Suddenly, Christian O’Sullivan came from the ambush. The defensive chief of the Magdeburg handball team had to leave the field prematurely in the final minutes because of the third time penalty, and now he was wriggling behind the goal. Then he ran and threw himself on the green-red pile of players. The Pole Szymon Sicko had just hammered the last throw into the wall, SC Magdeburg’s 30:29 victory was history, the Sachsen-Anhalt team had won the biggest trophy in international club handball for the fourth time in their club history.
This victory in the final of the Champions League against the Polish series champion KC Kielce was probably the least expected, so this triumph is all the more important. Gisli Kristjansson, who not only contributed six goals to the win but also dislocated his shoulder in the penalty shoot-out in the 40:39 win against Barcelona the day before, was voted the best player of the game.
A team doctor as MVP – i.e. as the most valuable player on the team
And this time everything had indicated that they wouldn’t be able to pull it off. Coach Bennet Wiegert explained after the semifinals that “a shoulder dislocation means you’re out for a long time, I don’t have to explain that to anyone”. Now he was standing in the hall and “couldn’t understand it himself”, winning the title and the participation of the Icelander were “simply unbelievable”. In the recent past, the medical department of the Magdeburgers has achieved a number of brilliant achievements that are almost reminiscent of miracle cures. But repairing the backcourt player’s dislocated throwing arm shoulder within 24 hours was the clear masterpiece – provided the diagnoses published by the club did not come from Grimm’s fairy tale book. Which is not the case, as the victim confirmed: “Yesterday I was behind the goal and my shoulder was out, I didn’t know this morning if I could play.” In the morning there was a stress test in some hall and somehow it worked: “My shoulder is full of painkillers, actually our team doctor is the MVP”.
Kristjansson was voted the best player of the game, who was a bit of a surprise after breaking his ankle in early May: “I can only say that it was all worth it.”
24 hours before the final, Magdeburg’s Gisli Kristjansson was in the hall with a dislocated shoulder, now he was voted the best player of the final.
(Photo: Marius Becker/dpa)
In view of the indestructible Icelander, only his compatriot Omar Ingi Magnusson (heel surgery in February after the World Cup) was missing in the final highlight of the season, the left-hander was the best Bundesliga player of the previous season. Replacing him was easy for the Magdeburg coach in view of the recurring absences – also because he has other exceptional professionals in the team. Players like Kay Smits, who was supposed to be Magnusson’s backup and was the top scorer with eight goals. Smits quickly filled the gap: “He has developed incredibly,” said Wiegert after the semi-final thriller against Barcelona, ”now we have two world-class players in the position.” Small blemish: The Dutchman changes to SG Flensburg-Handewitt.
Or Michael Damgaard, actually the second man on the left behind Kristjansson. Damgaard, who has been with the SCM since 2015 and was only given short assignments by the coach at the start of the season, again played a key role. The Dane functioned in the left backcourt, so to speak, from a standing start, advanced to become an important goalscorer in the final with six goals and is the anarchic element in Magdeburg’s attack. The 33-year-old is difficult to predict because he looks for the goal from all positions and with many variations, whereby his quick arm stroke and hard throw are useful. “I’ve experienced so much in my life, I just took it with me to the field,” said Damgaard about his wealth of sporting experience, “I was completely free in my head.”
Kielce’s German goalkeeper Andreas Wolff meanwhile drives Magdeburger to despair
Of course, Kristjansson initially stayed on the bench, but the SCM was immediately in play. Aggressive defence, resulting ball wins, fast counterattacks, a safe Nikola Portner in goal – and it was quickly 4:1. But Kielce soon caught on, which was first and foremost due to their goalkeeper: Andreas Wolff had already excelled in the 25:24 semi-final win against Paris St. Germain, now the German national goalkeeper drove the Magdeburg shooters to despair, parrying free throws one after the other. And there was still the Spiritus Rector of the Polish series champion: Alex Dujshebaev. The Spaniard by choice is not only the linchpin in Kielce’s game, he was also the most dangerous goalscorer with eight goals. In general, this team is a kind of family business, in addition to the outstanding left-hander, brother Daniel plays in the left backcourt and father Talant, formerly one of the world’s best playmakers, is Kielce’s coach.
Filius Alex led the Poles to a 15:13 half-time lead, the Poles seemed sovereign for a long time, but Magdeburg has acquired great competitive toughness this season and came into play better and better in the final minutes. “We are used to such tight phases where the game gets hectic and details decide,” said Smits with the huge trophy in hand.
Finale overshadowed: journalist dies after collapsing in the press gallery
In the final phase, the game turned into a typical Magdeburg thriller: Kielce was ahead, but Damgaard equalized to 26:26: overtime. Now every single Magdeburg player could see the unconditional will to win this title, the Red-Greens fought doggedly in defense for every ball – and fended off the last shot with combined forces.
The final was overshadowed by a death: in the middle of the second half, a journalist collapsed in the press box and had to be transported out of the hall, and the game was interrupted for a few minutes. The European federation EHF announced after the game that the Pole had died, the press conferences were canceled and both teams held a minute’s silence.