Thüringer HC advances to the Final Four

The Bundesliga handball club Thüringer HC can continue to dream of winning the European League title. Although the team of Head Coach Herbert Müller lost the quarter-final second leg at Romanian club SCM Ramnicu Valcea by 30:32 (14:16) on Sunday afternoon, it still booked its place in the Final Four in Graz (May 3-4) thanks to its 35:29 victory in the first leg. Johanna Reichert was the THC's best scorer with eleven goals.

Both teams got off to a nervous start to the game. The Thuringians did not score their first goal until the sixth minute. After that, the fourth-placed team in the Bundesliga gained more and more confidence and impressed with its variable attacking play. As a result, the visitors, led by Natsuki Aizawa, who directed the play brilliantly, pulled 14:11 ahead in the 21st minute.

Break in THC's play shortly before the break

However, there was then a break in THC's play. The Romanian club produced a 5:0 run to take a 16:14 lead at half-time and quickly stretched the gap to 18:14 after the break, before Julie Holm ended the Thuringians' 12-minute scoring drought. However, Ramnicu Valcea kept the momentum, developed more drive on goal and pulled 27:20 ahead by the 47th minute.

After a timeout by Müller, the Thuringians regained more structure in attack and also improved their retreat. Reichert now took on more and more responsibility on the break and pulled the visitors back to 26:30 in the 53rd minute. Goalkeeper Dinah Eckerle also shone in the final phase with several strong saves to secure the THC's deserved place in the semi-finals.