After the defeat in the first leg with a 6-goal difference, a miracle would have been necessary for the team from Nice to overturn the situation and continue their European journey. However, as tradition has it, it’s San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, who performs miracles by liquefying the blood during his annual celebration. So, even Saint Rita, the patron saint of desperate cases, couldn’t do anything…
In fact, any remaining hope went up in smoke after five minutes of play when the score already showed a stern 4-0 for the Neapolitans of Acquachiara.
The match was wrapped up and the Italian coach could start rotating his players, who, on their side, were already focused on the next match against the giant Pro Recco.
The comeback by the Nice team brought the score to 2-5 in the first quarter and then to 4-6 by halftime.
A tie at 6-6 after a good period for the Azur team, then the Neapolitans pulled away once more (6-9) before another comeback by Richard Papazian’s men allowed them to take the lead for the first time (10-9 with 1’43” remaining). But a penalty less than a minute from the end brought the two teams back to a tie.
Nice exits the Eurocup with honors against a much stronger opponent, representative of a water polo world power, and can now focus all their energy on the league to clinch the supreme title.
ONN- Acquachiara Naples: 10-10 (2-5, 4-6, 6-7, 10-10)
Goals: ONN/Babic 1, Nastran 3, Isdinsky 1, Laversanne 4, Bruyere 1) Acquachiara/Perez 1, Petkovic 3, Marziali 2, Luongo 2, Valentino 1, Astarita 1)
