Füchse Berlin Triumph Over Lemgo Lippe in DHB-Pokal Semifinal
Cologne, April 18 – Füchse Berlin have secured their place in the DHB-Pokal final after a hard-fought 39:36 (20:16) victory against TBV Lemgo Lippe in the semifinal. The match, held in the vibrant atmosphere of Cologne, saw the Berliners overcome early challenges to set up a clash with the surprising Bergischer HC in Sunday’s final.
The Berlin team, featuring world handball player Mathias Gidsel, initially struggled to find their rhythm, falling behind early in the game. However, a stellar performance from goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev, who made several crucial saves, helped the Füchse build a four-goal lead. This advantage extended to five goals after halftime, but a series of errors allowed Lemgo to narrow the gap. Despite the pressure, Berlin managed to maintain their slim lead until the final whistle.
Lasse Andersson was the top scorer for Füchse Berlin with eleven goals, demonstrating a formidable offensive display. For TBV Lemgo Lippe, Tim Suton led his team with eight goals, showcasing their persistent challenge throughout the match.
Magdeburg’s Shock Exit: Bergischer HC Creates History
In a stunning turn of events that sent shockwaves through the handball world, top-seeded SC Magdeburg was sensationally eliminated from the DHB-Pokal by Bundesliga newcomer Bergischer HC. The match concluded with a 30:31 defeat for Magdeburg after a penalty shootout, following a 22:22 tie in regular time and a 27:27 draw after overtime. This unexpected outcome shattered Magdeburg’s hopes for a triple crown of the Pokal, German Championship, and Champions League.
The victory marks one of the biggest sensations in recent handball history and is undoubtedly the greatest success in Bergischer HC’s club history. BHC’s goalkeeper, Christopher Rudeck, described the feeling as “insane, indescribable.” He added, “It’s unbelievable. Many of the guys were clinically dead. That doesn’t matter on a day like this. I have no idea how we’re supposed to sleep. We have the chance to win a title with BHC, and that’s unbelievable.” Rudeck, along with Noah Beyer, was instrumental in BHC’s triumph.
The match, witnessed by approximately 20,000 spectators, saw Magdeburg falter not only in the crucial moments of the penalty shootout but also miss several seven-meter throws during regular play. Coach Bennet Wiegert lamented, “We missed four in normal play today. I don’t need to calculate much at 30:31 to know what else could have gone wrong.”
Handball icon Stefan Kretzschmar summarized the outcome as “absolutely deserved,” while former national coach Dagur Sigurdsson hailed it as “handball history.”
Anticipation Builds for the Final
The final, scheduled for Sunday at 3:45 PM (CET) and broadcast live on ARD and Dyn, will see Bergischer HC from Wuppertal/Solingen face German champions Füchse Berlin. The BHC fans are now dreaming of the club’s first-ever Pokal victory, a feat that would solidify their place in handball lore. The encounter promises to be a thrilling contest between a seasoned champion and a team riding the wave of an unprecedented upset.
