Leipzig – The handball players of SC DHfK Leipzig recorded their third win in their third home game of this Bundesliga season. Coach Runar Sigtryggsson’s team defeated the previously loss-point-free Rhein-Neckar Löwen in front of 4,117 spectators after an impressive energetic performance with 28:27 (13:13). The best thrower for SC DHfK, who now has 6:2 points, was right winger Staffan Peter with seven goals. Ivan Martinovic scored nine times for the Lions, who missed out on reaching the top of the table. National player Luca Witzke scored the winning goal 84 seconds before the end. The Lions’ last attack fizzled out due to an offensive foul by Martinovic.
The Leipzig team initially built on the convincing performances from the previous two home games. With powerful attacking play and a strong goalkeeper Kristian Saeveras, who parried six of the first ten shots on goal, they earned an 8:4 lead after 13 minutes. The fact that the lions didn’t find their way into the game also had to do with the fact that director Juri Knorr could hardly escape Marko Mamic’s intensive surveillance. The Leipzig team had the game firmly under control until 12:7 (21st minute), before David Späth was in top form for the guests. The national goalkeeper immediately unnerved Leipzig’s throwers and laid the foundation for a 6-0 run by the Lions to make it 13:12 (27th).
Strong DHfK keeper with 16 saves
Leipzig started the second half with three goals in a row, but the Lions were unimpressed and took a 20:18 lead with a 7:2 spurt (43′). However, the guests failed to capitalize on this momentum. The SC DHfK couldn’t be shaken off and was able to continue to rely on Saeveras, who ultimately made 16 saves. Matej Klima gave the hosts the lead for the first time since the start of the second half with his goal to make it 27:26 (58th). In the end, the Lions had no answer.
