The Bundesliga relegated HBW Balingen-Weilstetten prevailed in the quarter-finals of the DHB Cup against league rivals HSC 2000 Coburg and took part in the final weekend in April.
What a thriller: HBW Balingen-Weilstetten won the quarter-finals of the DHB Cup at HSC 2000 Coburg with 38:33 (30:30; 15:17) after extra time and is the first second division team in 26 years to reach the Final Four.
The HBW got into the game well, even though the syndicate had received three time penalties early on. After seven minutes it was 5:5. Shortly afterwards, Balinger – outnumbered for the fourth time – took the lead 6:5 after an intercepted pass.
But then the hosts got into the intense encounter better. In the 16th minute, the HSC took the lead for the first time with two goals – 10:8 from the Upper Franconian perspective. Balingen was now too erratic in attack and too careless in defense. In the 23rd minute the deficit had grown to four goals. At least: By the break the guests were back within striking distance and were only 15:17 behind.
Crime thriller between Coburg and Balingen-Weilstetten
After the substitution, the Balingers were straight into the game and quickly equalized; the tension in the sold-out arena was palpable. The match, in which HBW had now taken the lead, remained open until the final phase.
A few minutes before the end, Coburg came within one goal before the hosts equalized in the 57th minute. Balingen’s Elias Huber failed with his throw to Petros Boukovinas. In return, Coburg scored from seven meters and took the lead for the first time since the 40th minute.
Huber saves HBW in extra time
The HBW put the next shot over the goal and seemed already beaten, but the Coburgers missed the decision. Huber took heart 20 seconds before the end and scored to equalize again – extra time.
After five minutes of breathing, the HBW had the momentum on its side and moved ahead 34:30. The hosts did not score a single goal in the first period of extra time. In the second half, Balinger’s victory was no longer in danger. What followed was boundless celebration from coach Matti Flohr and his team.
In Heuberger’s and Roggisch’s footsteps
The semi-finals have historic dimensions. For the first time since 1998, a second division team is in the last four. At that time, TuS Schutterwald from the Ortenau district achieved the feat. Also there at the time: the later national coach Martin Heuberger as a coach and the young Oliver Roggisch.
26 years later, the Bundesliga relegated team from Balingen is in the semi-finals in Cologne and will face prominent opponents there. The three other participants in the Final Four on April 12th and 13th next year in Cologne will be determined on Thursday. The Rhein-Neckar Löwen start against ThSV Eisenach and THW Kiel against VfL Gummersbach (both 7 p.m.). Following the MT Melsungen game against SG Flensburg-Handewitt (8 p.m.), the semi-final matches will be drawn.
Broadcast on Thursday, December 19, 2024, 6:00 a.m., SWR Aktuell in the morning, SWR Aktuell
