The first leg of the Euro Cup Men quarter-finals delivered thrilling battles across Europe, with Pro Recco, HAVK Mladost, and KEIO CN Sabadell securing key wins, while AN Brescia staged a dramatic comeback to draw with SPD Radnicki.
Quarter Finals First-Leg Results
🗓️ Thursday, 27th February 2025
- AN Brescia (ITA) 9-9 SPD Radnicki (SRB)
- HAVK Mladost (CRO) 12-8 PVK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi (MNE)
- KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 17-9 VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE)
- Vasas Plaket (HUN) 9-11 Pro Recco (ITA)
AN Brescia vs. SPD Radnicki (9-9): Late Drama in Italy
Brescia and Radnicki fought to a dramatic 9-9 draw, setting up a decisive second leg in Serbia. Vincenzo Dolce gave Brescia an early lead with a brace, while Mario Del Basso added another as the hosts led 3-1. However, Radnicki responded through Boris Vapenski and Strahinja Rasovic, leveling at 3-3.
Dolce completed his hat-trick from a penalty before halftime, keeping Brescia ahead 6-5. The momentum shifted in the third quarter, with Radnicki netting four unanswered goals to take a 7-9 lead.
With the game slipping away, Brescia delivered a stunning final quarter. Their defense held firm despite five man-down situations, while Del Basso completed his hat-trick, and Dolce added his fourth to secure the tie.
The second leg in Serbia promises to be another intense battle.
HAVK Mladost vs. PVK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi (12-8): A Turnaround Victory
After two previous defeats to Jadran in the Regional League, Mladost turned the tide with a dominant 12-8 victory.
Franko Lazic and Ante Vukicevic gave Mladost an early 2-1 lead. The second quarter saw Jadran miss five man-ups, while Mladost capitalized with a Konstantin Kharkov penalty and goals from Luka Bukic and Vukicevic, stretching their advantage to 5-1 at halftime.
Mladost continued their dominance, leading 10-4 late in the third. Jadran fought back with goals from Strahinja Gojkovic and Jovan Vujovic, reducing the gap to 10-7 with 4:55 left. However, Bukic’s goal from an extra-man situation halted their momentum, and Kharkov’s final strike sealed the 12-8 win.
With a four-goal cushion, Mladost heads into the second leg as favorites to progress.
Vasas Plaket vs. Pro Recco (9-11): Italians Take the Edge in Budapest
Pro Recco’s hunt for a first Euro Cup title remains on track after a hard-fought 11-9 win over defending champions Vasas Plaket.
The hosts took an early lead through Bogdan Durdic, but Aaron Younger quickly equalized. Vasas never regained the lead, though they managed to level the score five times (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 6-6).
A 0-4 Recco run at the end of the third quarter put them in control at 10-6, but Vasas fought back with a 3-0 surge to make it 9-10 with just 1:21 remaining.
With the game hanging in the balance, Francesco Di Fulvio stepped up in the final seconds, earning a foul outside 6m before firing home his second goal, securing Recco’s two-goal lead for the second leg.
Vasas will need a strong performance in Italy to overturn the deficit, but Durdic’s four goals give them confidence.
KEIO CN Sabadell vs. VPK Primorac Kotor (17-9): Spanish Side Runs Riot
After two close encounters in the Champions League group stage, Sabadell dominated this rematch with a commanding 17-9 victory over Primorac.
The first quarter ended level at 4-4, but from there, the Spaniards took control. Kanstantsin Averka, Alberto Barroso, and Oscar Asensio spearheaded a 7-4 lead early in the second quarter.
Primorac briefly responded through Nika Shushiashvili and Nikola Brkic, but a 4-0 Sabadell run before halftime ended their resistance.
By the fourth quarter, Sabadell led 14-7, with Barroso and Axel Corres further extending the advantage. Despite two late goals from Primorac, the Spaniards finished eight goals ahead, leaving the Montenegrin side needing a miracle in Kotor.
Barroso’s four-goal haul capped off a superb night for Sabadell, who combined clinical attack with solid defensive play to dominate the second half 9-3.
Looking Ahead: Second-Leg Showdowns
The return legs will take place on Thursday, 20th March, determining which teams advance to the semi-finals. Fans can watch all the Euro Cup Men matches live on EuroAquaticsTV and follow real-time updates through the European Aquatics App.
With Brescia and Radnicki level, Mladost and Sabadell in control, and Recco facing a determined Vasas, the second leg promises another thrilling round of action.
