Göppingen reach second straight final

Göppingen reach second straight final

EHF Cup, semi final, second leg:

Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 33:29 (16:13)

First Leg: 32:33 (13:15)

Frisch Auf Göppingen can hope for defending their title in the EHF Cup. After the close away defeat in the first leg of the semi final they beat Rhein Neckar Löwen 33:29 at home. Their final opponent will be decided in the match of US Dunkerque HD Grand Littoral (FRA) vs. SC Magdeburg (GER) on Sunday.

But it was a bitter-sweet victory for Göppingen on Friday evening: Wing player Dragos Oprea was severely injured in the final stage of the match – Frisch Auf fear that a rupture of the crucial ligament occurred. On the other side, Rhein Neckar Löwen again missed their chance for the first ever title in their club history.

Göppingen started brilliant and led 12:5 in minute 15, but later-on they felt the hot breath of the Lions in their back. After the half time score of 16:13 for the host, Löwen were close to equalize being only one goal below in the middle of the second half at 18:19. But in the end Göppingen top scorers Schöne (7 goals) and Horak (10 goals) secured the victory for Göppingen, which had lost both league duels against Löwen before. Top scorer for the away team was Müller with seven goals.

Latest at the score of 27:21 the game and the semi final was decided, though the Löwen could reduce the gap to four goals again four minutes before the end.