Coppa Italia: Six teams join Pro Recco and Brescia

The new season in Italy has been opened by the 1st round of the Italian Cup.

Twelve teams, split into 3 groups, took part in the competition, which was held this weekend. The top two sides from each group advanced to the Final Eight. They joined title-holder Pro Recco and 2017 runner-up Brescia, which were directly qualified for the final tournament, as the finalist of the 2017/18 Italian Cup.

Sport Management enjoyed an easy cruise in Group A, which was played in Genoa. The 3rd-ranked team in the 2017/18 Italian championship, convincingly defeated Posillipo, Catania and home team Ortigia. Besides Sport Management, Posillipo advanced to the F8. The Naples-based side beat Quinto in a crucial match for the second place (14:10).

The matches of Group B were played in the Sports Center of the FIN (Italian federation for aquatic sports), in Ostia near Rome. The tournament offered a few very interesting games and Ortigia finished atop of the group, collecting all 9 points. Lazio won the 2nd place, with only one point more than its local Rome-based rival Roma. Lazio secured the ticket for the Final Eight by beating Roma in the last match of the tournament (8:5).

The competition in Group C in Bogliasco saw a lot of thrills. Canottieri Naples won the 1st place, ahead of Bogliasco, Trieste, and Savona. Before the 3rd round Bogliasco had 4 points, and it was followed by Canottieri, Trieste (3 points each) and Savona (1 point). All four teams were in the race for the Final Eight.

Canottieri dominated in the 1st match of the last round. It defeated Savona (8:3) and secured a spot at the final tournament. The last encounter, between Bogliasco and Trieste, ended in a draw (10:10). Canottieri and Bogliasco went through. Trieste and Savona went home without tickets for the Final Eight.

ITALIAN CUP, 1ST PHASE

Group A (Genoa, host Quinto)

Day 1

Posillipo – Sport Management 5:14 (1:1, 3:5, 0:7, 1:1)
Catania – Quinto 9:10 (2:3, 2:2, 2:3, 3:2)

Sport Management – Catania 19:10 (6:2, 5:1, 6:5, 2:2)
Quinto – Posillipo 10:14 (1:3, 3:5, 3:2, 3:4)

Day 2

Posillipo – Catania 11:7 (3:2, 2:2, 4:1, 2:2)
Quinto – Sport Management 9:19 (1:4, 1:4, 3:7, 4:4)

Standings

1. Sport Management 3 – 9
2. CN Posillipo 3 – 6
3. SC Quinto 3 – 3
4. Nuoto Catania 0 – 0

Group B (Ostia)

Day 1

Lazio – Ortigia 6:8 (2:3, 3:1, 1:4, 0:0)
Roma – Florentia 12:7 (3:1, 2:2, 3:2, 4:2)

Day 2

Florentia-Lazio 12:12 (2:4, 5:4, 1:2, 4:2)
Ortigia-Roma 11:9 (2:2, 2:2, 3:3, 4:2)

Florentia- Ortigia 5:9 (0:4, 1:2, 1:2, 3:2)
Roma-Lazio 5:8 (1:2, 0:1, 3:3, 1:2)

Standings

1. CC Ortigia 3 – 9
2. Lazio Nuoto 3 – 4
3. Roma Nuoto 3 – 3
4. RN Florentia 3 – 1

Group C (Bogliasco)

Day 1

Trieste – Canottieri Naples 4:8 (1:1, 0:1, 2:3, 1:3)
Bogliasco – Savona 6:6 (1:1, 1:0, 1:2, 3:3)

Day 2

Canottieri-Bogliasco 7:9 (3:2, 0:2, 2:2, 2:3)
Savona-Trieste 4:10 (2:5, 1:2, 0:2, 1:1)

Savona-Canottieri 3:8 (1:1, 1:3, 1:2, 0:2)
Bogliasco – Trieste 10:10 (2:1, 4:3, 3:3, 1:3)

Standings

1. Canottieri Naples 3 – 7
2. Bogliasco 1951 3 – 5
3. Pallanuoto Trieste 3 – 3
5. RN Savona 3 – 1

FINAL EIGHT ( 8 – 10 MARCH, HOST TBD)

Quarterfinals

(QF1) Pro Recco – Posillipo
(QF2) Brescia-Lazio
(QF3) Sport Management-Bogliasco
(QF4) Canottieri Naples-Ortigia

Semifinals

Winner QF1-Winner QF4
Winner QF2-Winner QF3

Final day

For bronze medal
Final