Now Brucks TuS handball players are already winning their rather weak games. Against the Bundesliga reserve of the Mannheim Rhein-Neckar Löwen was a 26:25 (13:11) success. Because pursuer Pfullingen failed again, the Panther's lead in the third division table is now eight points.
Fürstenfeldbruck - In the opinion of Panther coach Martin Wild, the most beautiful story of the game was not the narrow victory in the thriller in front of almost 1000 spectators in the sold-out Wittelsbacher Halle. "It was written by Max Horner." Eight months after his cruciate ligament rupture, the left-hander slipped back into the TuS jersey and had an equal share in the tremor victory with four goals. "I can not complain about my comeback," said the returnee modestly. He felt safe - also because he had been training again for a long time. "However, game and training is of course still a difference." That is why Horner was allowed to gain his first practice in the Bayernliga reserve a week before his third division appearance - and was there when the little Panthers celebrated their first win of the season.
While the left-hander showed that he could strengthen Brucker on the way to the title, the rest of the group could not build on the performance of the previous weeks. "It wasn't one of our best games," Wild admitted. His protégés were too hesitant and too agile, especially when attacking. And despite a convincing 7: 3 lead after almost ten minutes. But after that, the Panthers struggled to come to a clear conclusion against the Mannheim defense.
On the other hand, Philipp Ahouansou showed why he is currently considered the greatest talent in German handball. The 18-year-old giant in the back area kept causing problems for the Bruckers and gave goalkeepers Michael Luderschmid and Markus Winkler ten goals. The panther skins actually seemed to swim away a good eight minutes before the end. The Rhein-Neckar Löwen had equalized the deficit and even took the lead with 22:21. The Mannheim hits 19 to 22 were accounted for by Ahouansou.
At first glance, the Panther seemed unsettled. When I looked a second time, however, the huge self-confidence of the leader of the table was revealed. Because instead of a psychological crack, the backlog gave the bruckers a kind of wake-up call. In a true crime thriller, they took over the game again and saved the narrow 26:25 lead over time.
In the end, returning Horner hit the nail not only on sport, but also on the head with his analysis: the lions had dragged the game, which the TuS had not benefited, said the left-hander. "But in the end it went well again." Especially since the pursuers from Pfullingen in Oppenweiler only played a draw despite the lead. Nevertheless: The dream of promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga can only be fulfilled for a champion through a relegation round lasting up to three games.