VfL Gummersbach took another step towards the European Cup with an away win at HC Erlangen.
The Oberbergische team won a lackluster 26:22 (17:11) in Erlangen on Sunday and secured fourth place in the table. With three games remaining, VfL is three points behind second-placed SG Flensburg-Handewitt. This means that qualification for the Champions League is at least theoretically still possible. However, Flensburg played one game less.
At the HCE, which suffered its fourth defeat in a row and still has to fight to stay in the league, Kristjan Hozen was the top scorer of the game with nine goals.
VfL without Köster and Vidarsson
In addition to captain Julian Köster, his deputy Ellidi Vidarsson was also missing. Tom Kiesler ran onto the field as captain in Erlangen. Miro Schluroff and Mathis Häseler, who were recently injured, were able to play.
Unlike the home game against Göppingen, VfL got into the game well and quickly led 2-0 (3rd) after goals from Ludvig Hallbäck and Kristian Horzen. The Oberbergische initially defended this small lead and then increased it to 6:3 (7th) through Stepan Zeman. After this brisk start, the game flattened out. Both teams lost the ball numerous times, which initially had no consequences.
Erlangen went eleven minutes without scoring their own goal
After almost seven minutes without a goal, Milos Vujovic ended the lull with a converted seven-meter penalty to make it 7-3 for Gummersbach (14th). Nothing at all came together for Erlangen in this phase and VfL took advantage of this to further extend their lead (9:3/16th). It took HCE an impressive eleven minutes to score their fourth goal of the game (4:9/17th). Because the home team kept incurring unnecessary time penalties, Gummersbach even led a little later with 14:6 (23rd).
In addition to the offensive, VfL’s Dominik Kuzmanovic was also in full swing with six saves before the break, while Erlangen’s goalkeepers were only able to save a single shot in the first half. The guests went into the locker room with a commanding 17:11 lead.
Gummersbach missed the start of the second half
After the break, Erlangen got off to a better start and quickly reduced the lead to 14:18 (33rd minute). A few minutes later the lead was only three goals (16:19/37th minute), because Gummersbach made too many mistakes and their own shooting percentage suffered a dramatic drop. Curious: After Schluroff threw the ball with force against the crossbar, the playing equipment was flat and had to be replaced.
After the catastrophic start to the second half, Horzen got VfL back on track with two goals in a row (16:21/41st). Gummersbach didn’t really seem confident afterwards either, but they were lucky that Erlangen missed out on some of the best opportunities.
But there wasn’t really any tension anymore. VfL kept their lead at four to five goals until the final phase. In the end there was a hard-fought 26:22 away win. “I am proud and happy that we won the game,” said substitute captain Kiesler at DYN. “It was a tough game. In the end we somehow managed to get away by four or five goals.”
Gummersbach welcomes Minden
After the international break, VfL continues with a home game against GWD Minden on May 21st. Erlangen has to play at HSG Wetzlar in the evening on the same day.
Our sources:
- Game HC Erlangen against VfL Gummersbach on May 10, 2026 at DYN
- Homepage of the Handball Bundesliga
Broadcast: WDR.de“Gummersbach beats Erlangen and stays on top”, May 10, 20266:30 p.m
