Coach Bennet Wiegert’s team went straight ahead. At the back, Sergey Hernandez made three saves in the first six minutes, Gisli Kristjansson made a lot of work up front, scoring impressively via Kempa to make it 3-1. However, since two seven-metre shots and a freeman from the outside could not be converted after that, the flow came to a standstill. It was not until the 14th minute that the next goal was scored, Tim Hornke scored the 4:3 with a penalty throw. Lukas Mertens increased from the flank only a few seconds later.
In the 19th minute, one of many turnovers was provoked and Magnus Saugstrup successfully counter-attacked. Result: 8:5 for Magdeburg. Apart from the compact defense and the agile attack, however, the finish remained problematic and Veszprém was able to equalize again (9-9, 26th). However, SCM fought hard to gain a small buffer at half-time – not least because Hernandez shone between the posts.
The second half started suboptimally with a time penalty for Elvar Örn Jonsson. This made the game even closer (12-11, 32nd). But the team fought its way through the outnumbering and in the 36th minute Felix Claar restored the old lead (13-11). However, the match remained changeable. The Hungarians closed the gap and even took the lead in the 42nd minute (14-15).
From then on, the momentum was with Veszprém, which gradually extended the lead (19-15, 48th). Especially over the circle, there were problems fending off the defending champions. The Champions League winner has shown again and again in the top games that Magdeburg can do crunch time. In the 56th minute, Hornke reduced the deficit to 20-21, but this time the effort was not enough, in the end the team lost 20-23.
Who SCM will face on Thursday in the third-place match will be decided in the evening in the second semi-final between FC Barcelona and Al Ahly. Kick-off: 8 p.m. (local time). The game will be broadcast on DYN.
Bennet Wiegert: I think we played quite sensibly in the first half, in which we could lead higher at the end if we didn’t give away so much. We then try to collect ourselves in the dressing room. Unfortunately, however, this runs like a red thread through the game. Then comes the energy of Veszprém. We get another chance, but we don’t make it. Then it’s a deserved victory for Veszprém, congratulations for that.
Omar Ingi Magnusson: We had an okay feeling and good energy at the beginning, but we couldn’t bring that into the second half. It is what it is, we have to accept it now.
Referees: Vaclav Horacek/ Jiří Novotny (CZE)
Score: 2-1 (5th), 3-1 (10th), 5-4 (15th), 8-6 (20th), 9-8 (25th), 11-9 (30th) – 12-11 (35th), 14-14 (40th), 15-17 (45th), 16-19 (50th), 19-21 (55th), 20-23 (60th)
SC Magdeburg: Hernandez (10 saves), Mandic; Claar 4, Zechel, Kristjansson 4, Pettersson, Magnusson 1, Hornke 5/5, Jonsson 1, Weber, Lagergren 1, Mertens 2, Saugstrup 2, O’Sullivan, Barthold, Bergendahl
Veszprém: Appelgren (2 saves), Corrales (13 saves); Petrus, Martinovic 2, Descat 2, Hesham, Elísson 1, Ligetvári, Marguc, Cindric 2, Remili 2, ElDeraa 4, Pechmalbec, Gáncs-Pető, Adel 5, Zein 5
