October 21, 2009
First defeat of the season
Bayer women lose against Leipzig
The TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen women’s handball team slipped to the first defeat of the season in the Bundesliga blockbuster against HC Leipzig. The team around coach Renate Wolf was edged out 22-20 (13-10) in front of 1200 spectators. Anne Ulbricht (6 goals) and Anja Rösler (8 goals) scored the most goals for Leipzig. Elsewhere, goalkeeper Lena Knipprath and Anne Müller (6 goals) were impressive for the hosts.
The visitors from Leipzig got off to the better start and Leverkusen needed four minutes before getting their first goal of the game. However, with both teams defending well Leipzig managed to hold on to their lead.
Leverkusen continued to have problems up front as the game progressed whereas Leipzig had numerous chances from seven metres which Anja Rösler converted to extend the visitors lead to 8-3 after 17 minutes. Renate Wolf tried to turn the match around by making some changes and the home side managed to reduce the deficit to 9-7 but the visitors punished every single mistake Leverkusen made and managed to build a 12-8 lead which saw Lena Knipprath come into Bayer’s goal.
Knipprath was beaten before touching the ball for the first time but after that proved to be extremely difficult to beat. However, Leipzig goalkeeper Katja Schülke also failed to concede a goal. With 20 seconds left in the first half Heine Jansen called a timeout to give his team instructions for the final attack of the half. The trick paid off as Leipzig extended their lead to 13-10 on the stroke of half-time.
Both teams were evenly matched in the second half but Leipzig managed to defend their slim lead which can also be put down to some bad luck for Laura Steinback. Goals remained few are far between with both goalkeepers in excellent form. Nonetheless, the visitors managed to extend their lead to 19-14 with ten minutes left on the clock which prompted Renate Wolf to call a timeout.
Leverkusen defended more aggressively and the home side managed to close the gap to 20-19 with some excellent attacks on the break. Now it was Heine Jensen’s turn to react. He called a timeout with four minutes left to play.
Leipzig managed to score next und the final minutes were full of action. Anne Leoper was fouled with only the goalkeeper left to beat and decided to take the following seven metre herself after requiring treatment but failed to beat Katja Schülke. Over at the other end Leipzig also had a chance to seal victory with a seven metre but Clara Woltering denied Renate Urne. Leverkusen pushed hard for an equaliser but Karolina Kudlacz finally cemented Leipzig’s victory with a last-minute goal.
The visitors from Leipzig got off to the better start and Leverkusen needed four minutes before getting their first goal of the game. However, with both teams defending well Leipzig managed to hold on to their lead.
Leverkusen continued to have problems up front as the game progressed whereas Leipzig had numerous chances from seven metres which Anja Rösler converted to extend the visitors lead to 8-3 after 17 minutes. Renate Wolf tried to turn the match around by making some changes and the home side managed to reduce the deficit to 9-7 but the visitors punished every single mistake Leverkusen made and managed to build a 12-8 lead which saw Lena Knipprath come into Bayer’s goal.
Knipprath was beaten before touching the ball for the first time but after that proved to be extremely difficult to beat. However, Leipzig goalkeeper Katja Schülke also failed to concede a goal. With 20 seconds left in the first half Heine Jansen called a timeout to give his team instructions for the final attack of the half. The trick paid off as Leipzig extended their lead to 13-10 on the stroke of half-time.
Both teams were evenly matched in the second half but Leipzig managed to defend their slim lead which can also be put down to some bad luck for Laura Steinback. Goals remained few are far between with both goalkeepers in excellent form. Nonetheless, the visitors managed to extend their lead to 19-14 with ten minutes left on the clock which prompted Renate Wolf to call a timeout.
Leverkusen defended more aggressively and the home side managed to close the gap to 20-19 with some excellent attacks on the break. Now it was Heine Jensen’s turn to react. He called a timeout with four minutes left to play.
Leipzig managed to score next und the final minutes were full of action. Anne Leoper was fouled with only the goalkeeper left to beat and decided to take the following seven metre herself after requiring treatment but failed to beat Katja Schülke. Over at the other end Leipzig also had a chance to seal victory with a seven metre but Clara Woltering denied Renate Urne. Leverkusen pushed hard for an equaliser but Karolina Kudlacz finally cemented Leipzig’s victory with a last-minute goal.