VfL Gummersbach is shaking up the top of the German handball table with a six-game winning streak.
Gummersbach edged TBV Lemgo Lippe 28-27 in a one-point thriller in Round 24 of the 2025/26 DAIKIN German Mens Handball Bundesliga (HBL) at the SCHWALBE arena in Gummersbach on March 5.
The win moved Gummersbach to 15-3-5 (33 points), putting them sixth in the standings but just one point behind fourth-place Lemgo Lippe (34), intensifying the race for the top positions.
Gummersbach grabbed control from the opening whistle. Goals from Miro Schluroff and Ellidi Vidarsson, along with several saves from goalkeeper Dominik Kuzmanović, put them up 2-0 early.
Midway through the first half Lemgo Lippe fought back to level at 4-4, but Kay Smits’ powerful 9-meter shot and Kuzmanović’s string of spectacular stops shifted momentum. Between the 17th and 21st minutes Kuzmanović denied four consecutive decisive attempts, helping Gummersbach open a 14-11 lead.
The second half turned into a back-and-forth affair. Lemgo tied it 15-15 early and, with five minutes remaining, flipped the score to lead 26-25, putting heavy pressure on Gummersbach.
At the decisive moment Gummersbach steadied. With the score tied at 27, Kuzmanović’s save and Smits’ interception created the chance for club icon Julian Köster to net a dramatic winner with one minute left, giving Gummersbach a 28-27 lead. The hosts then shut down Lemgo’s final push with disciplined defense to secure two valuable points.
Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson told the club website, “It was a tough, physical match with a lot of fouls, but I’m very happy we won. We struggled late after missing a few chances, but I’m satisfied we came away with two points.”
Florian Kehrmann, Lemgo Lippe’s head coach, said, “Congratulations to Gummersbach. Our players gave everything and there’s nothing to criticize. It’s just painful to lose.”
[Yongpil Kim, MK Sports reporter]
