Kranj defeat Vienna side to finish fifth

Water polo players of Triglav Kranj secured fifth place at the Final Tournament of the Alpe Waterpolo League, currently taking place at the Pristan pool in Maribor, after defeating Ströck Vienna 14:12 (4:3, 3:4, 3:3, 4:2).

Ströck Vienna – Triglav Kranj 12:14 (3:4, 4:3, 3:3, 2:4)
Referees: Homovec (SLO), Vehovec (SLO). Delegate: Stariha (SLO).

Ströck Vienna: Hoferica Tomas, Bekesi Bulcsú 5, Dano Lukas, Stefanovic Luka 4, Mitruk Adam 2, Sarandi Botond, Milosevic Sergej, Ribic Stevan, Ibrisimovic Erol 1, Dukic Milan, Vranjes Vlado, Jovandic Damian, Krupar Alexandr, Curcic Luka.
Coach: Mike Fasching.

Triglav Kranj: Smolič Žan, Berić David, Cvijanović Tepina Filip, Lah Jaša 2, Gostić Dejan 1, Justin Jan 2, Paunovič Aleksander 1, Vončina Juš, Cerar Aleksander 2, Troppan Aljaž 6, Vujanović Luka, Udovč Bor, Marinič Marko.
Coach: Krištof Štromajer. Assistant: Marko Gostić.

The match between the two teams defeated in Friday’s quarterfinals was decided after a tough battle, with the Kranj side breaking Vienna’s resistance in the final quarter.

The team coached by Krištof Štromajer, who lost to Opatija in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout, started strongly and took a 2:0 lead in less than a minute and a half thanks to two goals from Aljaž Troppan. They kept a narrow advantage until the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Viennese first equalized through Ibrisimovic (4:4), and then Luka Stefanovic gave Ströck their first lead of the match (6:5) two and a half minutes before halftime. However, Troppan prevented the Austrian side from extending their lead by scoring two more goals before the break.

What the Viennese failed to achieve at the end of the second quarter, they managed in the middle of the third, when two goals by Bekesi gave them a 9:7 lead. However, the winners of the first two editions of the AWL quickly responded, with goals from Troppan and Dejan Gostić to level the score again.

The teams entered the final quarter tied, but Triglav struck first when Troppan scored his sixth goal of the match. Jaša Lah then made it 12:10, while Jan Justin and Aleksander Paunovič sealed the victory for the Kranj team in the closing stages.

Author Miha Štamcar
Foto Aleksander Sokler07