2023–24 LEN Women's Challenger Cup
| 2023–24 LEN Women's Challenger Cup | |
|---|---|
 The Bazen Mladost in Zagreb hosted the Final four. | |
| League | LEN Women's Challenger Cup |
| Sport | Water polo |
| Duration | 19 October 2023 – 26 November 2023 |
| Number of games | 35 |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Finals champions |  Izmir BB GSK (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  ZVK Crvena Zvezda |
The 2023–24 LEN Women's Challenger Cup was the inaugural edition of the new water polo competition organised by the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN). It acted as the third tier, below the LEN Women's Champions League and the LEN Women's Euro Cup.[1]
Izmir BB GSK won the inaugural competition, beating ZVK Crvena Zvezda 10–9 in the final. Izmir BB GSK became the first Turkish club to win a European club water polo competition.[2][3][4]
Introduction[edit]
A year after the men's competition started, LEN decided to inaugurate a women's version. Similar to the men's tournament, the LEN Women's Challenger Cup was designed to help developing countries and clubs grow and play more European club games.
Format[edit]
15 teams are separated into three groups of five. Each group is held at one club. The top 2 from each group advance to the Final Six. The final six, the six teams club are pooled into two groups of three where the two group winners advance to the final, while the two runners up play for third. Like the previous round, the final six is held at one club.
Rankings[edit]
Only teams below the top 6 can enter the competition.
|
|
- ^ Israel originally entered a club in the competition, but withdrew just before the tournament started
Teams[edit]
Only countries below the top 6 in the LEN women's club rankings can enter teams into this competition.[6]
Schedule[edit]
Rounds and dates[edit]
| Phase | Round date |
|---|---|
| Qualification round | 19–22 October 2023 |
| Final six | 24–26 November 2023 |
Draw[edit]
The draw was on 11 September 2023. H indicates which club is hosting the groups.[7][8][9] Teams in bold advanced to the final six. The seeding was decided by as follows:
- The new LEN club rankings.[10]
- LEN country club rankings.[5]
- LEN women's national team rankings.[11]
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | Pot 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Qualification round[edit]
Group A[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PSW | PSL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |  JAD
|
MLA
|
VOJ
|
 MAN
|
ODT
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jadran Split
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 45 | +22 | 9[a] | Final six | — | 17–12 | — | 12–10 | 26–10 | |
| 2 | ŽAVK Mladost
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 37 | +41 | 9[a] | — | — | — | 16–8 | — | ||
| 3 | VK Vojvodina (H)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 9[a] | 13–12 | 11–14 | — | 14–7 | 18–5 | ||
| 4 | City Of Manchester Water Polo Club
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 17–5 | ||
| 5 | ODTU Sport Club
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 97 | −76 | 0 | — | 1–36 | — | — | — |
Group B[edit]
Held in Strakonice, Czech Republic
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PSW | PSL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | IZM
|
 BEN
|
 JÄR
|
 STR
|
 HAP
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Izmir BB GSK
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 24 | +40 | 9 | Final six | — | — | 21–3 | — | Canc. | |
| 2 | Sport Lisboa e Benfica
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 6 | 10–19 | — | 17–9 | — | Canc. | ||
| 3 | Järfälla
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 50 | −25 | 3 | — | — | — | — | Canc. | ||
| 4 | Asten Johnson Fezko Strakonice (H)
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 0 | 11–24 | 13–17 | 12–13 | — | Canc. | ||
| 5 | Hapoel Emek Hayarden
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew | Canc. | Canc. | Canc. | Canc. | — |
Group C[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PSW | PSL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CRV
|
FLU
|
 SIR
|
 LOK
|
OTT
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZVK Crvena Zvezda
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 31 | +31 | 12 | Final six | — | — | 19–12 | 17–3 | — | |
| 2 | Clube Fluvial Portuense
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 33 | +5 | 9 | 8–14 | — | — | — | 12–7 | ||
| 3 | Sirens ASC
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 47 | 0 | 6 | — | 5–8 | — | — | 14–10 | ||
| 4 | Kvt Lokomotiv-N.Nanov (H)
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 50 | −16 | 3 | — | 7–10 | 10–16 | — | — | ||
| 5 | Otter Swimming Club
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 52 | −20 | 0 | 8–12 | — | — | 7–14 | — |
Final six[edit]
There was originally going to be a home and away final to decide the champions.[6] But due to the unexcepted amount of clubs entering the competition, the water polo committee altered the format to introduce a final six tournament.[12]
Draw[edit]
The draw took place on 24 October in Barcelona.[12] Pots 1 and 2 consist of the teams that finished first and second in the previous round respectively. The only restriction was that clubs from the same group in the previous round could not be drawn against each other.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
|---|---|
Host[edit]
The tournament was announced to be held in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, by ŽAVK Mladost, on 6 November.[13][14][15]
