HC Elbflorenz was already knocking on the door to the quarter-finals in the DHB Cup and showed incredible comeback qualities. But the favorite was very lucky to save himself into extra time and had the longest breath there.
HC Elbflorenz missed out on the cup sensation. The second division team only had to admit defeat 30:32 in extra time in the round of 16 against the top team from Melsungen. The 2,700 spectators were allowed to dream of the quarter-finals until three seconds before the end of regular time, then Dainis Kristopans managed to equalize 25:25.
HC Elbflorenz impressed Melsungen in the first half
Dresden’s coach had promised before the game that he had thought about something with his assistant coach. The prerequisites for the sensation are also a hot backdrop and a team that plays at the limit. And the hosts, with seven wins in a row in the league, got off to a flying start. The defense took action and left no gaps. Melsungen, on the other hand, appeared to be waiting, a bit sedate, and even seemed a little impressed. It took three minutes for Melsungen to score the first goal.
But HC Elbflorenz immediately had the answer. After six minutes, two strong saves from keeper Marino Mallwitz and two more goals, the score was 3-1 for the second division team. And, that was the big surprise, Melsungen didn’t have much of an idea against the Saxons’ aggressive defense. And in the 14th minute they had two time penalties, which allowed the HCE to pull ahead to 9:5. The first division team now brought handball giant Dainis Kristopans. But the people of Dresden had now tasted blood and threw themselves at Melsunger. And they took advantage of their chances at the front, playing variably from the circle, the outside or the backcourt. Julius Dierberg scored five goals in the first half alone. After 28 minutes it was 14:10 before Melsungen scored two more goals before the half-time whistle.
Sacrificial defensive work by HC Elbflorenz.
Dresden with a great comeback – extension becomes a question of strength
Melsungen came out of the locker room with more vigor and now played 7 against 6 almost continuously. And the Dresden team initially had problems getting back into the game. At 16:16 after 39 minutes, HCE coach André Haber cheered his team on again during the time-out: “We need our phase now. Now we have to be good so that we can get the game back to us.” And it remained close, but after 50 minutes the big favorites led with 19:22. But anyone who thought that the people of Dresden would give up was mistaken. Led by keeper Mallwitz, the second division team managed three goals in a row and led 25:24 shortly before the end. But Kreut was no match for Kristopan’s blast and so it went into overtime.
There the Melsungers had a 4-0 run to make it 25:29. And yet, the hosts didn’t give up and even had another chance to make it 30:31 in the 69th minute. In the end it wasn’t quite enough.
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