After the win against GWD Minden on matchday 32 of the Handball Bundesliga, VfL Gummersbach still has a chance of reaching the Champions League. GWD is worried about staying in the league.
VfL won the NRW duel on Saturday evening with 32:22 (19:12) and thus reduced the gap to second place to one point. The Füchse Berlin are currently there, but they have played one less game than VfL. Second place entitles you to take part in the Champions League next season.
Newly promoted GWD Minden, on the other hand, has to worry about staying in the league. The East Westphalians occupy the penultimate place in the table. Because HSG Wetzlar won in the parallel game against HC Erlangen, the Minden team is two points behind the saving bank with two game days to go.
Bertram shines with 16 saves
The best throwers for VfL were Kay Smits and Teitur Örn Einarsson with seven goals each. Curious: Einarsson scored all seven goals in the last ten minutes. Miro Schluroff was on the top scorer list five times. The home team’s best player was goalkeeper Bertram Obling, who made 16 saves. Daniel Astrup Pedersen, Jakub Sterba and Malte Donker scored the best for GWD Minden with four goals each.
VfL pushed the pace from the start, led by Schluroff. After a slow start, VfL took the lead for the first time with two goals after five minutes thanks to Schluroff (3:1).
After just over eleven minutes, the Gummersbachers took the lead for the first time with three goals (7:4), thanks to goalkeeper Bertram Obling. Minden’s coach Aaron Ziercke pressed the timeout buzzer for the first time.
Julian Köster is celebrating a comeback at VfL Gummersbach
This had an effect, but only in the short term. Thanks to a 3-0 run, GWD temporarily equalized the game (7:7), but then completely lost track. The guests remained without a goal for more than six minutes, which was mainly due to Gummersbach’s narrow thinking.
VfL pulled away step by step and was able to celebrate a comeback after 16 minutes: Julian Köster returned to the field after his meniscus operation after a break of just over a month and contributed two goals.
But it was Schluroff who scored with the final siren of the first half to make it 19:12, giving VfL its highest lead to date and at the same time the half-time score.
Both teams have problems offensively
However, VfL was initially unable to carry the momentum into the second half. Gummersbach remained without a goal for around four minutes before Schluroff redeemed the home team. Ex-Gummersbacher Tibor Ivanisevic was now in the GWD goal, replacing Malte Semisch. But because Obling also held reliably in the VfL goal, Minden couldn’t fight its way any further.
Both teams struggled offensively. Obling could not be overcome even from seven meters. After 40 minutes, Gummersbach led 21:13, but made more mistakes than in the first half.
Einarsson scores seven times in ten minutes
It wasn’t until the middle of the second half that both teams found their rhythm again offensively. But Minden didn’t make it decisive again. Obling repeatedly stood in the way in the Gummersbacher Tor. In the end, the guests ran out of time. In addition, Teitur Örn Einarsson ran hot on the Gummersbach side and scored his seven goals in ten minutes. In the end, VfL Gummersbach celebrated a clear 32:22 home win.
VfL continues on June 3rd (8 p.m.) with a home game against the already established champions SC Magdeburg. GWD Minden welcomes THW Kiel at 7 p.m.
Our sources:
- Dyn live stream VfL Gummersbach against GWD Minden, game of the 32nd matchday 25/26
Broadcast: “Gummersbach continues to have an eye on the Champions League”, WDR.de, May 23, 20269:59 p.m
