Dramatic Last-Second Victory: Magdeburg Secures Final Four Spot in Champions League
Magdeburg narrowly misses securing a spot in the Final Four by two seconds.
A thrilling final two seconds sealed the deal for SC Magdeburg as they snatched a place in the Final Four of the Champions League. Trailing KC Veszprem by four goals with just ten minutes left in the return leg, the German handball giants staged an improbable comeback to edge out the Hungarian top club 28:27.
Having drawn the first leg 26:26, the Bennet Wiegert-coached team capitalized on the tense final moments to secure their third consecutive berth in the Cologne final tournament, scheduled for June 14 and 15. Gisli Kristjansson bagged the winning goal in the dying seconds, pushing Magdeburg ahead for the first time since the 57th minute.
With Felix Claar scoring a game-high nine goals, Magdeburg clawed their way back from a precarious position, defying all odds and breaking Hungarian hearts.
A Tale of Ten Incredible Minutes
Amid the pulsating, sell-out atmosphere of Magdeburg's cauldron, Veszprem quickly established a four-goal cushion. Yet, the tenacious German side refused to crumble, fighting back to draw level at 10:10 (20.). Even at half-time, the visitors refused to let the home side pull away.
The second half brought opportunities for Magdeburg, with a missed chance to take the lead (34.) proving costly. Undeterred, Veszprem punished Magdeburg's frustrating misses, extending their lead to four goals by the 50th minute. However, the underdogs refused to yield, clawing their way back and taking the lead for the first time.
Despite Veszprem equalizing in the final minute, they missed the chance to seal the deal. With 14 seconds remaining on the clock, Wiegert called a timeout that ultimately proved decisive, as Kristjansson sealed the victory with a last-second goal.
Savor the Drama
According to Magnus Saugstrup Jensen, the last ten minutes were "incredible," as "as long as we keep fighting, we have a chance to win." The spine-tingling comeback by Magdeburg ensured they followed in the footsteps of fellow German handball champions, the Berlin Füchse, who were left speechless by their own heroics in the Danish Gala.
[Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid]
- Handball
- Magdeburg
Enrichment Data:SC Magdeburg secured a place in the EHF Champions League Final Four with a dramatic comeback against Telekom Veszprém in the quarterfinals of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2024/25. The decisive match was the second leg, where Magdeburg faced a four-goal deficit with only 10 minutes remaining. However, they staged an incredible recovery, ultimately winning the game 28:27. The key moment came with a buzzer-beating goal by Þórir Ólafsson Kristjánsson, which sealed Magdeburg's victory and their third consecutive appearance in the Final Four, set to take place in Cologne on June 14-15, 2025[2][3]. This tightly contested victory, which mirrored exactly the result Magdeburg needed to advance, showcased the intense competition and the strength of both teams[2]. The match was widely praised for its atmosphere and intensity, reflecting the high stakes and competitive spirit of the Champions League[2].
- Thanks for the thrilling match, it was a nail-biting experience watching SC Magdebus secure their Final Four spot in the Champions League against Telekom Veszprém.
- Coached by Bennet Wiegert, Magdeburg showed their prowess in both handball and football, especially in their dramatic last-second victory over Veszprém, reminding us of the spirit of sports.
- Interestingly, this victory also highlights the parallels between handball and football, as both teams staged dramatic comebacks to secure their victories.
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