HC Erlangen loses to GWD Minden

HC Erlangen went down to GWD Minden, the team just above it in the table, on Sunday afternoon. After an evenly poised opening, the club from Westphalia ran out winners by 25:29 (10:14).

Nico Büdel chalked up the first goal for HC Erlangen in the new year. The playmaker, who mainly operated in the left backcourt due to the fact that Nikolai Link was missing through injury, overcame the visitors’ defensive ranks on the first attack to make it 1:0. The game from the 20th matchday was played at a high pace by both sides right from the throw-off. Petter Overby, who won a runners-up medal in the World Championships, put his team 5:4 in front in the 9th minute and Christopher Bissel added a spectacular goal shortly afterwards (6:5). Goalkeeper Nikolas Katsigiannis likewise got into his stride and saved several shots by Minden players who were free at the crease in the opening spell. As befitted their position in the table, both sides were equally matched and neither managed to open up a decisive gap. The scores were tied 9:9 after 20 minutes of play. The defense marshaled by Petter Overby was solid and countered the visitors’ slow approach attack very aggressively. HC Erlangen then slipped 10:12 behind toward the end of the first half due to its failure to take its chances, after which Minden stretched the gap to 10:14 at half-time.

After the break, the Norwegian international Magnus Gullerud made it 10:16. The visitors also scored on their next attack and threatened to pull away, but then Nico Büdel won a 2-minute penalty and passed to Petter Overby, who buried the ball in the net (11:16). After winning possession in defense, captain Michael Haaß made it 12:16 and the HC Erlangen fought its way back into the game. Two goals in succession by Büdel reduced the deficit to 14:17 in the 38th minute. HC Erlangen stepped up its game from then on and managed to cut the gap further to 21:23. With four minutes to go, the club from Franconia had the chance to pull another goal back, but the shot by Petter Overby over the entire length of the court was saved in a last-ditch effort by the strong goalkeeper Christensen. Minden then went down the other end and extended its lead again (24:26). The final goal by Nico Büdel, who ended up with a total haul of 11, was no longer enough the avert the impending defeat: HC Erlangen finally succumbed to GWD Minden by 25:29. Erlangen now face an encounter on the 21st matchday of the DKB German Handball League this Sunday, when the team of Head Coach Aðalsteinn Eyjólfsson travels away to the unbeaten leaders SG Flensburg-Handewitt.

Source: www.hc-erlangen.de