Waspo 98 Hannover successfully defended the title of the German champion.
Hannover dominated the final series (best-of-five) of the 100th edition of the German League. Waspo recorded the wins in the first three games for a 3:0 score in the series. The reigning champion opened the series with a 12:6 victory over Spandau in Hannover on Wednesday. This weekend, the final was moved to Berlin. But, Spandau (1st-placed team in the regular season) couldn’t record at least one win on home soil and extend the series. Waspo edged out Spandau on Saturday (9:8). Today, Hannover secured a win before the end of the game (10:7).
Waspo Hannover has won three trophies in the German League, but this club was founded in 2012, after the fusion of the clubs SV Wasserfreunde 1898 Hannover and Wassersport Hannover-Linden. SV Wasserfreunde 1898 Hannover won 8 titles in the German League (the last one in 1948). Hannover-Linden was the national champion once (1993). So, this season’s trophy is, actually, Hannover’s 12th title.
Before the finals, Spandau and Waspo met three times this season. Spandau recorded narrow wins in both games in the regular season (8:7 and 6:5), but Hannover was better in the first water polo game for a trophy in Germany. Hannover clinched the German Super Cup with an 8:6 victory over Spandau.
Many expected hard battles in the finals, but only one match was exciting.
2020/21 German League, playoffs
Final (best-of-five)
1st game
Waspo Hannover – Spandau 04 12:6 (2:1, 4:2, 2:2, 4:1)
Waspo 98 Hannover: Corusic 3, Radovic 3, Nagaev 2, Real 1, Da. Brguljan 1 Muslim 1, M. Brguljan 1.
Spandau: Kholod 2, Cagalj 1, Jungling 1, Strelezkij 1, Dedovic 1.
Hannover dictated the pace in the first game and earned a 7:3 lead in the third period. Spandau halved the distance in the 21st minute (5:7), but the hosts rebuilt a 4-goal advantage shortly after (9:5) and controlled the game until the end.
2nd game
Spandau 04 – Waspo Hannover 8:9 (2:1, 0:3, 2:0, 4:5)
Spandau 04: Kholod 3, Cuk 2, Jungling 1, Dedovic 1, Stamm 1.
Waspo 98: Muslim 2, Schutze 2, Winkelhorst 2, Radovic 1, Da.Brguljan 1, Nagaev 1.
Waspo led for most of the second game, but the teams were tied at 4:4 before the final quarter. By the middle of the fourth period, Hannover earned a 6:4 lead. Spandau equalized (6:6) with three and 42 seconds to go. However, the visitors responded with two goals for 8:6. The Berliners came close once more in the 31st minute (7:8). Still, Petar Muslim doubled Hannover’s advantage (9:7) 41 seconds before the end, and everything was decided.
3rd game
Spandau 04 – Waspo Hannover 7:10 (3:2, 1:3, 1:3,2:2)
Spandau 04: Strelezkij 2, Kholod 2, Dedovic 1, Restovic 1, Gielen 1.
Waspo 98 Hannover: Da.Brguljan 2, Radovic 2, Nagaev 2, Corusic 1, Real 1, Muslm 1, Winkelhorst 1.
Today, Spandau start well in the third game and led 3:2 (6th minute). Still, Hannover responded with three straight goals and earned a 5:3 lead. The visitors streched the margin to three in the third quarter (7:4 , 8:5) and kept the distance until the final buzzer.
Hannover retains the title, but Spandau 04 remains the absolute record-holder, as it won 37 national crowns. Since 1979, Spandau hasn’t been the champion only in six seasons (1993, 2006, 2013, 2018, and 2020,2021).
All champions (1912 – 2021): Spandau 37, Rotte Erde Hamm 11, WF 98 Hannover 8, Hellas Magdeburg 8, Duisburger SV 98 7, ASC Duisburg 6, Wurzburg 05 5, SSF Barmen 4, Waspo 98 Hannover 3, Germania 1887 Berlin 2, Weissensee 96 2, Frankfurter SV 1, Nikar Heidelberg 1, Luftwaffen SV Berlin 1, Wiener Amateur SV 1, Bayern Nurnberg 1, Waspo Hannover-Linden 1, SV Cannstatt 1.
Playoffs for 3rd place (best-of-three)
1st game
OSC Potsdam – ASC Duisburg 16:14 (3:2, 5:3, 5:4, 3:5)
OSC Potsdam: Kuppers 6, Zech 3, Huppe 2, Seifert 1, Costa 1, Tadin 1, Fer. Korbel 1, Ulrich 1.
ASC Duisburg: Tanaskovic 8, Kilibarda 2, Manolakis 1, Reibel 1, Grohs 1, Gansen 1.
2nd game
ASC Duisburg – OSC Potsdam 12:13 (4:3, 2:3, 1:4, 5:3)
ASC Duisburg: Eidner 4,Bakulo 3, Tanaskovic 2,Reibel 1, Grohs 1, Kilibarda 1.
OSC Potsdam: Kuppers 4, Zech 4,Huppe 2, Schulz 2,Gottfried 1.
OSC Potsdam won the bronze medal, after two wins over Duisburg in very balanced games of the playoffs for 3rd place.
