Close win after reaching final

Hard-fought points in nerve-racking game against TSV Dormagen

TBV Lemgo manages a narrow 27:26 (14:15) win before a home crowd, keeping the points in the Lipperlandhalle.

TBV's line-up at the start of the game included Carsten Lichtlein, Jens Bechtloff, Ferenc Ilyes, Martin Strobel, Rolf Hermann, Florian Kehrmann and Vignir Svavarsson. Daniel Kubes came on in defence for Strobel. Hermann scored the opening goal of the game in TBV's first offensive. Dormagen certainly did not surrentder to being the complete underdog however, playing with spirit to take the lead following goals by Meyer and Dmytruszynski (1:2); Balomenos even then made it 1:3 in the 5th minute.

In the opening phase, TBV played too cautiously in both defence and offense, and Dormagen consistently used its opportunities, leaving TBV to get into the game extremely slowly. The 3:6 by Chantziaras (10th min.) was not undeserved; Volker Mudrow then played his green card after 9:27 minutes of play though after which Preiß took over from Svavarsson on the circle. Hermann netted the 4:6 in the 11th minute and more decisiveness became discernible in the team's defence. Although TSV then struggled somewhat, TBV also continued to lack the necessary confidence in its own offensive, which allowed TSV to boost their score further in the 15th minute (4:7). Mocsai came on in the centre position after the 4:8 (16th min.). Although the 5:8 (17th min.) by Hermann was then nicely played, 5 goals in 17 minutes were a clear indication of the extremely weak performance in the offensive.

Things continued to go badly for TBV and Galia took over from the luckless Lichtlein in goal after the 6:9 in the 18th minute. And Dormagen even managed to make it a five-goal lead in the 21st minute (6:11). Following a suspected offensive foul by Preiß, the latter's complaining led the referee duo of Harms and Mahlich to award a time penalty. Kehrmann subsequently snatched the ball and was fouled by Chantziaras in the counterattack, meaning the latter also had to leave the pitch for two minutes. Kraus got the ensuing penalty throw in to make it 7:11 (22nd min.) but despite this, the next big change was carelessly given away. TBV was simply unrecognisable from its performance in the EHF European Cup 1/2 final. Kubes came on in the offensive for Ilyés in the left-back position and Kraus brought TBV's score up to 8:11 (24th min.).

Although Dormagen had a four-goal advantage at this point, things were going far more smoothly in TBV's offensive and the hall was back in high spirits after the 11:13 (26th min.). Kehrmann hampered Dormagen's offensive very effectively in an advanced lead, and in the 27th minute, it was TBV's "turn" to score (although they had to do without Hermann for two minutes, as the refs also sent him off for "complaining"). TBV did not make use of the seven-metre shot when the score stood at 12:14 (29th min.) and Dormagen then got in the 12:15. It was obvious to the spectators that TBV was eager to finally begin turning the game around. Two consecutive goals from Mocsai at least narrowed TSV's lead before the teams went into the changing rooms at half time (14:15).

In the second half, Kehrmann played in the advanced lead in defence and Glandorf came on in the right-back position for Hermann. TSV was first to score (14:16; 32nd min.), and Kehrmann then boosted TBV's score with a nice solo performance from the second wave, following through less than two minutes later with the equaliser (16:16). Dormagen remained on the ball however, getting the 16:17 and 17:18 in shortly after. It was Kehrmann who kept his team in play during this phase, bringing TBV back up to 18:18 in the 38th minute. Glandorf subsequently had to leave the pitch for two minutes when TBV was still a man short, having been awarded a questionable time penalty. Galia put on a brilliant performance against Chantziaras during this 2-man disadvantage, but Dmytruszynski was then able to sneak one past TBV's goalie to make it 18:19 in the 40th minute; TBV was quick to even the score out again though.

Galia lined up TBV's next big chance with another top move, but Glandorf was unsuccessful and hit the post. Schmetz then allowed Kehrmann a much-needed break. TSV had a difficult time of finding any clear opportunities in the offensive, allowing Mocsai to slam a goal into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal when TBV was outnumbered (20:19; 47th min.) and earning the hosts their first lead since the 1:0. Referees Harms and Mahlich then lost it completely, not allowing a free throw in a counterattack by Kehrmann and sending Bechtloff off for an alleged foot save. The hall was in uproar. A thankful Lochtenbergh took the penalty shot and equalised (20:20), but Preiß brought TBV back into the lead when the team was still outnumbered (21:20, 49.). After the next save by Galia, Mocsai kept his nerve to make a high pass to Kehrmann over Dormagen's inattentive defence, and the outside right player scored with confidence against Vortmann (22:20).

After the 22:21 (50th min.), TBV allowed itself the luxury of letting two seven-metre throws pass it by; in contrast, Lochtenbergh remained focussed to equalise in the 52nd minute (22:22). The game went back and forth, with TBV scoring a goal only for TSV to follow suit. After the 24:23 by Preiß, it was then Bechtloff who netted the 25:23 with a fantastic turn from the counterattack (55th min.). The lead did not bring any confidence to TBV's game however; on the contrary, in the 58th minute, Dormagen evened the score out once again (25:25). Glandorf subsequently slammed the ball into the TSV's goal (26:25), a move that was followed by another penalty throw for the visiting team. Lochtenbergh attempted his seventh penalty throw of the game, but failed to get the ball past Galia for the first time. The spectators got to their feet with determination, spurring their team on. Ilyés was grabbed by his throwing arm and Schmetz again came forward to take the penalty throw. He was kind to goalie Vortmann, but the referees awarded TSV another seven-metre shot in the seconds that followed. Holst stepped up to take the throw, netting the penalty shot to make the score 27:26. Much to the relief of TBV and its fans, the final siren then sounded at almost the exact same moment that the ball entered the net.