Group A[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PSW | PSL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CRV
|
BEN
|
JAD
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZVK Crvena Zvezda
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 19 | +1 | 3[a] | Final | — | 13–10 | — | |
| 2 | Sport Lisboa e Benfica
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 3[a] | Third place match | — | — | 12–8 | |
| 3 | Jadran Split
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 3 | Fifth place match | 9–7 | — | — |
Notes:
| 24 November 20:30 |
Report | ZVK Crvena Zvezda
|
13–10 | Sport Lisboa e Benfica
|
Mladost pool Referees: Nikolett Sajben (HUN), Ralf Mueller (GER) |
| Score by quarters: 4–1, 3–5, 3–2, 3–2 | |||||
| Lukic 5 | Goals | Pereira da Mata 4 | |||
| 25 November 12:00 |
Report | Sport Lisboa e Benfica
|
12–8 | Jadran Split
|
Mladost pool Referees: Peter de Jong (NED), Martina Kunikova (SVK) |
| Score by quarters: 1–4, 4–1, 4–1, 3–2 | |||||
| Perez 4 | Goals | Butic, Jankovic 3 | |||
| 25 November 19:30 |
Report | Jadran Split
|
9–7 | ZVK Crvena Zvezda
|
Mladost pool Referees: Marta Cabanas (ESP), Nikolett Sajben (HUN) |
| Score by quarters: 1–4, 2–1, 2–1, 4–1 | |||||
| Butic 3 | Goals | Diaz Mesa 3 | |||
Group B[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PSW | PSL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | IZM
|
MLA
|
FLU
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Izmir BB GSK
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 17 | +13 | 6 | Final | — | 12–9 | — | |
| 2 | ŽAVK Mladost (H)
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 3 | Third place match | — | — | 17–9 | |
| 3 | Clube Fluvial Portuense
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 35 | −18 | 0 | Fifth place match | 8–18 | — | — |
| 24 November 2023 19:00 |
Report | Izmir BB GSK
|
12–9 | ŽAVK Mladost
|
Mladost pool Referees: Marta Cabanas (ESP), Martina Kunikova (SVK) |
| Score by quarters: 4–3, 6–0, 1–3, 1–3 | |||||
| Kus 5 | Goals | Rozic 3 | |||
| 25 November 2023 10:30 |
Report | ŽAVK Mladost
|
17–9 | Clube Fluvial Portuense
|
Mladost pool Referees: Ralf Mueller (GER), Ioana Prodan (ROU) |
| Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–1, 5–3, 7–2 | |||||
| Brnetic 5 | Goals | Santos 5 | |||
| 25 November 2023 18:00 |
Report | Clube Fluvial Portuense
|
8–18 | Izmir BB GSK
|
Mladost pool Referees: Ioana Prodan (ROU), Peter de Jong (NED) |
| Score by quarters: 1–8, 0–7, 3–3, 4–0 | |||||
| three players 2 | Goals | Dabbag, Kus 4 | |||
Knockout stage[edit]
Fifth place match[edit]
| Fifth place match | ||
| November 26 | ||
| Jadran Split | 18 | |
| Clube Fluvial Portuense | 11 | |
| 26 November 2023 10:00 |
Report | Jadran Split
|
18–11 | Clube Fluvial Portuense
|
Mladost pool Referees: Nikolett Sajban (HUN), Ioana Prodan (ROU) |
| Score by quarters: 5–1, 4–5, 6–1, 3–4 | |||||
| Jankovic 6 | Goals | Montero de Andrade 5 | |||
Third place match[edit]
| Third place match | ||
| November 26 | ||
| Sport Lisboa e Benfica | 13 | |
| ŽAVK Mladost | 14 | |
| 26 November 11:30 |
Report | Sport Lisboa e Benfica
|
13–14 | ŽAVK Mladost
|
Mladost pool Referees: Martina Kunikova (SVK), Ralf Mueller (GER) |
| Score by quarters: 1–4, 0–2, 6–4, 6–4 | |||||
| Perez 8 | Goals | four players 4 | |||
Final[edit]
| Final | ||
| November 26 | ||
| ZVK Crvena Zvezda | 9 | |
| Izmir BB GSK | 10 | |
| 26 November 13:00 |
Report | ZVK Crvena Zvezda
|
9–10 | Izmir BB GSK
|
Mladost pool Referees: Marta Cabanas (ESP), Peter de Jong (NED) |
| Score by quarters: 3–3, 1–3, 2–2, 3–2 | |||||
| Radonjic 4 | Goals | Kus 4 | |||
| 2023–24 LEN Women's Challenger Cup Champions |
|---|
 Izmir BB GSK First title |
See also[edit]
- 2023–24 LEN Champions League
- 2023–24 LEN Euro Cup
- 2023–24 LEN Challenger Cup
- 2023 LEN Super Cup
- 2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League
- 2023–24 LEN Women's Euro Cup
- 2023 LEN Women's Super Cup
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Spencer-Boyce, James (June 2, 2023). "Changes to European competitions reinforced in Belgrade".
- ^ "Water Polo Challenger Cup Women: Convincing wins for Izmir and Zvezda in the F6 openers - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Water Polo Challenger Cup Women: Zvezda and Izmir to go for gold - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. November 25, 2023.
- ^ "Water Polo Challenger Cup Women: Izmir makes history - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. November 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Women Clubs Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Big changes in European water polo club competitions - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. June 2, 2023.
- ^ "Draws for Euro Cup and Challenger Cup - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. September 8, 2023.
- ^ "LEN Qualifying Round Draws: 2023/2024 Euro Cup Men, Challenger Cup Men and Women - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. September 11, 2023.
- ^ Curcic, Ivan (September 11, 2023). "Plenty of national clashes in Euro Cup qualifications; Vasas starts title defense from Budapest".
- ^ "Women Club Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Women Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Water Polo Challenger Cup Men and Women: draw and changes - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. October 23, 2023.
- ^ Krstičević, Leo (November 6, 2023). "Zagreb domaćin Final 6 turnira Challenger kup". Hrvatski vaterpolski savez.
- ^ Krstičević, Leo (November 20, 2023). "Završnica Challenger kupa ovog tjedna u Zagrebu". Hrvatski vaterpolski savez.
- ^ "Zagreb domaćin Final 6 turnira Challenger kup". ZDPT. November 17, 2023.