A continual back and forth
TBV holds its own against Düsseldorf
TBV enjoys a lacklustre, yet well-earned 30:26 (14:12) win against HSG Düsseldorf.
First to score was ex-Lemgo player Michael Hegemann: the player nicknamed "Hege" was successful in the opening minute of the game held in the Burg-Wächter Castello event centre. This was countered by key TBV player, Martin Strobel, who showed how determined he was not to add to the carnival gloom that prevailed here on Ash Wednesday. The host team’s second goal was then netted by Bostjan Hribar, the HSG newcomer who, together with Hegemann, is the team’s main hope for remaining in the 1st Bundesliga.
Both teams’ offensive came into play relatively slowly whereby the TBV defence showed itself to be well-positioned from the start. Thus the score stood at 2:3 for Lemgo in the 6th minute following what was meanwhile Hegemann’s second goal after a rather brilliant parry by Matthias Puhle in HSG’s goal against a previous attack by Holger Glandorf. Ferenc Ilyés evened out the score, then Sebastian Preiß and Jens Bechtloff brought the lead up to 5:3 whilst Daniel Kubes waited out a time penalty. TBV put on an overall pleasing performance during this, particularly in defence.
Time and time again, careless chances did the TBV out of early rewards for their efforts and a considerably more reassuring lead however; Jens Bechtloff failed twice in his counterattack, amongst other things. Hegemann was then successful once more, raising the score to 6:5 (13th min.) and midway through the first half (17th min.), Düsseldorf consistently responded to even things out (7:7). Preiß boosted TBV’s score, but seven-metre defender, Mark Schmetz, missed the next big opportunity for a two-goal lead. However, this was then gained by Logi Geirsson who trainer Volker Mudrow brought in on the left wing alongside Carsten Lichtlein in goal. But it was all easy come, easy go in this game: Hribar and Wernicke scored for the hosts to equalise once more (9: 9).
Volker Mudrow also substituted in Vignir Svavarsson for Preiß on the circle and Tamas Mocsai in the right-back position. And TBV again took the lead with two goals - Mocsai and Ilyés raised the score to 11:9 (23rd min.). Berblinger’s penalty throw was subsequently saved by Carsten Lichtlein who again showed his best side in the one-on-one situation, then Strobel “finally” scored to make it 12:9 (26th min.) and bring the first three-goal lead. 25:16 minutes had been played when HSG trainer Goran Suton called his timeout, but TBV remained decisive, supported by an on-form Lichtlein. Mocsai increased the score to 13:9 before Sulc ended almost seven goal-free minutes for HSG. Shortly before the break, when TBV was outnumbered, the latter even had a shot at breaking ahead to a 15:11 lead, but another failed counterattack in turn then gave the hosts the chance to make it 14:12. Hribar seized this opportunity, which led to the teams retiring to the changing rooms at half-time with only a narrow lead for TBV.
A time penalty against Mocsai one minute before half-time meant TBV began the second half one man down; Sulc used this advantage to cut TBV’s lead to just 14:13. The reduced lead initially then held, although TBV seemed to increase the lead once more to 16:13 with a goal by Kehrmann. An error by TBV gave HSG the opportunity to score again however. And following a penalty throw attempt by Geirsson, Hribar netted the equaliser (16:16) - to the dismay of TBV’s loyal little fan base. The lively back and forth continued, and Mocsai, Ilyés then Mocsai again increased the lead to 19:16 (40th min.).
Both Ilyés and Kubes had to leave the court for two minutes during this phase, but HSG was seldom able to exploit this advantage. A penalty allowed Hribar to reduce the lead to 20:18, but this was followed by another penalty throw attempt by Schmetz; Hegemann was then responsible for the 20:19. And when Sulc brought the score to an even 20:20 (45th min.), the hosts again spotted their chance.
It was infuriating: TBV simply couldn’t dominate the game consistently, although Preiß countered the HSG’s mini catch-up attempt with another goal to make the score 21:20. And on TBV’s fourth throw attempted from the seven-metre line, Geirsson finally managed to overcome Matthias Puhle in HSG’s goal. The situation remained tense however: Ilyés shot a goal for TBV, then Hribar one for HSG, Kehrmann shot another goal for TBV and Hribar shot another straight back…
The 25:23 (51st min.) boost from Geirsson’s penalty perhaps then marked the return to a lead for TBV. And when Geirsson again kept his nerve during a penalty throw, Goran Suton saw fit to call his second timeout at which point 52:49 minutes had been played. After this, Hegemann was able to narrow the lead briefly, but Preiß countered to make it 27:24 and also earned a time penalty for his opponent in the process – the game’s outcome seemed to have already been decided a good 5:30 minutes before the game’s conclusion. HSG was able to get two more goals in, but TBV didn’t allow them to narrow the lead any further. The penalty goal scored by Geirsson raised the score to 29:26 (59th min.) and brought the final decision. This was sealed by Mocsai with one final goal to round off what was - in the end - a well-earned win for TBV.