The Bundesliga handball club Thüringer HC has once again reached the Final Four of the European League. Although the team of Head Coach Herbert Müller lost the quarter-final second leg against Danish first-division club Nykobing Falster Handbold 36:37 (18:22) in front of its home crowd, it secured progress thanks to the 31:27 first-leg victory. The THC, for whom Johanna Reichert excelled with 15 goals, now has the chance to defend its title from the previous season in Graz on May 16-17.
Aware of the four-goal deficit from the first leg, the visitors immediately stepped up the pace and exploited their chances to score with great efficiency. The THC was able to keep pace in the open exchange of blows up to 9:10 (14th minute), before the Danes pulled away to 15:9 (18th minute) with a 5:0 run.
It was only after the break that the THC clamped down much better in defense. Goalkeeper Laura Kuske also got into the game. As a result, the Thuringians' fast-paced play also gained momentum. With an 8:2 run, they turned a 21:25 deficit into a 29:27 lead by the 44th minute. The visitors countered with four goals in succession, but the THC did not allow the deficit to grow any further in the final spell and so sealed its place in the Final Four.
