Bergischer HC Delivers Shock Upset, Eliminating SC Magdeburg from DHB-Pokal
Cologne, April 18 – In a stunning turn of events, Bergischer HC (BHC) has knocked out top-seeded SC Magdeburg from the DHB-Pokal semifinals, preventing a highly anticipated final against Füchse Berlin. The Bundesliga newcomer secured a dramatic 31:30 victory over the league leaders and Champions League winners after a penalty shootout in the fervent atmosphere of Cologne’s handball arena.
This defeat shatters Magdeburg’s aspirations for a triple crown of the Pokal, German Championship, and Champions League titles. For BHC, this triumph marks one of the most significant sensations in handball in recent years and stands as the greatest achievement in the club’s history.
BHC Goalkeeper: ‘No Idea How We’re Supposed to Sleep’
BHC 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. No idea how we’re supposed to sleep. We have the chance to win a title with BHC, and that’s unbelievable.” Rudeck, alongside Noah Beyer, was among BHC’s standout performers.
The match, witnessed by approximately 20,000 spectators, ended 22:22 (11:11) after regular time and 27:27 after overtime. Despite SC Magdeburg’s previous struggles against the newcomer in the HBL, few anticipated this upset. Handball icon Stefan Kretzschmar declared the victory “absolutely deserved,” while former national coach Dagur Sigurdsson hailed it as “handball history.”
Magdeburg’s struggles were not limited to the penalty shootout. They had already missed several seven-meter throws during regular play. Coach Bennet Wiegert commented, “We left four in normal play today. I don’t need to do much math at 30:31 to see what else could have been the cause.”
Not Gidsel: This Dane Shines for Berlin
Earlier, Füchse Berlin, featuring World Handball Player Mathias Gidsel, secured their place in the final by defeating TBV Lemgo Lippe 39:36 (20:16). Lasse Andersson was Berlin’s top scorer with eleven goals, while Tim Suton netted eight for Lemgo.
Füchse initially struggled to find their rhythm, falling behind early. However, goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev delivered strong saves, helping them build a temporary four-goal lead. After halftime, the lead extended to five goals, but numerous errors allowed Lemgo to close the gap. Ultimately, Berlin managed to hold on to their narrow lead until the end.
The decision in the semifinal between Magdeburg and BHC was only made in the seven-meter shootout.
The final match, featuring BHC against German champions Berlin, is scheduled for Sunday at 3:45 PM (ARD and Dyn).
