Borussia Dortmund’s handball players won the first game of the semi-final series against HSG Bensheim/Auerbach.
The runner-up in the preliminary round prevailed on Saturday evening in the Wellinghofen hall with 34:32 (18:17). In the “best of three” series, two wins are needed to advance to the final. The second semi-final game will take place next Saturday (02.05./6 p.m.) in Bensheim. The best thrower of the game was Deborah Lassource (BVB) with eight goals.
In the Bundesliga preliminary round, Dortmund lost the first leg against Bensheim (32:38), but won both the second leg (31:23) and the final of the DHB Cup (30:25).
None of the teams can pull away
Dortmund, who had to do without their injured goalkeeper Sarah Wachter, were 2:4 behind after a goal from Bensheim’s Nina Engel (9th minute) before Kaja Kamp Nielsen (12th) was able to equalize for BVB. HSG keeper Vanessa Fehr then parried two BVB seven-meter shots in a row, so that the guests were again leading 7-5 after goals from Lena Degenhardt (12th) and Engel (13th).
It remained the “game with a completely open outcome” announced by BVB coach Henk Groener, in which Dortmund repeatedly failed due to the strong Fehr in the HSG goal. Lassource (17th) was able to overcome Fehr for the first time with a seven-meter shot and reduced the deficit to 8:9, before Alieke Van Maurik (19th) equalized for BVB to make it 9:9.
The pace of the game then increased and a total of twelve goals were scored within just over five minutes (15:15/25th). With the goal to make it 17:16 (27th), BVB took the lead for the first time, Guro Husebø (28th) added the score to 18:16. Thanks to a lightning reaction from keeper Teodora Roncevic to Engel’s throw (30th), Dortmund took a wafer-thin 18:17 lead into the half-time break.
Dortmund turns up the heat after the break
Dortmund got off to a good start in the second half. After goals from Van Maurik (31′) and Emma Olsson (33′), Dortmund led by three goals (20:17), and thanks to Maraike Kusian (35′) they even led by four (23:19). Dortmund were more alert than the guests in this phase and were always allowed to go to the seven-meter line. Bensheim missed a few chances and was unlucky at times: Amelie Berger (38th/39th), for example, only hit the post twice in a row.
Dortmund followed up. Lassource now confidently converted her seven-meter penalty and BVB extended their lead to six goals (27:21/44.). But during a small phase of weakness for Dortmund, the HSG came back to 29:26 with three goals in a row (51st).
Groener took a timeout before the final phase before Engel (55th) reduced Bensheim’s deficit to two goals. BVB then held up better again: Dana Bleckmann (55th) and Lassource (56th) scored into the empty HSG goal to create a four-goal cushion (31:29). But Bensheim didn’t let themselves be left behind and scored two goals again (34:32/58.). BVB goalkeeper Melinda Szikora prevented the HSG from having another chance to equalize with a brilliant save against Mia Ziercke (59th).
Our sources:
- Game between Dortmund and Bensheim/Auerbach on April 25th, 2026
Broadcast: WDR.de, “Dortmund advances against Bensheim/Auerbach”, April 25, 2026, 9:14 p.m
