Gelnhausen vs Huttenberg

Gelnhausen, competing a tier below their regional rivals, exploded out of the blocks in the "Hölle Süd" arena. Trailing 0-2 after goals from Hüttenberg's Hendrik Schreiber (1') and Vit Reichl (3'), the hosts rattled off five unanswered strikes — including a Benjamin Wörner equaliser (4') and a Jonathan Malolepszy go-ahead goal (5') — to lead 5-3 by the 8th minute.

The Zweitliga side steadied behind David Kuntscher, who converted a series of seven-metre throws, but Gelnhausen kept pressing. A Fynn Hilb penalty (22') and a Max Bechert strike from the circle (22') made it 12-10. Then came the decisive blow: Bechert received a straight red card in the 23rd minute, leaving Gelnhausen a man down for the remainder of the half. Yet the hosts held their nerve, taking a 14-12 lead into the break after Benjamin Wörner's second goal (26') and a Paul Ohl reply for Hüttenberg (28').

Hüttenberg came out sharper after the restart. Leif Haack (31') and Kuntscher from the spot (31') levelled at 14-14 within two minutes. The sides traded blows through to 18-16, but Hüttenberg's depth began to tell. Kuntscher (40'), Tim Rüdiger (40') and again Kuntscher from the line (40') flipped the score to 19-18 in a 90-second burst.

Gelnhausen refused to wilt. Hilb (42') and Malolepszy (42') restored a 21-18 lead, but Hüttenberg hit back through Tizian Weimer (45') and Paul Ohl (47'). Malolepszy's sixth goal of the night made it 24-21 in the 50th minute, but Hüttenberg closed with a 6-1 run over the final seven minutes. Kuntscher's penalty in the 53rd minute cut it to 24-22, and when Gelnhausen missed two consecutive seven-metre throws — Malolepszy at 54' and Hilb at 55' — the door swung open. With the score at 25-23, Hüttenberg scored four of the last five goals to seal the win.

Max Bechert's red card in the 23rd minute — awarded after a direct disqualification — forced Gelnhausen to reorganise their defence at the very moment they held momentum at 12-10. Though they managed the short-handed phase well enough to reach half-time ahead, the extra strain on the hosts' rotation told in the final quarter. Combined with the two missed penalties in the 54th and 55th minutes, those squandered opportunities proved fatal.

David Kuntscher (Hüttenberg) — The right-back was ice-cool from the seven-metre line, converting at least four penalties on the night and adding a field goal in the 43rd minute. His composure in the closing stretch steadied Hüttenberg when Gelnhausen threatened to pull away.

Jonathan Malolepszy (Gelnhausen) — The hosts' leading scorer with six goals, including a penalty, Malolepszy was the constant threat Hüttenberg's defence could not fully contain. His 50th-minute strike looked like it might be the winner.

Paul Ohl (Hüttenberg) — Four goals from the back court, including a crucial equaliser at 15-15 and the go-ahead strike in the 47th minute, gave Hüttenberg the offensive balance they needed.

Fynn Hilb (Gelnhausen) — Four goals (three from penalties) and creative playmaking until the costly missed seven-metre in the 55th minute.

Player of the match: David Kuntscher — his penalty reliability and calm under pressure swung the game Hüttenberg's way.

The bare scoreline (25-27) flatters the narrowness: Gelnhausen led for 35 of the 60 minutes and held a 14-12 half-time advantage despite playing the final seven minutes of the first half with six men. The red card to Bechert and the two missed penalties in the final six minutes are the difference between a famous upset and a narrow exit. Hüttenberg's ability to draw level within two minutes of the second-half restart — through Haack and Kuntscher — erased Gelnhausen's psychological buffer and set up the Zweitliga side's superior depth to take over.

Hüttenberg advance to the second round of the DHB-Pokal 2026/27, giving the Zweitliga side a chance to build cup momentum early in the season. For Gelnhausen, the performance — leading a higher-division rival for most of the match — signals they can compete above their tier. Both sides now turn to league action, with Hüttenberg's 2. Bundesliga campaign and Gelnhausen's 3. Liga season getting underway in the weeks ahead.

Gelnhausen pushed a strong Zweitliga side to the limit and led for the majority of the contest, but a red card and two missed penalties in the closing minutes proved too costly. Hüttenberg's depth, discipline from the seven-metre line, and second-half composure carried them through a derby that was far tighter than the division gap suggested.