Home defeat for HSG Varel: Nervousness stops promotion dreams!

Home defeat for HSG Varel: Nervousness stops promotion dreams!

In the first home game after promotion to the third division, HSG Varel suffered a bitter setback. Coach Arek Blacha's team lost 28:33 (12:13) against VfL Fredenbeck late on Saturday evening in the Manfred Schmidt sports hall. Almost 740 spectators watched the promoted duel and saw a game that was characterized by nervousness and many inaccuracies. Blacha himself described the nervousness of his players as the main reason for the defeat and criticized both the inefficient attacking performance and the problems in defense, which caused great dissatisfaction.

It was a tight box from the start. Varel managed to briefly take a 3-2 lead (10th minute) before Fredenbeck took over the reins. The guests pulled away by three goals several times during the first half, with their biggest lead being 9:12 in the 26th minute. Fredenbeck's offensive power, especially the backcourt players, always made Varel's defense look old. Goalkeeper Frederick Lüpke made several strong saves in the first half, but could not prevent Fredenbecker's creeping dominance.

The course of the game

The encounter took a turn in the second half when Varel briefly took the lead 14:13 (32nd minute). But that momentum quickly faded when Luca de Boer received a red card in the 40th minute. This was a heavy blow for the team, which despite all their efforts was unable to catch up. The final score of 28:33 was sealed by the incessant pushing of the Fredenbeckers, who were praised for their performance by their coach Matthias Steinkamp.

Last season, with an impressive series of 12 wins and one draw in the regional league, HSG Varel's transition to the new level of the third league is noticeable. But every defeat also has learning potential. “We have to work even harder on our mentality,” said Blacha after the game. The HSG will play again next Saturday against TSG A-H Bielefeld and has the chance to make amends.

A look at the league

It is important to note that the third division is very competitive. In this league, the teams fight for the best placements in the first and second rounds, which can ultimately lead to promotion. The first two places in each season qualify for the promotion round, from which a total of two promoted teams emerge. DHB also informs that the last three placed in each season are relegated to the regional leagues. An unpleasant scenario that could stir things up in Varel if the team doesn't stabilize soon.

It remains to be hoped that HSG Varel can learn from the defeat and perform better in the coming games so as not to jeopardize its own ambitions in the fight for promotion in the third division. A successful start to the new league was intended differently, but the upcoming encounter now offers the opportunity to take the first step in the right direction.