As the saying goes, lightning doesn’t strike the same spot twice. With the second division handball team of ESV 1927 Regensburg, it wasn’t the same place either, but the same opponent who stayed behind as if thunderstruck. As in the first leg in December, the Bunkerladies toppled the promotion favorites Frisch Auf Göppingen from the top of the table: The 31:28 (17:17) away win on Sunday afternoon was just as surprising as it was deserved.
Almost 1,000 spectators didn’t want to miss the top game in the glorious EWS Arena. The hosts had the upper hand after taking the place in the sun and losing their competitor Berlin the day before, as well as looking for revenge after the first-leg defeat in Regensburg in December. The 5:1 lead of the Göppingen women after almost six minutes raised fears of the same as in the first second division guest appearance of the Oberpfälzerinnen in the previous season, when they got under the wheels at 23:37. But far from it: The ESV fought its way back into the game – led by the famous Marleen Kadenbach, who scored eight field goals, two assists and a seven-meter penalty in the first section alone. The guests played out the opportunities well and converted with high percentage. The team also survived shorthanded situations with creative solutions almost unscathed. In the 20th minute, Kaden corrected the false start at 12:11 and took the lead for the first time. In particular, the Austrian national player Klara Schlegel on the right backfield and ex-national player Selina Kalmbach on the left wing were difficult for the ESV defense, who had to do without Nicole Lederer after 24 minutes after the third time penalty and disqualification. On the other side, the bunker ladies were also a task for Frisch Auf: Sara Mustafic was able to use three easy passes to the circle and secured the 17:17 draw at the break.
After the change of sides, Marleen Kadenbach couldn’t be stopped by a face hit that deserved a red card and took the lead again. In the majority, Franzi Höppe and the excellent director Amelie Bayerl built for a two-goal lead. In the 47th minute, right winger Nicole Schiegerl made it 26:23, but time penalties against ESV Franziskas Peter and Höppe as well as some bad luck brought Frisch Auf the lead after a long time in the 53rd minute. However, the Regensburg women were not discouraged: Cover and goalkeeper Stephanie Lukau recorded important ball wins and the players consistently went into the gaps in attack. The final minutes then belonged entirely to the bunker ladies: Anika Bissel made the surprise coup perfect on her comeback with two goals from the left wing. The 31:28 success was also considered deserved by the hosts and the ESV players celebrated their energy and will power. “It was a real tour de force. We were on the same wave, that compensated for the growing tiredness”, a satisfied ESV coach Csaba Szücs commented on the victory “in a very good handball game”. For sporting director Robert Torunsky, it was “probably the most impressive and most highly rated away win” in the 55th appearance in the single-track second division: “Fantastic play, strong nerves and an absolute team effort.” clock against the German record champions HC Leipzig and defended fifth place.
relegation
Already on Saturday, after the defeat of TG Nürtingen at SG Schozach/Bottwartal, the last mathematical doubts were eliminated. Five games before the end of the season, the third second division season in a row has been decided in sporting terms.
number games
With the victory in Göppingen, it is already clear that the bunker ladies (currently 31:19) points will definitely end the round with a positive account. The eighth victory in a foreign hall brought Second place in the away table (17:9). All five away games in Baden-Württemberg were won. Regardless of the outcome of the remaining games in Lintfort and Harrislee, ESV will end the away rating positively.
ESV 1927 Regensburg:
Tor: Stephanie Lukau, Johanna Ziegler (no)
Feld: Marleen Kadenbach 11, Amelie Bayerl, Franziska Peter 4 each, Nicole Schiegerl 4/2, Anika Bissel, Sara Mustafic 3 each, Franziska Höppe, Nicole Lederer 1 each as well as Julia Drachsler, Theresa Lettl (ne) and Carina Vetter (ne).
Text: HC Wagner, PM Bunkerladies, Photos: Frisch Auf Göppingen
2023-04-24 13:10:12
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