The first nailbiter here at Tasmajdan brought an almost incredible end. Foto: Wolfgang Philipps

The first nailbiter at the 2006 European Waterpolo Championships in Belgrade, Serbia ended with a last-second tie. In a high-scoring game with changing leads Slovakia still achieved an 11-11 (3-4, 3-2, 3-3, 2-2) tie in the first crucial game of Group A, when Juraj Sakac levelled the game in a man-up situation 0.1 seconds (!) before the final whistle.

Gerben Silvis scores 3 for the Netherlands.

Dutch player Frank Hoogland levels the game after a risky pass, 9-9. Foto: Wolfgang Philipps

From the Dutch point of view the 11-11 tie was pretty stupid, and left wing player Juraj Sakac probably did not expect to score himself any more. In a man-down situation, Dutch goalkeeper Marc Nolting still deflected the ball over the goal line four seconds before the final whistle. Sakac took the corner throw, while the Dutch were playing a tough pressing against the remainder of the Slovakian team. He got the ball back and was not attacked any more, scoring a pretty easy goal.
  
The only two-goal-lead of the exciting game was achieved in the middle of the second half, when the much more experienced Slovakians brought the score to 6-4, but the Dutch still levelled before the changing of sides. Nevertheless the result was a pretty good start for the Dutch team and bondscoach Johan Aantjes, which still has quite a number of young players in the team. But due to the new three-point rule (three points for a victory) a tie is less helpful here in Belgrade.   
   
On the Slovakian side four players were fouled out, the Dutch only lost top player Willem-Wouter Gerritse, who is playing for Olympic Nice Natation in the French and is already described as the new Harry van der Meer. Two times one of the new FINA rules were applied, when players of both teams were achieved simultaneously, but in this case the possession of the ball is remaining on the side of the attacking team. Two of the most experienced players, Gerben Silvis (Netherlands) and Karol Baco (Slovakia) scored three goals each.  

Referee: Boris Margeta, Jürgen Hausche
Delegate: Jean-Claude Demey

09/01/2006 - Wolfgang Philipps