Handballers snatch a point against Oldenburg | OneFootball

BVB shone with an outstanding defensive performance in the first half, pulling four goals ahead after just under 20 minutes, but then found themselves trailing in the final phase. Kelly Vollebregt equalised two seconds before the final whistle to make it 27-27, enabling BVB to snatch a point in a thrilling game between two evenly matched teams. It couldn't have been more dramatic. Goalkeepers Sarah Wachter and Madita Kohorst shone for both sides.

The scenario: Finishing the league table in second place was already guaranteed for BVB prior to the meeting with VfL Oldenburg. Nevertheless: "We want to give the fans something to cheer about, so it doesn't matter that we can no longer lose second place," said coach Henk Groener before the game. For Oldenburg, on the other hand, it was all about defending sixth place against TuS Metzingen - or, in the best-case scenario, even moving up to fifth. BVB and Oldenburg had previously met 27 times in the Bundesliga and DHB-Pokal. The Black & Yellows had come out on top 15 times and the Lower Saxons ten times, with two draws. Borussia narrowly won the reverse fixture in Oldenburg at the beginning of January by 28-27.

Personnel matters: Coach Henk Groener had to do without both of his regular pivots: while Emma Olsson has been suffering from a knee injury sustained in the DHB-Pokal Final4 against Bensheim for the last four weeks, Lisa Antl had to undergo dental surgery on Thursday. Captain Alicia Langer was absent due to illness, as she was in the 28-27 win in Bensheim. Lena Degenhardt was also unavailable. Lena Hausherr remains absent (cruciate ligament rupture).

The game: Borussia got off to a good start: Although there was hardly any time to prepare for the game against Oldenburg - the team had only returned from Bensheim in the small hours of Thursday night - it was clear from the very first minute that the Black & Yellows wanted to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Not an easy task, as not only Olsson and Antl had to be replaced in the pivot, but also Langer and Degenhardt in the backcourt. Henk Groener had decided to field Deborah Lassource in the pivot position.

Oldenburg put up a good fight, especially with their famously stingy defence. BVB were just 2-0 up after six minutes. Oldenburg's Merle Lampe scored the first goal for the visitors after seven minutes to bring the score to 2-1. Goals remained in short supply in this hectic, fast-paced game from both sides. Oldenburg, with the ex-Borussia player Madita Kohorst in goal, were well prepared for BVB's passing game and repeatedly intercepted the ball. Merle Lampe equalised after ten minutes to make it 3-3.

The score was 6-6 after 18 minutes, reason enough for Henk Groener to call his first time-out. The coach called for more movement in attack - even without the ball. Goalkeeper Sarah Wachter immediately put this into practice: BVB pulled 9-6 ahead after 20 minutes thanks to a great pass across the length of the court to Kelly Vollebregt. The run continued: it was Kelly Vollebregt again who increased the lead to 12-7 (23). Oldenburg continued to struggle in attack against BVB's solid defence and were denied twice by Sarah Wachter from seven-metre penalties in the first half alone. At the other end, Madita Kohorst saved a seven-metre penalty against Dana Bleckmann. BVB went into the break with a four-goal lead at 14-10.

In the second half, Henk Groener brought on Lara Egeling on the left wing, who increased the lead to 16-12 (33), with Carmen Campos coming on at the back. On the other side, Oldenburg's Head Coach Niels Bötel brought on international Toni-Luisa Reinemann at left-back. BVB's concentration and control of the game were lost, as the team's retreating defence left much to be desired. It was just as well that Sarah Wachter saved her third seven-metre penalty against Merle Lampe. The dogged Oldenburg side were back to within one goal at 18-17 after 40 minutes.

BVB went into crunch time 22-20 in front. However, that meant little. When Pam Korsten reduced the deficit to 23-22 (53) with a seven-metre penalty. BVB's lead was down to just one goal. Four minutes before the final whistle, it was Reinemann who put Oldenburg 26-25 in front for the first time in the evening. After Marie Steffen made it 27-26, the game was almost lost for BVB with 90 seconds remaining, that was Kelly Vollebregt scored the celebrated equaliser to make it 27-27 two seconds before the end.

Game reactions: Sarah Wachter: "In the end, we're happy that we managed to get the point. Madita Kohorst made it difficult for us. Our goal for the play-offs is to reach the final. But sometimes we struggle and we have to stop doing that. We also need to have some easy games that we win by ten goals."

Henk Groener: "It's not a point won or lost, but a point shared. In the first half, we did a great job in defence, but that wasn't the case in the second half. We also missed a lot of chances up front. However, you also have to bear in mind that we were playing without five key players. Overall, we put up a great fight, but that's what characterises the team. That's why I'm happy about this point."

Outlook: The first game of the play-offs is on Easter Saturday (19 April). Henk Groener's team face TuS Metzingen in Wellinghofen. The second leg will take place a week later. The exact timings have not yet been announced.