SC DHfK Leipzig loses last home game of the year

The Bundesliga handball team SC DHfK Leipzig suffered its third consecutive defeat in a competitive game. In the last home game of the year, the team of Head Coach Runar Sigtryggsson deservedly lost 32:35 (18:19) to VfL Gummersbach on Sunday afternoon. In front of 4328 spectators, Viggo Kristjansson and Franz Semper were the best scorers for SC DHfK, who are in ninth place with 15:19 points. National player Luca Witzke made a brief comeback in the first half after his thigh injury, which had kept him out of action since the beginning of October, but had to pull out and did not play in the second half.

Both teams immediately found their rhythm in offense and produced a fast-paced exchange of blows with many goals on the counter-attack up to 6:6 (10th minute). When the game calmed down a little and Leipzig was increasingly forced into positional attacks, however, it lacked bright ideas. In particular, their play from the circle left a lot to be desired. Gummersbach consequently opened up a 10:6 gap (15th minute) with four goals in a row. However, when VfL let its concentration slip in the final phase of the first half, the home side immediately punished that and closed the gap to one goal by the break.

The visitors got off to the better start in the second half. Led by the outstanding Dominik Mappes, who shone as a playmaker and scorer, they pulled 27:21 ahead by the 43rd minute. They also benefited from slight mistakes by SC DHfK. After a timeout by Sigtryggsson, Leipzig stepped up its defending and fought its way back to 27:30 in the 51st minute. However, VfL was not impressed by that and struck back with three goals in succession to make it 33:27 (51'). Although the home side did not give up, it was no longer able to get within striking distance in the final spell.