“The SCM rules here,” echoed through the sold-out hall seconds before the end. After SC Magdeburg trailed for a long time in the top game of the handball Bundesliga, the Champions League winner turned the game around in the last ten minutes on matchday 26. The Füchse Berlin probably have to bury their last championship dreams with the 33:35 (15:15) defeat.
The 6,600 spectators in Magdeburg’s GETEC Arena got exactly what handball Germany expected – a top game at a world-class level. With the better end for SC Magdeburg, who extended their lead in the table to seven points after the narrow victory over the German champions from Berlin. The best throwers of the game were world handball player Mathias Gidsel with eleven goals and Magdeburg’s Magnus Saugstrup (nine goals).
In the opening stages, both key players left no doubt as to who would want to lead their team to victory in this top game. Felix Claar opened the game with a quick goal for the SCM, Berlin’s Gidsel responded humorlessly with three goals in a row to make it 3-1 (4). Füchse goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev was similarly uncompromising.
Magdeburg fails too often because of Milosavljev
The Serb parried the hosts’ first three penalty throws and was a deciding factor in his team’s narrow 7:6 lead (13th). SCM coach Bennet Wiegert also complained about the carelessness in the finish during the time-out, but remained positive as usual due to the many chances created: “We can be completely relaxed. We’re just missing little things.”
Gisli Kristjansson from SC Magdeburg fights for the ball against Berlin’s Mijajlo Marsenic (l.).
While the Magdeburgers struggled with their choice of throws, Füchse backcourt player Lasse Anderson scored from all positions and didn’t let the threat of time play disturb him. But his hits didn’t change the fact that the SCM kept opening up gaps in Berlin’s defense. At the fifth attempt, Omar Ingi Mangnusson capitalized on the resulting penalty throw and let the loud home fans breathe a sigh of relief.
Foxes can rely on Andersson’s throws
Claar, who had disappeared for a while, came back with a double strike to make it 10:10 (20th). The SCM didn’t let the guests go further than two goals and threw everything into the individual actions. So that even the otherwise calm Swede “raged” on the bench after a time penalty against himself. Despite being outnumbered and Milosavljev’s fifth seven-meter save, the game went into the break with a 15:15 draw.
Berlin coach Nicolej Krickau probably found the right words at halftime, as his team pulled ahead to 19:16 by the 36th minute. SCM left winger Mathias Musche was able to end the four-minute dry spell with a remarkable spin to make it 17:19, but seconds later Milosavljev parried against the free Magnus Saugstrup. It was the 30-year-old’s tenth parade.
Berlin guests come out of the cabin with power
Then it became increasingly more demanding for the previously strong referee team Fabian Baumgart and Philipp Dinges. A contested scene for the ball at the level of the Magdeburg bench really energized the fans in the arena and brought increasing intensity to the table. But Gidsel was unimpressed and scored his seventh goal to make it 24:21 in the 42nd minute.
The fact that the SCM remained within reach was mainly due to substitute goalkeeper Matej Mandic. The Croatian made an outstanding save against pivot Mijajlo Marsenic and his saves paved the way for Tim Hornke to make it 24:24 (46′). The fact that the game didn’t end was due to the skills of world handball player Gidsel. The Dane exuded complete control at all times and repeatedly put his team in front with a goal.
Magdeburg turns the game around thanks to Mandic parades
But even the exceptional talent could not prevent the hosts from taking a 27:26 lead (51st minute). However, the successful Musche was no longer able to intervene after his sixth goal, as the 33-year-old was consequently shown a red card after a foul on national player Niels Lichtlein (52nd). The guests used the disqualification to equalize again and thus stopped the Magdeburg momentum.
Four minutes before the end the game was still level and just at the moment when the guests seemed to be running out of energy, Kristjansson was there. After the Icelander took a seven-meter penalty, the director made it 33:31 (58th) with his sixth goal himself. And Mandic literally nailed his goal at the back, parried extremely well in the final minute and secured the home win.
