SC Magdeburg Crowned Champions: Thrilling Victory in the Handball Champions League Final

2023-06-19 09:15:23

As of June 18, 2023, 8:10 p.m

After 21 years, the SC Magdeburg handball players are again the handball kings in Europe. In a nerve-racking final, the Wiegert team brought Kielce to their knees in extra time.

There’s the thing! SC Magdeburg has won the Champions League. In a final that could hardly be surpassed in terms of tension, the people from the Elbestadt prevailed against Kielce with 30:29 after extra time and are winners in the premier class for the first time since 2002.

Kristjansson on board – SCM lagging behind after a strong start

The first big surprise came before the game. Gisli Kristjansson was in the SC Magdeburg squad despite his shoulder injury. Thunderous applause from the fans in Cologne. And Magdeburg got off to a good start, leading 4-1 after six minutes. After that, last year’s finalist from Poland came into play better, which was characterized by a high pace.

Especially Kielce’s keeper Andreas Wolff ran hot, the result: 6:6 after twelve minutes. Then he actually came after 18 minutes, Gisli Kristjansson and scored to make it 7:6. But Kielce came back, especially Alex Duschebayev could hardly be caught. It was gripping, dramatic and very tight. Kielce pulled away a little, but SCM with the incredible Kristjansson (three goals before the break) fought back. With a 13:15 for the Polish champions, it was time for the dressing room.

Gisli Thorgeir Kristjansson in action for SC Magdeburg Image rights: IMAGO / Jan Huebner

Kielce pulls away – SCM saves in extra time

And Kielce also came out better, improved the result and led by four goals (14:18/35.). But the SCM didn’t give up, the first reaction was shown by keeper Nikola Portner, who parried a seven meter throw and then a heavy ball, the SCM came back to 16:18. But then the Magdeburg team failed again because of Wolff and it was still tight. Duschebayev, with its incredible class and variability, just couldn’t get hold of the SCM. There were two goals behind (20:22/48.) and the connection just didn’t want to fall.

Michael Damgaard throwing a goal. Image rights: IMAGO / Jan Huebner

After that, the hall went very quiet after a spectator collapsed. After a 13-minute break, the SCM finally managed to catch up to 21:22. And Portner surpassed himself, and up front Matthias Musche equalized! And in the 26th minute, after winning the ball, Christian O’Sullivan actually managed the first lead to 25:24. And it got highly dramatic, Kielce equalized and took the lead again with less than two minutes left on the clock. In addition, O’Sullivan conceded a time penalty because of a faulty substitution. Nevertheless, the SCM fought its way into overtime with a 26:26.

Magdeburg has better nerves

Now the SCM wanted to win, took the lead in extra time and grabbed a little more from behind. After the first five minutes, the SCM was leading 28:27. And thanks to Damgaard, the SCM pulled ahead by two goals. And the people of Magdeburg couldn’t take that anymore. After the final whistle all the dams broke.

Voices on the triumph of the SCM

Bennet Wiegert (SC Magdeburg coach): “It’s unreal. We all dreamed of it. I’ll never understand what this team has achieved throughout the season. It’s unbelievable.”

Andreas Michelmann (President DHB): “What SC Magdeburg has achieved is outstanding and a sporting fairy tale. No matter what setbacks this team had to cope with – they always came back.”

Andreas Wolff (Keeper Kielce): “The SCM are a fantastic team with a huge character. They showed that again today, that’s why they won with a goal.”

The big goal has been reached: SC Magdeburg is the Champions League winner! Image rights: IMAGO / Vitalii Kliuiev

Third place goes to Barcelona

Record winner FC Barcelona had previously secured third place. One day after the semi-final defeat against SC Magdeburg, the Catalan handball team beat Paris St. Germain in a one-sided game 37:31 (22:13).

Barcelona had little trouble against Paris. Image rights: IMAGO / Newspix