Barça 34-35 Füchse Berlín: Loss in extra time
The Barça handball team have fallen just short of reaching the Super Globe 2023 final after losing to 34-35 to Füchse Berlín in extra time. They will now play in the 3rd/4th place playoff game on Sunday.
First half parity
Despite nine saves by Neilsen, Füchse Berlín managed to spend more time in the lead in the first half, five goals by Gidsel helping the Germans to an 8-12 lead (min. 16).
The Catalans reacted, however, scoring four without reply, including two goals by Javi Rodríguez (12-12, min 19). The side from Berlin again went ahead by two, but Barça stepped up in the defence and there was all to play for in the second half. Score at the break 16-16.
Barça unable to extend lead
A quick score by N'Guessan (17-16, min 31) encouraged the Catalans to make the most of a tentative restart by Füchse to extend their lead (20-17, min 37).
The lead was never as solid as needed though, as Füchse Berlín kept battling away, with the score 28-27 after 56 minutes. Richardson scored with three minutes to go for +2 in the Catalans' favour, but young goalkeeper Lasse Ludwig breathed life into Füchse, saving a Wanne penalty with less than 10 seconds to go to force extra time (30-30, min 60).
Füchse come through in extra time
Barça managed to grab the lead again through Richardson and Aleix, but the lead at half time in extra time was only 31-30. Füchse made the most of Petrus' suspension to go back ahead (32-33, min 68), which is where they stayed for the rest of the game, and a goal by Lichtlein 15 seconds from the end proved the winner. Final score 34-35.
GAME STATS
BARÇA, 34
FÜCHSE BERLÍN, 35
Barça: Nielsen, Petrus (1), Carlsbogard (1), Mem (4), Frade (6), Janc (1), Wanne (5) - starting seven - Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (sg), Valera (2), N'Guessan (6), Richardson (2), Petar Cikusa (2), Javi Rodríguez (2), Aleix Gómez (1), Ariño (1).
Füchse Berlín: Dejan Milosavljev; Lasse Ludwig (sg); Mathias Gidsel (10), Hans Lindberg (8), Jerry Tollbring (6), Lasse Andersson (5), Matthes Langhoff (4), Nils Lichtlein (2), Marko Kopljar, Mijajlo Marsenic, Jann Keno Jacobs, Tim Freihöfer, Silas Overby, Hakun West Av Teigum, Moritz Sauter.
Partial scores: 3-3, 6-7, 8-11, 12-13, 15-15, 16-16 (half-time), 19-17, 20-18, 23-22, 26-25, 27-26, 29-29 (end of normal time) / Extra-time: 31-30, 34-35.
Referees: Kleven Havard, Jorum Lars. Yellow card for Marsenic from Füchse. Suspensions: Mijajlo Marsenic (x2), Marko Kopljar, Lasse Anderson and Mathias Gidsel from Füchse; and Petar Cikusa, Dika Mem, Richardson, Frade and Petrus from Barça.