The German Championship is coming to an end.
The semifinals of the playoffs were held last weekend. There were no surprises. Reigning champion Wasi Hannover and Spandau 04 advanced to the final.
Hannover beat ASC Duisburg in both matches of the semifinals, while Spandau was better than OSC Potsdam.
2020/21 German League, playoffs
Semifinals (best-of-two)
1st leg
ASC Duisburg – Waspo 98 Hannover 11:16 (5:5, 4:5, 1:3, 1:3)
ASC Duisburg: Eidner 2, Reibel 2, Tanaskovic 2, Bakulo 2, Illinger 1, Rompf 1, Manolakis 1.
Waspo: Radovic 5, Nagaev 3, D.Brguljan 2, Schutze 2, Winkelhorst 2, Corusic 1, Real 1.
OSC Potsdam – Spandau 04 6:14 (0:3, 3:4, 0:3, 3:4)
OSC: Kuppers 3, Schulz 2, Korbel 1.
Spandau 04: Dedovic 3, Cagalj 2, Kholod 2, Restovic 2, Chiru 2, Cuk 1, Strelezkij 1, Stamm 1.
2nd leg
Spandau 04 – OSC Potsdam 12:6 (2:2, 1:2, 4:0, 4:2)
Spandau 04: Kholod 4, Gielen 2, Cagalj 1, Jungling 1, Dedovic 1, Restovic 1, Chiru 1.
OSC Potsdam: Tadin 2, Zech 2, Kuppers 1, Schulz 1.
Waspo 98 Hannover – ASC Duisburg 19:5 (5:0, 7:1, 5:2, 2:2)
Waspo: Radovic 5, Nagaev 4, Schutze 4, Kubisch 3, Corusic 1, Macan 1, Muslim 1.
ASC Duisburg: Eidner 1, Manolakis 1, Gergelyfi 1, Gansen 1, Rompf 1.
Favorites recorded convincing wins in both semifinal legs, but their opponents didn’t surrender easily.
ASC Duisburg had a slim lead several times (2:1, 3:2, 4:3) in the opening minute of the first match against Hannover. The hosts kept up with the title-holder until 8:8. Then, Hannover, led by Aleksandar Radovic (5 goals), took control. The second match lacked excitement. Waspo rushed to a 7:0 lead and everything was clear. Aleksandar Radovic was the best scorer again. He scored five goals, just like in the 1st leg.
Spandau 04 cruised to a win over Potsdam in the first game (14:6). Potsdam played very well in the first half of the second match and had a 4:3 advantage at the middle break. But, Spandau knocked down the visitors with a 4:0 series in the third period. The Berliners reached the final of the German Championship for the 28th time in a row.
The final will be a best-of-five series.
