Recap

Genève Natation 1885 Dominate SC St. Gallen in High-Scoring Water Polo Match

In an exhilarating water polo match held at Clarens HB / Maladaire on January 14, 2024, Genève Natation 1885 emerged victorious with a convincing 16-9 win against SC St. Gallen in the 2023-2024 National League A.

Right from the start, both teams showcased their offensive prowess, with the game beginning promptly at 09:42. The first quarter saw a flurry of goals, with Genève Natation 1885 taking an early lead with Mathieu Pittet’s precise goal at 07:32. Levente David Miklos quickly equalized for SC St. Gallen, but the away team regained the lead through Kresimir Butic’s exclusion foul. However, SC St. Gallen fought back, with Cédric Lüthi scoring on an extra-man situation and Istvan Bogdan Bocskay extending their lead. Genève Natation 1885’s Ante Corusic and Kaya Karamustafa made their presence felt on the scoreboard, tying the match at 3-3. The quarter ended with Genève Natation 1885 edging ahead with goals from Matthieu Marconi and Pittet.

The second quarter continued to be a tightly contested affair, as both teams traded goals. Oreste Bozzo and Lüthi found the back of the net for SC St. Gallen, but Genève Natation 1885’s penalty shots proved crucial, thanks to Karamustafa and Marconi. Shota Maisuradze and Corusic also contributed with goals for the away team, while Bocskay kept SC St. Gallen in the game with his second goal. As the quarter drew to a close, Genève Natation 1885 enjoyed a 9-6 advantage.

Coming out of halftime, Genève Natation 1885 continued their dominance, extending their lead even further. Corusic and Butic capitalized on SC St. Gallen’s penalty fouls, converting both opportunities into goals. Miklos provided some respite for SC St. Gallen with a goal, but Marconi was quick to respond with his third goal of the match. The quarter ended with Marconi being excluded from the game.

In the final quarter, SC St. Gallen desperately tried to stage a comeback, but Genève Natation 1885 remained composed. Thomas Rusch missed a penalty shot for SC St. Gallen, only to redeem himself with a goal shortly afterward. However, the away team remained in control, with Corusic netting two more goals. SC St. Gallen’s Miklos and Adriano Jusic of Genève Natation 1885 added their names to the scoresheet, but it was the away team who emerged victorious with a final score of 16-9.

Genève Natation 1885’s efficient penalty shots played a significant role in their triumph, converting four out of seven attempts (57.14%). In contrast, SC St. Gallen found success on only two of their nine extra-man situations (22.22%). Interestingly, Genève Natation 1885 failed to capitalize on their own extra-man situations.

Overall, it was a thrilling water polo encounter that showcased the attacking prowess of both teams. Genève Natation 1885’s clinical finishing and ability to convert penalties proved to be the difference, leading them to a resounding victory over SC St. Gallen.

Official Match Report