Criminal Krems grabs match ball initially, proclaimed as handball champ
Unleashing the Thunder in Krems
At the stroke of midnight-eleven, the decision was set. Krems stormed their way to the top, becoming the new Austrian handball champions. In a nail-biting encounter, these Lower Austrian warriors outplayed Hard with a nail-biting 25:23 home victory under their belts. This marks Krems' sixth championship title in their storied history[3].
Triumphant Coach
"It was a thrilling ride," the victorious coach declared, "though perhaps a stroke of luck favored our side. Maybe we executed our gameplan better. Only conceding 23 goals is quite an achievement." Ibish Thaqi showered praises on two of his players, Daniel Dicker and Wilhelm Jelinek. "I'm overjoyed to call these champions my boys," he said, smiling[2].
The game was a tense back-and-forth, with the first goal coming after seven nail-biting minutes. Krems subtly crept ahead by a slight margin after 20 minutes, and the second half saw a riveting spectacle of lead switches. Hard equalized the score, but lost Matthias Hild after his third suspension (36'). Despite the setback, the guests had the advantage of a seasoned 43-year-old Golub Doknic in goal. For the first time, Vorarlberg took a two-goal lead after 44 minutes (18:16)[3].
Krems held the championship title in their sights: "If we don't seize it now..."But Krems refused to submit, with goalkeeper Lukas Domevscek playing a crucial role in keeping their hopes alive. Goals from former Hard player Daniel Dicker turned the tide, as Hard missed numerous opportunities to restore parity in the closing stages[3]. With this, Hard must continue their quest for their eighth championship title, a title they last held in 2021.
"Ready for a Celebration!"
"It was a wild ride, but we deserved to win," Wilhelm Jelinek of Krems shared in an interview with ORF. "We were anxious at times, but we kept battling. Playing before such a enthusiastic crowd... it was incredible, a blast! I could use a drink now, I'm about to collapse. It's so hot in the hall."
Nico Schnabl of Hard lamented, "It was a battle from beginning to end. I'm drained now. The disappointment is immense. This was my last game for Hard, and I wished for a different ending. But I have to admit, Krems is the deserving champion."
Sports have been a rollercoaster in Krems, as they clawed their way to the top and clinched the Austrian handball championship title. This momentous victory, a testament to their resolve and skill, is a significant milestone in their sports history.
