Over the weekend, the Santander Cup was decided in Denmark and below you’ll find a summary of the semifinals, the bronze medal match, and the final:
Semifinal 1: GOG–Fredericia
GOG triumphed over Fredericia on Saturday afternoon after tremendous drama. The match was decided after overtime as the regular game ended 30–30. In the first half, however, Fredericia looked like a team that could surprise and secure a spot in the final. But GOG calmly came back into the game. This was largely thanks to Emil Madsen, who delivered an extraordinary handball performance by scoring an astonishing 19 goals. And yes, you read that right… 19 goals (!) GOG won the overtime, and the match ended 34–31.
Final Score: 34–31 (14–17)
Semifinal 2: Bjerringbro-Silkeborg–Aalborg
Aalborg was the next team to secure a spot in the final. This semifinal also ended after overtime, as the regular match ended 24–24. Even though there were both current and former national team players in both teams, they didn’t spare each other in any way during the semifinal. Aalborg had the best start and could go to halftime with a four-goal lead. But Bjerringbro-Silkeborg fought their way back into the game and eventually got back in touch, leading to overtime. Even the overtime was tight, and it was with just over 30 seconds left that Aalborg took a two-goal lead, which then became 31–28. Mikkel Hansen, with his 13 goals, was a major contributing factor to Aalborg emerging victorious from the encounter.
Final Score: 28–31 (8–12)
Bronze medal match: Fredericia–Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
It was an incredibly even match for the bronze between Fredericia and Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. Fredericia held the lead for much of the game with a margin of one to two goals. The teams were neck and neck for a long time, but it wasn’t until the second half that Bjerringbro-Silkeborg managed to equalize. William Bogojevic was a significant factor in turning the game around for Bjerringbro-Silkeborg and eventually emerging as the victors. The nine-meter player scored eleven goals. Ludvig Hällback in Bjerringbro-Silkeborg and Anders Kragh Martinusen in Fredericia each scored seven goals. Bjerringbro-Silkeborg won the bronze match by a single goal, 32–31.
Final Score: 32–31 (14–13)
Final: GOG–Aalborg
The semifinals were much closer than the final. GOG managed to defend the cup title after a convincing performance and defeated Aalborg. The final, like previous encounters between the teams, showcased high-quality play and intense pace. Tobias Thulin started the match well, and Aalborg’s offensive problems and Thulin’s outstanding performance continued into the second half. Towards the end of the first and beginning of the second half, GOG turned the score from 10–10 to 18–11, practically deciding the final. Emil Madsen showcased his skills with both goals and assists, ending up with eight goals, and Aaron Mensing also contributed with his seven goals. The match ended 32–25, and Tobias Thulin was named the best player of the match, with 15 saves and a save percentage of 37,5.
Final score: 32–25 (13–10)