The Rhein-Neckar Löwen won the first semi-final against SG Flensburg-Handewitt at the Final Four in Cologne and reached the final of the DHB Cup. SC Magdeburg and TBV Lemgo Lippe, who will face each other in the second semi-final, determine the opponents in the final.
Led by Juri Knorr, the Mannheimers duped SG Flensburg-Handewitt on Saturday (April 15, 2023) by 38:31 and are reaching for their second cup title after 2018.
The outstanding Knorr was the best scorer for coach Sebastian Hinze’s team at the premiere of the Final Four tournament in Cologne in front of almost 20,000 spectators with ten goals. At Flensburg, the Dane Mads Mensah Larsen shone with ten goals.
Löwen defeat cup curse against Flensburg
For the sixth time in the 30-year history of the Final Four tournament, the pairing in the semifinals was Flensburg versus Mannheim. With their first victory, the lions defeated their Flensburg curse and at the same time destroyed an impressive series of their opponents: The SG had not lost for four months (21 competitive games).
In addition to Knorr, the key was a stable cover from which the lions often counterattacked, especially before the break. The Hinze team acted with an extremely high intensity and posed major problems for the Flensburg team, who were slightly favored in the run-up. The game had an immense pace, after 15 minutes 17 goals had already been scored.
Lions in a frenzy, frustration in Flensburg
After a balanced initial phase, the lions played themselves into a frenzy at times. With an 8:2 run, the two-time German champions pulled away to just six goals (16:10/26th).
On the offensive, the lions benefited again and again from clever shots and passes from Knorr, who, like his team, had not shown good form recently and presented himself as transformed. In addition, the former national team captain Uwe Gensheimer showed great security. National goalkeeper Joel Birlehm increased the lead with a shot into the empty goal and made the Löwen fans romp behind him.
The appearance of the lions also impressed ARD expert Dominik Klein. “Everything was right. The interaction of the team, including those who were substituted on. That was a perfect game for the Rhein-Neckar Löwen.”
The fact that the lions had arrived with four Bundesliga defeats in their luggage was not noticeable in the atmospheric arena. “Unbelievable, that was outstanding from the boys“said coach Sebastian Hinze after the game on the ARD microphone about his team’s liberation after tough weeks in the league. “We were extremely disciplined and didn’t let ourselves be disturbed.”
“We’ve been playing quite a crap together in the last few weeks” said lion leader Knorr. “Everyone knew we were the underdog today. But everyone kept their hearts on the record, and then a lot went for us.”
Magdeburg in the second semi-final against Lemgo Favorit
In the second semi-final, SC Magdeburg meets TBV Lemgo Lippe at 7 p.m. Magdeburg is the favorite against the thirteenth-placed team in the Bundesliga, but master coach Bennet Wiegert was humble: “We don’t know what to expect in Cologne, it’s our first time there. Anything can happen on a Final Four weekend. But of course we are happy to be part of it and also hope to be successful.”
Magdeburg should be warned: The East Westphalia have developed into real cup specialists – and for the third time in a row Final Four done.
In the league, both duels this season went to Magdeburg, but TBV coach Florian Kehrmann spoke strongly of his team on WDR: “The Final Four is a competition in itself, the cards are completely reshuffled.” Kehrmann is also hoping for a small home advantage on North Rhine-Westphalian soil: “I expect that a majority of the spectators will be behind us.”