Recap

Lugano Sharks Triumph over SC Horgen in an Intense Water Polo Battle

Lugano, Switzerland – In a thrilling water polo match held at Lugano’s Lido venue, the Lugano Sharks emerged victorious with a final score of 18-14 against their rivals, SC Horgen. The game, part of the 2023-2024 Cup Men league, showcased outstanding skills, strategy, and determination from both teams.

The match started promptly at 19:31, with referees Peter Wengenroth and Dean Suazo overseeing the proceedings. The first quarter saw an intense back-and-forth battle, with both teams scoring five goals each, setting the tone for the gripping contest ahead.

Domonkos Szer of SC Horgen opened the scoring in the first quarter, netting the game’s first goal on an extra man situation just 23 seconds into the game. However, the Lugano Sharks responded quickly, with Tommaso Busilacchi scoring their first goal, leveling the scores at 1-1.

The action continued unabated as the Lugano Sharks’ Liam Nicola Savazzi committed an exclusion foul, followed by a penalty foul, allowing Marko Manojlovic of SC Horgen to convert and give his team a 2-1 advantage. Both teams exchanged exclusion fouls in a bid to gain the upper hand.

Yassin Scala of the Lugano Sharks capitalized on an extra man situation, finding the back of the net and equalizing the score at 2-2. SC Horgen’s Philipp Herzog then found the mark on an extra man situation, giving his team a slender 3-2 lead. The Lugano Sharks fought back, with Yassin Scala netting his second goal, leveling the scores once again at 3-3.

As the quarter progressed, the tension escalated, and Domonkos Szer of SC Horgen showcased his skills, scoring his second and third goals of the game, providing SC Horgen with a 5-3 advantage. However, the Lugano Sharks swiftly responded, with Dusan Radivojevic and Yassin Scala each registering goals to even the score at 5-5 by the end of the first quarter.

The deadlock continued during the second quarter, as both teams displayed exceptional resilience and attacking prowess. Djordje Manojlovic of SC Horgen made his presence felt early in this quarter, scoring from a penalty shot to put his team ahead 6-5. Lugano Sharks’ Tommaso Busilacchi responded with his second goal of the game, leveling the scores at 6-6.

The game witnessed several exclusion fouls as both teams fought tooth and nail for control. Domonkos Szer missed a penalty shot for SC Horgen, providing a much-needed reprieve for the Lugano Sharks. Tommaso Busilacchi continued his impressive performance, scoring another goal on an extra man situation to give the Lugano Sharks a 7-6 lead.

SC Horgen’s Hal Goulter then tied the game at 7-7 with his first goal, maintaining the high-intensity level throughout the second quarter. Yassin Scala of the Lugano Sharks continued to shine, netting his fourth goal, taking his team’s lead to 9-7.

However, Domonkos Szer was not to be outdone, scoring his fourth goal to bring SC Horgen within touching distance at 9-8. Hal Goulter then leveled the scores at 9-9, ensuring an enthralling encounter leading into the break.

The third quarter witnessed a constant exchange of goals, showcasing the water polo skills of both teams. The Lugano Sharks’ Federico Pagani scored from a penalty shot early on, taking his team to a 10-9 advantage. Hal Goulter quickly responded for SC Horgen, leveling the scores at 10-10.

The Lugano Sharks’ Federico Pagani continued to perform with precision, scoring his second goal of the game to give his team an 11-10 lead. However, Domonkos Szer was determined to keep pace, netting his fifth goal to equalize again at 11-11.

As the quarter progressed, the intensity grew, resulting in numerous exclusion fouls and penalty fouls. Both teams were able to convert extra man situations, with Oskar Kieloch scoring for SC Horgen and Ryan Maffioli finding the back of the net for the Lugano Sharks, resulting in a 12-12 tie at the end of the third quarter.

With the game finely balanced, the fourth quarter proved to be a pivotal moment for the Lugano Sharks. Tommaso Busilacchi’s fourth goal reclaimed the lead for his team at 13-12. However, SC Horgen’s Domonkos Szer continued his exceptional performance, scoring his sixth goal on an extra man situation, leveling the scores once more at 13-13.

As the minutes ticked down, nerves began to play a role, and both teams committed exclusion fouls in quick succession. In a critical moment, SC Horgen’s Hal Goulter caused a penalty foul, resulting in a penalty shot opportunity for the Lugano Sharks. Dusan Radivojevic made no mistake from the spot, putting his team ahead 16-14.

The Lugano Sharks took control of the game, with Federico Pagani scoring two quick goals, extending their lead to 17-14. As the final seconds approached, Sebastian Ravetta sealed the victory for the Lugano Sharks with a late goal, finalizing the score at 18-14.

The Lugano Sharks’ victory was driven by their ability to convert on penalty shots and extra man situations. They scored two penalty shots out of three, displaying a conversion rate of 66.67%. In addition, they capitalized on six out of eleven extra man situations, giving them a success rate of 54.55%. SC Horgen, meanwhile, scored two penalty shots out of three, matching the Lugano Sharks’ 66.67% conversion rate. However, their success rate in extra man situations was slightly lower, with seven goals out of sixteen attempts, resulting in a conversion rate of 43.75%.

The Lugano Sharks’ win in this thrilling encounter against SC Horgen highlights their determination and skill, emphasizing their position as a formidable force in the 2023-2024 Cup Men league. With their electrifying performance, the Lugano Sharks have undoubtedly solidified their position as one of the teams to watch in water polo this season.

Official Match Report