HC Erlangen loses to Berlin Foxes despite a great comeback

HC Erlangen suffered a 22:27 defeat at the hands of the reigning EHF cup champions Berlin Foxes in its third home game of the season. After a first half in which it scored few goals, the HC put up a fighting performance and was more stable in defense in the second half, with the result that the club from Franconia was able to claw back the deficit to four goals. However, that comeback was ultimately not enough to turn the game against the Foxes around.

The encounter started with a 2:0 run for the visitors from the capital city. However, goals from Christoph Steinert and Dominik Mappes tied the score. Pivot Jan Schäffer picked up two-minute penalties twice in the opening ten minutes and so was missing in HC Erlangen’s defensive ranks. Berlin capitalized uncompromisingly on the resultant greater space to pull 2:7 ahead in the 12th minute. The HC’s Head Coach Aðalsteinn Eyjólfsson soon called a timeout to readjust his team’s tactics. With his side trailing 4:8 and then 5:11, Nikolai Link reduced the deficit to 6:11. In the final ten minutes of the first half, the HC was frequently able to reproduce its high-paced play, but did not always manage to put the ball past the German international goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter, who was in good form. At the other end, the Foxes scored five seven-meter penalties in the first half, as they took an 8:15 lead in with them at the break.

After the restart, Nico Büdel and Christopher Bissel added the next goals for HC Erlangen. The team of Aðalsteinn Eyjólfsson now had a better grip on its opponents in defense and repeatedly forced the EHF cup holders to take shots under time pressure. Nikolas Katsigiannis also put his stamp on the game, producing good work between the posts. With 15 minutes remaining, Nikolai Link stormed through Berlin’s defense to close the gap to five goals. After winning possession in defense, pivot Jan Schäffer threw the ball into the Foxes’ empty net from a distance of 30 meters. Fired on by its sensational fans who repeatedly got behind their side vociferously, HC Erlangen fought to the death. Given the chance to reduce the deficit to four goals, HC Erlangen was not focused for an instant and conceded a goal that made it 17:23. After his team trailed by 18:25 and then 20:26, Nico Büdel made the final score 22:27.

“I have to pay my team a compliment despite the fact that we lost today. We were very weak in the first half and managed to get back to within four goals shortly before the end thanks to our fighting spirit and morale. We aim to build on this second half and put up a stronger showing from the outset against the Owls next week. We were mainly able to win the second half thanks to our great fans, who kept on motivating us and spurring us on,” said Aðalsteinn Eyjólfsson afterwards.