World Handball Player Mathias Gidsel was Berlin’s leading scorer with eleven goals, including the decisive penalty, and led the way to become the first team to book their ticket for the final tournament on 13 and 14 June in Cologne. The outstanding Dane has now scored 144 goals in the competition, surpassing the record set by his compatriot Mikkel Hansen (141 goals in 2015/16 for Paris Saint-Germain).
To the Match Center: Füchse vs. Veszprem
National team player Tim Freihöfer contributed eight goals, while goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev shone with twelve saves during the match and stopped a penalty. Nils Lichtlein, Freihöfer, and Tobias Gröndahl were the other successful penalty shooters for Berlin.
Veszprem fight back after trailing.
Berlin’s coach, Nicolej Krickau, had predicted a “brutal game”—and that’s exactly what unfolded. Berlin, who had beaten the Hungarians twice in the group stage, got off to a flying start, leading 5-1 early and by six goals (17-11) just before halftime, before Veszprem scored four successive goals to close the gap before the break.
The second half turned into an open exchange of blows, with both Berlin and Veszprem having the chance to decide the match in the final ten seconds of regular time. The game went to penalties, and Gidsel sent the Berlin crowd into ecstasy.
Just three and a half weeks ago, Berlin lifted the German Cup trophy, last season they were crowned German champions for the first time, and they have already claimed the World Club Championshio but the Champions League trophy is still missing. Last year, they fell just short in the final against SC Magdeburg.