the ice with Jaksic who strikes Del Lungo from the perimeter after three minutes (0-1). Second extraman and Lazic from the center turns the tap-in of doubling (0-2). Second man more for Italy and this time it is Cinnamon who unlocks the blues (1-2). The goal by the Roman forward gasses the Azzurri who pass twice: first Bruni slips into the center, eludes Martinovic’s marking and equalizes. Subsequent counter escape and Cinnamon with a perfect lob catches Misovic off time and makes it 3-2. The blue six then commits a penalty foul that Drasovic converts (3-3). Half time with Var calls and two wrong extramen on each side; then in the fourth superiority Settebello goes from four again with Di Somma who pulls the diagonal of 4-3. Rasovic equalized again in extraman, exploiting a counterattack foul by Di Fulvio. The same Serbian three is on fire and Lungp holes again at the near post even more (4-5). Reaction from Settebello who immediately finds the penalty in the center (foul on Di Fulvio launched): Di Somma displaces the goalkeeper and gives himself an encore (5-5). In closing Del Lungo this time tows Rasovic from five meters, for a penalty awarded on the same Serbian three. It runs in a draw.

Double extra man and the second stamps it Presciutti good to enter the two meters for the assist to the kiss of Echenique (6-5). Seventh extraplayer also for the opponents who take advantage of the hole on the right for the new Jaksic draw (bis). Another man more, a serious foul by Jankovic and Velotto turns on the fly on 7-6. There is no rest this time Serbia maneuvers well and equalizes with Martinovic from the corner (7-7); Bruni breaks away from two meters and picks up Presciutti’s assist (8-7). The Serbs are not there, Presciutti commits a serious foul on Ubovic and again Rasovic makes three of a kind from the side for 8-8. Counterattack and Settebello is back: Randelovic is out and Di Fulvio registers on the scoresheet with an endorsement from him (9-8). Fondelli takes a second serious foul and Serbia equalizes this time with Vucinic still at the near post (9-9). Creepy final: Bruni is stopped by Mitrovic in the eleventh extraman then Di Fulvio takes care of it with a quick missile to unlock the balance again (10-9). The Serbs miss the tenth man with Vucinic, but pass again with Rasovic (quaterna) who holes hands and the net for 10 to 10 with 5 minutes to play. Jaksic commits a serious foul on Bruni and the Azzurri try to take advantage of the extra thirteenth man: Di Fulvio takes the heavy shot, makes three of a kind and puts Azzurra ahead again (11-10). Di Somma commits a second serious foul and Del Lungo performs a miracle on Vucinic. 48″ from the end, however, the former Brescia Ubovic gets excited, receives the right assist and scores the draw (11-11). It goes to penalties.