Goalkeepers duel
For around 50 minutes, Konstanz posed major problems for the guests from Dresden and delivered a thrilling cup fight to the favorites. From the beginning, it was a game of defensive lines and a goalkeeping duel between Konstantin Poltrum and Marino Mallwitz. The two goalkeepers left their mark on the game, especially in the first half. Ultimately, Poltrum saved a throw from the guests eleven times, while Mallwitz left the HSG attackers in despair 13 times. After Baricelli’s first timeout, the HSG really made their presence felt for the first time. With a 3-0 run, the strong driver Christos Erifopoulos, the assertive newcomer Nikita Pliuto from the circle and the cheeky prospect player Jonas Hadlich from the U21 followed a 3-0 run to make it 9-6 (19th) – the timeout from guest coach André Haber followed immediately.
Halftime lead for cheeky HSG
The small Riesenberghalle in Allensbach was boiling at this point and saw the hosts becoming increasingly confident and able to maintain a two-goal lead in what was also an unfamiliar environment. However, they made too little of their good performance up to that point, particularly in the last few minutes before the half-time whistle. After Lars Michelberger’s goal to make it 14:12, they failed to pull back quickly, which the Saxons promptly punished with a quick pass down the middle. In addition, the very agile new playmaker Raivis Gorbunovs was given a time penalty. So the team went into the dressing room with a narrow 14:13 half-time score and the yellow-blues started the second period with a man down.
Second division suitability and object lessons
“We played a very good first half,” praised Baricelli. “We stayed focused and calm in the difficult moments and kept our heads in the game.” After the break, the pressure on the guests increased in view of the courageous performance of the home team. Tom Göres had saved a seven-meter penalty against his former club – Mallwitz won twice. For 50 minutes it was a ride on the razor’s edge, exciting, emotional and hard-fought. If Konstanz had proven its suitability for the second division up to this point and had thus been able to gain a lot of courage for the difficult season ahead, the final phase also provided a great lesson in the differences between the third division and a Bundesliga promotion favorite.
Mercilessly countered in the last ten minutes
When Dresden came under pressure and was really challenged, they delivered. They were extremely cool, very effective and ice-cold in exploiting Konstanz’s mistakes. Up to this point, the HCE had made very few mistakes, which had deprived them of their feared fast-paced game for long stretches, but now they ran into trouble several times and were immediately punished for losing the ball or rushing to finish. Konstanz wanted too much too quickly in this phase – and were mercilessly countered. After Lukas Köder made it 23:23, Dresden went ahead with three goals in a row. A time-out by Baricelli helped his team to pull themselves together again. Erifopoulos shortened the score to 26:28 after 50 minutes.
“We presented ourselves well”
Dresden then made the preliminary decision and, at 34:27, there was some disappointment on the Konstanz side that the good performance was no longer reflected in the result. At least: With the final score of 30:35, the HSG was able to say goodbye to the DHB Cup with their heads held high and can now concentrate fully on the 2nd Handball Bundesliga. “We were a bit unlucky with a few goals in the second half, but we also abandoned our plan,” said Baricelli. “You don’t stand a chance against such top opponents. Dresden will definitely be up there with the top. We presented ourselves well.” On September 8th, things will get serious for him and his protégés in Lingen, before the Eulen Ludwigshafen visit the completely renovated Schänzle-Hölle for their first home game on September 15th. Baricelli is looking forward to it with great anticipation, because “we missed the Schänzle-Hölle and this special atmosphere against Dresden.”
HSG Konstanz – HC Elbflorenz Dresden 30:35 (14:13)
HSG Constance: Konstantin Poltrum, Tom Göres (both goalkeepers); Michel Stotz (1), Aron Czako (1), Lars Michelberger (2), Felix Sproß (4), Christos Erifopulos (7/2), Luca Schwormstede, Raivis Gorbunovs (2), Jo Knipp, Maxim Pliuto (1), Nikita Pliuto (2), Jonas Hadlich (4), Sören Furhmann, Lukas Köder (3), Veit Schlafmann.
HC Elbflorenz Dresden: Mallwitz, Cantegrel (both goalkeepers); Wucherpfennig (4/3), Dierberg (2), Pehlivan (6), Greß (4), Dobler, Thümmler (4), Seidler, Possehl (2), Dumcius (2), Klepp (1), Stavast (3), Stoyke, Dutschke (1), Löser (3), Seidler (3).
The dates at a glance:
8 September, 5 p.m., 1st matchday of the 2nd Handball Bundesliga: HSG Nordhorn-Lingen – HSG Konstanz
15 September, 5 p.m., 2nd matchday of the 2nd Handball Bundesliga: HSG Konstanz – Eulen Ludwigshafen
