Maldonado secures a goal as the game ends. - Foxes present BHC with a concluding match-up
In an unexpected turn of events, the Berlin Foxes were defeated by the Bergisch HC with a score of 29:20 (16:15), marking their first loss in the capital after seven years and three months. This also meant they couldn't have stayed undefeated at home alongside champions Magdeburg.
But, it was Eloy Morante Maldonado who clinched the victory for the BHC at the last second.
Noah Beyer from Dyn remarked, "We never lost faith in ourselves and kept on fighting."
Meanwhile, the relegation candidate, BHC, found out just two hours before the match that HSV Hamburg would receive a license, albeit with conditions. Now, it's clear what the BHC will do on Friday. There's a possibility they'll head to a regular court. Their general manager, Jörg Foeste, had already announced this earlier.
The BHC will certainly get out of this predicament one more time, and will face Flensburg in a standoff for a chance to remain in the Liqui Moly Handball Bundesliga during the weekend.
The match remained tight in the hands of the Berliners twice, leading by four goals (16:12/29.) and (26:22/48.). The 8,518 fans present at the Max-Schmeling-Hall had come to cheer for Hans Lindberg (42) at his final home game and his 499th match. And the veteran scored eight goals but also missed two seven-meters.
The rest of the team looked exhausted. The Foxes were three goals behind in the second half (18:21/41. and 24:27/54.) and committed an unusual number of missed shots and technical errors. Only the two red cards against Frederik Ladefoged (42.) and Lukas Stutzke (56.) brought the Berliners back in the game.
Yet, it wasn't enough for a win.
The Berliners still made a celebration, saying goodbye not only to Lindberg but also to three other players: Viktor Kireev (37 - he's moving to St. Petersburg), Marko Kopljar (38 - retiring), and Jann Keno Jacobs (22). Lindberg stepped on the podium, held his sons Aron (8) and Carl (5) beside him, had his wife Jeanette in his arms, received a replica of the championship trophy from 2011 from former HSV boss Andreas Rudolph. He then pulled his jersey under the hall roof.
Lindberg, overcome with emotion and a strained voice: "I will miss you all - the fans, the Schmeling-Halle, my team, the club, the city. I've enjoyed and loved every day here to attend training and play. You've all grown into my heart. I'll keep you in my heart forever."
Bob Hanning (42) at the hall microphone: "We're losing not only a party manager in the club, but also a fantastic personality who has always put himself at the service of the team and the club. He's one of the remarkable and showy players we've ever had in the Bundesliga."
Read also:
- Will Topp be the next Terodde?
- Kompany's Relation to Schenk Explained:
- Permission granted for HSV.
- Millions demanded by HSV handball athletes.
