Foxes veteran Hans Lindberg comes to the throw in a duel with Hanover. With nine goals he was the best thrower in Berlin Photo: Mathias Renner/City-Press GmbH
By Nicolas Sowa
After a hard-fought home win, Füchse Berlin successfully defended their lead in the Handball Bundesliga. After a tough struggle, the Berliners won in front of 6296 spectators on Thursday in the Max-Schmeling-Halle against TSV Hannover-Burgdorf with 32:30 (16:14).
The best Berlin throwers were Hans Lindberg with nine and Jacob Holm with six goals.
The hosts got into the game properly and quickly took a 3-1 lead. But after that, the mistakes kept piling up. Especially in attack, the Berliners found it difficult to find gaps against the very physically active Lower Saxony. They also failed several times at guest keeper Domenico Ebner or at the post. Hannover took advantage of the high error rate.
Foxes star Fabian Wiede is pinched by the Hanoverians Marian Michalczik and Ilija Brozovic Photo: Mathias Renner/City-Press GmbH
The foxes ran behind for a long time. At times it grew to three hits. Only about seven minutes before the break did the Berliners get into the game better because goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev also helped with a few saves.
The foxes regained the lead just under three minutes before the break (14:13). In the final minute, two goals in 21 seconds gave them an even bigger lead at half-time.
Foxes player Lasse Bredekjaer Anderson in the match against Hannover Photo: Mathias Renner/City-Press GmbH
Immediately after the break, the lead grew to four goals (18:14). But Hannover fought back into the game and came close to a goal again. In the 52nd minute, Hanover’s Bastian Roschek saw red after a hard foul.
It was still tight. The decision came 20 seconds before the end when Paul Drux scored to make it 32:29.