Strong Thüringer HC advances to the final

The Bundesliga handball players of Thüringer HC have reached the final of the European League for the first time. The team of Head Coach Herbert Müller won its semi-final game against French club JDA Bourgogne Dijon in the Final Four in Graz by a comfortable 35:29 (21:15).

The outstanding Johanna Reichert was the THC's best scorer with 16 goals. In the final on Sunday at 6 p.m., the Thuringians will face the top favorites Ikast Handbold from Denmark, who had previously won their semi-final against the Bundesliga club HSG Blomberg-Lippe by a clear 28:18 (16:6).

Goalkeeper Eckerle strong

The second semi-final was initially much more even. While the THC were particularly dangerous thanks to the brilliant interplay between director Natsuki Aizawa and goalscorer Reichert, the French impressed with their quick transition play. The score was 8:8 after 15 minutes.

The club from Thuringia then became increasingly successful in forcing Dijon into positional attacks. They increasingly won possession, which they converted into fast breaks. As a result, the Bundesliga club pulled six goals ahead by the break. Reichert already had ten goals to her name at this point.

After the break, the Thuringians quickly pulled 26:18 ahead in the 37th minute. Although they then went seven minutes without scoring again, the increasingly strong goalkeeper Dinah Eckerle prevented the French club from getting much closer in this phase. The THC never regained the ease of the first half, but kept Dijon safely at bay at all times.