Wetzlar, Germany – In a nail-biting encounter at the Buderus Arena on Friday evening, HSG Wetzlar and SC DHfK Leipzig battled to a 26-26 draw, a result that does little to alleviate either team’s precarious position at the bottom of the Handball-Bundesliga. Both teams entered the match with seven points, making this a crucial fixture in the relegation battle.
Leipzig, hampered by the absence of Matej Klima and a last-minute injury to Luka Rogan, started strongly. National player Franz Semper quickly established himself as a key threat, scoring four goals in the opening ten minutes as Leipzig took a 7-9 lead. The game quickly settled into a high-tempo rhythm, with 20 goals scored in the first 13 minutes, leaving the 4,330 spectators witnessing a frantic pace.
A quickfire double from Bombač and Krzikalla extended Leipzig’s lead to 10-12, but Wetzlar responded, and the game became a more tightly contested affair. Dean Bombač continued to be a focal point for Leipzig’s attack, bringing his team’s lead to three goals in the 27th minute, having converted all four of his attempts. However, two turnovers by Ahmed Khairi allowed Wetzlar to close the gap to a single goal by halftime (16-17).
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Wetzlar equalized early on, and Leipzig were forced to contend with a two-minute suspension for Moritz Preuss. Leipzig weathered the storm, with William Bogojevic and Semper finding the net, and Bombač again putting Leipzig ahead by three. With just over a quarter of the match remaining, Leipzig appeared to be gaining control.
A significant factor in Leipzig’s advantage was the performance of goalkeeper Domenico Ebner, who made 14 saves by the midpoint of the second half, ultimately finishing with 16 saves and a 47% save percentage. However, Wetzlar’s modern signing, Andreas Palicka, also proved to be a formidable opponent, denying several Leipzig opportunities. The game was level at 23-23 in the 51st minute, setting up a tense finale.
Wetzlar pressed for a winner, but Ebner and the Leipzig defense held firm. Staffan Peter scored to give Leipzig a two-goal advantage (22-24, 24-25), and Bogojevic extended the lead to 25-26 with 70 seconds remaining. Wetzlar managed to equalize one final time, leaving Leipzig with a last-gasp opportunity to secure the victory. Bogojevic’s final shot was blocked by the Wetzlar defense.
Despite the missed opportunity, Leipzig coach Frank Carstens acknowledged the positive aspects of the performance. “Of course, we are not satisfied with not winning today. But if we see how we held our own in a really tough game – especially in the final phase, where it could have gone either way – here in Wetzlar, I think we did well,” Carstens said. He also noted some uncharacteristic errors from his team, adding, “We had a few absences. And some players seemed to have a leather allergy in their hands today – I don’t know. A lot of balls just flew away. But that happens. We need to maintain working with that.”
Leipzig goalkeeper Domenico Ebner echoed the sentiment, stating, “The feelings are mixed, due to the fact that I would have liked to take two points home with us today. We have a big goal, namely to avoid relegation. And two points would have been huge today.” He added, “Two teams met here who are somehow in a mood for change. Also with Wetzlar and their new signings and new direction. That’s why I was really looking forward to the game because there was already a lot of fire in it before the start. I think we played a good game but unfortunately only got one point in the conclude. That’s why I gaze very positively at the second half of the season, because our path is not yet over. Next week, BHC is coming to us. And we definitely want to get two points there.”
HSG Wetzlar vs. SC DHfK Leipzig 26:26 (16:17)
HSG Wetzlar Top Scorers: Nafea 6, Cavor 5, Kirschner 4, Mappes 3, Vistotop 2, Simic 2, Spandau 2, Ahouansou 1, Schoch 1
SC DHfK Leipzig Top Scorers: Semper 6, Krzikalla 5, Bogojevic 5, Bombač 5, Binder 2, Peter 2, Preuss 1
Goalkeeping: 11 saves (Wetzlar), 18 saves (Leipzig)
Penalties: 1/1 (Wetzlar), 1/1 (Leipzig)
Timeouts: Wetzlar 4 minutes, Leipzig 8 minutes
Technical Errors: 8 (Wetzlar), 15 (Leipzig)
