Status: 04/24/2022 3:05 p.m
On Sunday, THW Kiel defeated SC Magdeburg in a gripping final with 28:21 (12:13) and, thanks to a show of force in the second round, won the DHB Cup for the twelfth time. After 28 years, the Final Four are saying goodbye to Hamburg and moving to Cologne.
The dream final between the two currently best German handball teams held in front of a sold-out crowd of 13,200 spectators what it had promised on paper: An intense game developed from the start, in which the defenses dominated. In the eighth minute, Niclas Ekberg gave the Schleswig-Holsteiners the first lead (3:2) with a converted seven-metre throw, which was more alert and determined than the day before laborious 28:26 semi-final win against defending champion TBV Lemgo Lippe.
The strong start in Kiel had an effect on the Bundesliga leaders, who were convincing on defense but not on offense. Magdeburg had to work hard for every goal, there was a lack of dynamism and ideas to overcome the THW defense bulwark and the strong keeper Niklas Landin. After a quarter of an hour, the German record champions were 6:4 ahead, after 20 minutes 9:6.
Magdeburg after a break with a 5-0 run
SCM trainer Bennet Wiegert had seen enough and took a break, praised the defensive work, urged calm and made the attack – otherwise the showpiece in the game of the championship contender – legs. With success. Suddenly, the top of the class showed convincing speed handball and a 5:0 run followed by the Saxony-Anhalt team, who turned a 6:9 (20th) to an 11:9 (26th).
A turning point, but not a decisive one. Because it remained exciting – and the THW tuned. Despite being outnumbered twice, backcourt ace Sander Sagosen equalized to 12:12 (28 th ) for the record champion, who received more penalties than his opponents. One of the reasons why Magdeburg was just ahead by a nose at 13:12 in the heated cup fight.
The final phase belongs to the THW – Landin outstanding
The defensive battle continued in the second half. Both teams picked up speed and looked for a gap: 17:17 after 40 minutes. Shortly thereafter, Steffen Weinhold made it 18:17 – the first Kiel lead since 9:8 (20th) – and then Sagosen even made it 19:17 (43rd). At 22:19 (50 th ) through a remarkable spin by Hendrik Pekeler, the triumph of the “Zebras”, who now hardly made any mistakes, was already in the air. Seven minutes before the end, the lead was already four goals (24:20). Not least thanks to Landin, who performed a number of brilliant deeds in the Kieler Tor and recorded 18 saves in the final alone. He was then honored as the tournament’s most valuable player.
In the end it even became really clear, because Schleswig-Holstein was on fire and Magdeburg found absolutely no antidote. The 1,200 Kiel fans in the hall celebrated frenetically – as did the team on the floor below. “We wanted to give it our all. I’m very proud, the defensive work was amazing,” said THW trainer Filip Jicha. “We say ‘bye Hamburg’ and say goodbye with a great feeling.”
Gislason: It was great fun in Hamburg
The Final Four for the cup was held in Hamburg for the last time in 28 years, and the finals will be played in Cologne from next year. “It was always a great event, it was great fun here,” said national coach Alfred Gislason, who himself has triumphed six times as a coach with THW in the Hanseatic city.
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