After a 28:22 win, Rhein-Neckar Löwen qualify as second team for the EHF Cup Final
Rhein-Neckar Löwen join nantes in the final
The game between the two German teams started in a very defensive style. Both goalkeepers, Primoz Prost for Göppingen and Niklas Landin for Rhein-Neckar were in good shape, meaning that the score was only 2:2 after ten minutes played.
But soon, the players in yellow found their way into the game while Niklas Landin was carrying on at the same pace, helping his team scoring a 5:0 to put Rhein-Neckar five goals ahead.
Kim Ekdahl du Rietz and Stefan Sigurmannsson had great success while Göppingen players Momir Rnic and Zarko Markovic were silenced by Rhein-Neckar defence.
Frisch Auf Göppingen went back to the dressing room with a five goals deficit, 7:12.
Göppingen tried their best at the beginning of the second half to cut back the deficit.
They increased their pressure, but somehow in the wrong way, as they got four 2 minutes penalty in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Being one player down is not the easiest way to play and Göppingen made to many mistakes giving Myrrhol and Groetzki the chance to prevent a return from their opponent.
Rhein-Neckar Löwen lead by seven goals at the 45th minute.
Even if Bastian Rutschmann did a great entry for Göppingen by the end of the game, Rhein-Neckar won by 28:22.
Statements from the press conference
Gudmundur Gudmunsson (coach Rhein-Neckar Löwen) : I want to congratulate Göppingen, who have got a great team and made a good game. We've had a very strong defence today and Landin was at his top. We played very well evrywhere on the court. We've been patient in the offence.I'm sad about Sesum's injury, we don't know what he's got but I hope it's not too serious.
Uwe Gensheimer (player Rhein-Neckar Löwen): We won thanks to our defence. We had atheir backcourt players under control and the defence-goalkeeper mix gave us a good game. We managed to score easy goals in the second half. I'm happy to take part in this final but it wiill be tough against Nantes".
Velimir Pekovic (coach Frisch Auf Göppingen): Rhein Neckar Löwen were better and we must congratulate them for their great game.I wish them good luck for tomorrow.
Michael Haass (player Frisch Auf Göppingen): Rhein-Neckar Löwen had a very strong defence and a very effective offence. On our side, our offence had great difficulties and our defence didn't win any of the fights. Rhein-Neckar Löwen were simply better. We'll try our best to win tomorrow, but we're very disappointed at the moment.
Photos: Stephane Pillaud
TEXT:
Kevin Domas/jw