challenger Foxes Berlin has slowed down the title hunters of SC Magdeburg and won the Handball Supercup for the first time in the club’s history. The German runner-up beat the champions and cup winners 32:30 (17:17) in front of 9,034 spectators in Düsseldorf and celebrated its first victory at the second attempt in the competition, which has been held since 1994.
In 2014, the capital club, for which Jerry Tollbring was the top scorer with nine goals, lost the Supercup duel against THW Kiel. Even nine goals from Omar Ingi Magnusson were not enough for Magdeburg to win their third victory after 1996 and 2001.
The SCM wanted to fill its trophy cabinet after the most successful season in the club’s history by winning the championship, the DHB Cup and the Club World Cup. Despite the defeat, coach Bennet Wiegert’s team is also one of the hot title candidates in the Bundesliga season that begins next Thursday.
In the fast-paced game, the Füchse found their rhythm first and were leading 6:4 after about ten minutes. But then Magdeburg slowly got going and pulled ahead with a 4:0 run. Backcourt player Albin Lagergren in particular distinguished himself as a reliable finisher in this phase.
Superstar Mathias Gidsel didn’t really shine for the Füchse just three weeks after winning Olympic gold with Denmark. The 25-year-old only scored twice in the first half. In the end, he scored four goals. His job as a goalscorer was taken over by others, especially left winger Tollbring and backcourt player Lasse Andersson (7). The Füchse worked their way to a two-goal lead, but lost it shortly before half-time.
Therefore, the game started again from scratch after the change – and with returning player Nikola Portner between the Magdeburg goal posts. For the Swiss, it was the first competitive game since the beginning of April, when he was suspended due to a positive doping test.
Portner has always denied taking doping substances and was acquitted by the league a few weeks ago. However, at the request of the National Anti-Doping Agency, his case will be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sport at a date that has not yet been set.
The game remained hard-fought and close. Neither team was able to gain a decisive lead. In the dramatic final phase, Berlin had the better nerves and exuberantly celebrated their well-deserved victory. (dpa)
