The Zadar 1952 water polo team is very close to advancing to the next phase of the Conference Cup qualifying tournament. The Zadar side can confirm their place among the top three teams in the group in the tournament's final match, which takes place today at 17.30 against German side Cannstatt. A victory should see Zadar confirm their progression, as the top three teams in the group secure a spot in the next phase.
In the third round, the Zadar side lost to hosts Panionios in Athens with a score of 13:8 (2:3, 3:2, 5:2, 3:1). Panionios proved to be the strongest team in the group in Athens, and the resistance of the Zadar players was only broken in the final stages of the match. Until the last ten minutes or so, the score was level at 7:7, after which the Greek team managed to turn the game in their favour.
The match was played at the Panionios swimming pool in Athens, with Teixido from Spain and Beljan from Serbia officiating. Panionios featured Rističević, Bouzalas, K. Bitsakos, S. Karatzas 1, Tsolakoudis 1, Gouvis 2, Grammatikos, A. Bitzakos 4, Đ. Lazić, Gounas 4 (1-2), O. Karatzas 1, Kapetanakis, Mavrovouniotis and Lampatos, with Theodoros Chatzitheodorou as their coach.
Zadar 1952 took the field with McKnight, Galić, Uvodić, Galušić, D. Butić 2 (1-2), Jovančević 1, L. Donđivić, Žilić, Visković 1, Milardović 3 (2-2), Babić 1, R. Jurišić, Markulin and A. Donđivić, under the guidance of coach Andre Franičević. Panionios scored 1-2 from penalty throws, while Zadar 1952 managed 3-4. Žilić (26), Grammatikos (28), Tsolakoudis (29) and Milardović (30) received their third personal foul, while personal fouls were 17 for Panionios and 14 for Zadar 1952.
Group standings before the final round: Panionios 6 (played), Zadar 6, Spartak Volgograd (Russia) 6, Vitoria Guimaraes (Portugal) 0 (played) and Cannstatt (Germany) 0 (played). Coach Franičević's players thus have the opportunity to conclude their campaign in Athens in the desired manner.
