Pays d’Aix beat Tourcoing in a thrilling derby of the French League 10th round, the first played in 2022.
Noisy-le-Sec earned an away victory in Reims, while Montpellier defeated Sete narrowly.
Due to health reasons, the French Swimming Federation postponed the game Marseille – Nice. The fifth match of Day 10, Douai – Strasbourg, is scheduled for January 22.
2021/22 French League, Day 10
Pays d’Aix – Tourcoing 10:8 (3:5, 2:0, 3:2, 2:1)
Pays d’ Aix: Khasz 3, Giga 3, Popadic 2, Monneret 1, Grgurevic 1.
Tourcoing: Rocchietta 4, Gagulic 2, Randjic 1. Kujacic 1.
Reims – Noisy-le-Sec 10:19 (2:3, 3:5, 2:6, 3:5)
Stade de Reims: Jakhaia 3, Culina 3, Pesteric 2, De Bie 2.
Noisy-le-Sec Cercle 93: Petkovic 4, Marzouki 3, Do Carmo 3, Krapic 2, Prioteasa 2, Caumette 2, AIt Dahmane 2, Ondo Methogo 1
Montpellier – Sete 10:9 (4:0, 3:3, 2:2, 1:4)
Marseille – Nice postponed
Douai – Strasbourg on January 22
The water polo fans in Aix-en-Provence enjoyed an exciting game between Pays d’Aix and Tourcoing. The hosts secured a 10:8 victory in dying seconds. After the first quarter, Tourcoing led 5:3. Pays d’Aix leveled at 5:5 just 25 seconds before the middle break. However, Tourcoing re-built a 2-goal lead midway through the third period (7:5). But, Pays d’Aix responded with a 3:0 run and entered the final quarter leading 8:7. The first goal in the fourth period came in the 31st minute when Randjic leveled at 8:8 and the big drama was reaching its culmination. Montenegrin Nikola Giga converted a man up with 68 seconds left on the clock to give Pays d’Aix a 9:8 lead. Tourcoing lost the ball in its last possession of the match. The hosts’ captain Edo Khasz set the final score -10:8 five seconds before the buzzer.
After this very important victory, Pays d’Aix has just three points less than Tourcoing.
Noisy-le-Sec was a favorite against Reims, but the Parisians needed some time to break the hosts’ resistance. Only one goal separated the rivals after the first quarter – Noisy led 3:2. But, the visitors scored three goals in a row in the first four minutes of the second period and went to 6:2. After that, Stade de Reims couldn’t come back. From that point on, the difference was never smaller than three goals. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Noisy had a 10-goal lead (17:7).
Montpellier opened the match against Sete with five unanswered goals. In the 10th minute, Montpellier had a 5:0 lead. But, the hosts didn’t secure the three points until the very end. Sete started coming back step-by-step. Still, Montpellier bagged the three points with a 10:9 victory.
The League continues in the first week of February with the games of the 12th round. The 11th round, originally scheduled for January 22, has been postponed to March, because of the activities of the national team.
Match of 8th round
Tourcoing – Montpellier 19:8 (6:1, 6:1, 2:3, 5:3)
1. Marseille 8 – 24
2. Noisy-le-Sec 9 – 21
3. Strasborg 9 – 19
4. Tourcoing 10 – 18
5. Pays d’Aix 10 – 15
6. Montpellier 10 – 15
7. Douai 9 – 9
8. Stade de Reims 10 – 7
9. Sete 10 – 6
10. Nice 9 – 6
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