4,132 spectators in the once again sold out SCHWALBE arena saw the home team control the first quarter of an hour, but lost their lead towards the end of the first half. The second round was chaotic at times, but after a very emotional final tournament, a combative VfL found a white-blue winner. With a balanced points account of 18:18, the Gummersbachers see off the World Cup break in ninth place.
From the beginning there were signs of an intense match in which the defenses dominated the first scenes. In particular, the home team’s defense was nimble on their feet. After Hamburg drew 2:2 (5th minute), Gummersbach’s offensive also gained momentum and increased the score with a run of 3:0 to 5:2 (8th minute), before the two teams constantly regained their balance by alternating goals. A powerful strike from the second row by Julian Köster after a save by VfL goalkeeper Fabian Norsten extended the Bianconeri’s lead to four goals for the first time in the 16th minute (10:6).
As a result, however, there was a break in the team promoted to the Bundesliga, which acted too impetuously up front and felt more resistance from Hamburg in defense. In the 20th minute, when the score was 10:9, the North Germans also had a chance to equalize, but this was thwarted by the Gummersbach goalkeeper Tibor Ivanišević, who had just come on as a substitute. Instead, it was the hosts who took control of the game and re-established the four-goal lead with three goals in a row (13:9, 23′).
A Kempa goal worthy of being seen by Ole Pregler after a pass from Lukas Blohme at 14:10 on the 24th minute also aroused special applause from the spectators, who recognized Tom Kiesler’s 2-minute suspension with no less emotion , who was kicked out after a bad handjob. In the final phase of the first half, there were now nickel little things, whereby the Gummersbacher let the concentration slip and unusual gaps in the defense turned out to be. With the final whistle, a successful penalty shot by Hamburg – HSVH’s fifth goal in a row – put VfL behind for the first time in the match (16:17).
Even after the change of sides, the atmosphere in the SCHWALBE arena remained frenetic, but the hosts again found their best way and, after being two goals behind, equalized in the 36th minute with the goal of Blohme for 7:19 pm. After a hard foul on Hákon Dadi Styrmisson, Hamburg’s Dominik Axmann was shown the red card in the 37th minute. In a very nervous part of the game, both teams failed to bring a clear line into the game. Strong ball victories on the one hand and erratic errors on the other hand led to a draw of 22:22 after 45 minutes.
On the offensive side, the Oberbergische lacked their usual effectiveness, which brought the guests from the north back into the lead (24:27, 51 ‘). With the support of the fans and their unbroken morale, however, VfL fought back. Pregler’s goal restored courage to the hosts and allowed Sigurdsson’s boys to mobilize their last reserves of strength.
At the latest when Blohme equalized with 28:28 in the 56th minute and the subsequent loss of the ball by Hamburg, the SCHWALBE arena stood. To thunderous applause, Ellidi Vidarsson took the lead at 29:28 (58th minute), before Ivanišević kept his nerve in the last minute at 30:29 and thwarted a Hamburg penalty shot and Gummersbach finally won the pot as winner with 31:30 left.
After the World Cup in January, VfL Gummersbach will ring the bell on the weekend of 4 and 5 April. February of the year 2023 with a special first competitive game. In the quarterfinals of the DHB Cup, Oberbergische battled TBV Lemgo Lippe for a place in the German Cup final four.
Source: VfL Gummersbach / Photo: Ising
