The Circolo Nautico Salerno water polo team continues to dominate in the Serie B league, closing out the first half of the season with an impressive victory over Basilicata Nuoto 2000. The final score of 15-7, played on , at Santa Maria Capua Vetere, solidifies their position as winter champions and maintains their undefeated record.
Salerno demonstrated a strong start, establishing a 5-0 lead in the first quarter. Luongo opened the scoring with a long-range shot, followed by a goal from Apicella. Captain Piccolo then contributed a noteworthy goal, and Luongo added another, quickly followed by a second from Piccolo, extending the lead to 5-0. The team continued to build momentum with further goals from Luongo and Pignataro, the latter being named the first extra player of the match for the local team. Marcello Malandrino, Spatuzzo, and Fileno also found the net before the end of the first half, bringing the score to 9-3.
The second half saw Luongo continue his impressive performance, scoring four goals. Marcello Malandrino and Apicella each added another to their tally. Despite efforts from Basilicata’s Longo, who was unable to convert a penalty shot, Salerno’s defense remained strong, with goalkeeper Martucci proving difficult to beat. Vuolo managed to score for Basilicata, but Piccolo responded with a further goal, completing a hat-trick.
The final quarter saw a more academic pace, with both teams making substitutions. Costa scored for Salerno, extending their lead to 10 goals. Petrone and Cerchiaro managed to score for Basilicata, reducing the deficit slightly. The final goal of the match came from Salerno’s Auletta, a young player from the Under 18 team, marking his second goal in the Serie B league.
Following the match, Salerno’s coach, Walter Fasano, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. I can only compliment the boys for how they approached the game and the sacrifices they, along with the club, have been making since the beginning of the championship,
Fasano stated. We were good at entering the water with the right mentality and widening the gap authoritatively against another very experienced team that could have given us trouble.
Fasano acknowledged the team’s success thus far but also highlighted concerns about the future, specifically regarding the facilities. We know that with today the first part of a path ends, so far very positive for the results but with worrying questions regarding the future for the usual plant issue.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining their focus and respect for all opponents, stating, We continue to respect everyone and do not underestimate anyone because nothing is taken for granted. In the meantime, we enjoy this streak which is a source of morale and desire to do even better for the whole team.
The match saw several key performances from Salerno players. Luongo led the scoring with four goals, while Piccolo and Apicella each contributed three. Martucci’s strong goalkeeping was also crucial to the team’s success. For Basilicata, Errichiello and Vuolo each scored two goals, but their efforts were not enough to overcome Salerno’s dominance.
Match Details:
Circolo Nautico Salerno – Basilicata Nuoto 2000: 15-7
CN Salerno: Martucci, Costa 1, Piccolo 3, Fileno 1, Marcello Malandrino 2, Marco Malandrino, Pignataro 1, Ragosta, Longo 4, Paglietta, Apicella 2, Luongo 4, Paone, Auletta 1. Coach: Fasano
Basilicata 2000: Cecere, Ciccarelli, Cerchiara, Cerchiaro 1, Calì, Petrone 1, Albano, Musacchio, Baldazzi, Magliulo, Spatuzzo 1, Vuolo 2, Formisano, Errichiello 2. Coach: Silipo
Referee: Barletta
Note: Partial scores were 5-0, 4-3, 4-1, and 2-3. Calì (B) was excluded for reaching the foul limit in the third quarter.
The victory marks the end of the first round of the Serie B season for Circolo Nautico Salerno. The team will now look ahead to the second half of the season, aiming to maintain their winning streak and secure their position at the top of the league standings. The challenges ahead will likely be greater, as opponents will be more determined to defeat the league leaders, but Coach Fasano remains confident in his team’s ability to continue their success.
