Montenegrin water polo athletes celebrated their inaugural victory in the World Cup qualifiers by defeating Serbia 16:15 in Otopeni, Romania. Today, at 16:30, the “sharks” will face France in a critical match for advancement to the quarterfinals, and a win would secure their place in the World Cup qualifiers.

This marks the first victory for head coach Dejan Savić, as well as the first win for the team under new playing regulations, demonstrating the increased dynamism and unpredictability of water polo. Our players excelled from the outset, showcasing outstanding defense and attack organization, led by Filip Vučković and Petar Tešanović, who performed admirably in goal. By halftime, Montenegro had secured a lead of 9:4, with Serbia failing to score even once while enjoying a man advantage!

The third quarter commenced with similar intensity; the “sharks” were poised to overwhelm the “dolphins,” leading 14:6 with only three and a half minutes left in the period. However, as two players faced exclusions and Jovan Vujović exited the game, Ognjen Stojanović registered his first goals. Consequently, Serbia capitalized on a series of man advantages, narrowing the gap to 14:11 and reducing Montenegro’s lead to three goals before the final quarter. Even Savić’s time-out didn’t shake the focus of the “sharks,” as our players maintained composure to finish the third period without conceding during man-up situations.

“You don’t win a match like this; you can’t just assume it’s over. We’re not kidding; we still have to play,” Savić emphasized.

As the final quarter began, Stojanović quickly netted his third goal, while Vasilije Radović ended a nearly six-minute scoring drought, assisted by Vlad Popadić. Vučković’s excellent pass drew a penalty, successfully converted by Nikola Moskov. Montenegro’s defense was stifling, making four critical stops during a two-minute possession to extend the lead to 16:12.

– “There was a tremendous desire to win, but we had fluctuations in performance. We played well, but at times it felt as if we were taking it easy. We can always perform better; mental preparation is crucial. While the new rules present significant challenges, they make the game more engaging for fans—resulting in more goals,” Savić remarked after the victory.

In the closing minutes, Montenegro effectively managed long possessions to secure their win in a match devoid of result pressure for both teams. Montenegro, as host, has the chance to qualify for the World Championship via the World League, whereas Olympic champions Serbia have already secured their spot and Uroš Stevanović has notably rejuvenated their team during the Otopeni tournament.

– “Regardless, playing against Serbia is no easy feat. Congratulations to my teammates on this fantastic victory. I was pleased with our performance in the third quarter, but the new rules require faster thinking and reactions; relaxation is not an option because the game is never over,” stated Vučković, alongside Đuro Radović, who was named Player of the Match against Serbia.

SERBIA – MONTENEGRO 15:16 (2:4, 2:5, 7:5, 4:2)

Montenegro: Tešanović (seven saves), Moskov 3(2), Đ. Radović 3, Vujović 1, Mačić, Ćetković, Vučković 1, Janović, Perković 1, Popadić 2, Matković 2, V. Radović 2, Đurović, Danilo Radović 1.

Serbia: Mišović, Jakšić, Gladović 4, Martinović 2, Lazić, Milojević, Vučinić, Lukić 4, Pljevančić 1, Radulović 1, Stojanović 2, B. Gavrilović, P. Gavrilović, Krstić 1.

News