Although the Saxons were shocked early on by circle player Philip Jungemann seeing the red card after 40 seconds for excessively tough play, the HCE Tigers endured a 0:2 deficit with Pouya Norouzi and Tilman Pröhl and they took the lead. After eight minutes, the visitors took the lead 3-2 for the first time and kept shooting (6:4, 9:6, 13:8). Without the playmaker Valentin Schmidt (adductor problems), who was not yet ready for action, the ordering hand in attack was missing. Allusions to the circle did not come. The one-on-one situations, with which Norouzi tried several times, were prevented by the decisive attack from Dresden.
There was also a poor completion rate, Valentin Spohn was only able to get two of his seven throws into the HC goal before halftime. Also because Marius Noack kept making great saves. In addition, the HCE goalkeeper was repeatedly supported by the post and crossbar. Although Eintracht fought back a bit in the final phase of the first half (12:15) with a strong Tobi Mahncke, who had replaced Mats Grzesinski in the 15th minute, the four-goal half-time deficit was more or less a logical consequence of both teams’ performances up to that point.
The yellow-greens didn’t leave the dressing room discouraged. But on the contrary! It was clear to all players that they wanted to close the gap and thus scratch the psyche of the Saxons, who hadn’t exactly been spoiled by their recent success. And this was happening more and more every minute. At 14:17, 17:19 and 19:20 the hosts went up goal by goal. At first, however, Florence on the Elbe found answers, they were able to delay Hagen’s run to recover with their own quick goals. But when Tilman Pröhl equalized in the 51st minute with a fine lob for 22:22, VfL Eintracht finally got the momentum on his side.
The VfL fans, also spoiled by playful highlights such as a Kempatrick started by Kim Voss-Fels and completed by Damian Toromanovic to make 17:19, were now in their seats and created a great atmosphere. Philipp Vorlicek and Jan-Lars Gaubatz gave the yellow-greens a two-goal lead for the first time since 2-0 (24:22, 56′). Now Stefan Neff’s team, driven by the 620 fans who provided the atmosphere for 1000 handball enthusiasts, can no longer be pushed astray towards success. The Eintracht players also put in Dresden’s last goal to lead 27:26 with a goal from seven meters converted by league top scorer Lukas Wucherpfennig 80 seconds before the end. After two loose balls on defense, Pouya Norouzi and Damian Toromanovic completed the game. The rest was pure joy!
With 6:14 points now, VfL Eintracht is 15th in the table. out of the relegation zone. Which is a small step at first. Next Friday at Bayer Dormagen will be recharged!
Source: VfL Eintracht Hagen / Photo: Köster
