Handball-Bundesliga season with a hard-fought 24–23 victory over GWD Minden at the Quarterback Immobilien Arena, according to club reports. Nationalesplayer Franz Semper secured the win for the hosts by scoring the decisive goal just three seconds before the final buzzer in front of 3,531 spectators.
A Defensively Fierce Opening Match
The top-tier relegation clash developed into an intense defensive battle from the opening whistle, with both squads applying heavy pressure and both goalkeepers recording numerous stops. According to match reports, Leipzig held three-goal advantages in both halves—leading 10–7 and later 16–13—only to watch Minden erase the deficits each time.
Semper’s Late-Game Heroics Rescue Leipzig
Franz Semper and teammate Matej Klíma began the match on the bench after entering the final training week with minor injuries, allowing Blaer Hinriksson and newcomer Finn Schroven to earn spots in the starting lineup. Staffan Peter scored Leipzig’s first second-division goal in over eleven years to make it 1-0, while new goalkeeper Andin Suljakovic anchored an early defensive stand that built a 5–3 lead.
Both goalkeepers ultimately finished the match with 17 saves apiece, locking down the goal during a tense final five minutes. After Hinriksson tied the match at 22–22 and Karolis Antanavičius put Minden back in front at 23–22, Semper broke his scoreless night by netting the equalizer with 60 seconds left, followed by his game-winner off the inside post in the final seconds.
Coach Reactions and Statistics
GWD Minden coach Aaron Ziercke noted that his team suffered from missed opportunities on open shots. According to Ziercke, both goalkeepers played exceptionally well in a tight match that could have gone either way. SC DHfK Leipzig coach Frank Carstens emphasized the physical nature of the contest, stating that his team fought until the final whistle to secure the points.
For Leipzig, Finn Schroven and Staffan Peter led the scoring with five goals apiece, while Blaer Hinriksson added four. Morten Hempel Jensen paced Minden with seven goals, supported by five from Karolis Antanavičius. Leipzig converted two of two seven-meter attempts, matching Minden’s two from two efficiency from the penalty line.
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