Borussia Dortmund's women's handball team deservedly celebrated: With their 20th victory in the 23rd match of the 2021/22 Bundesliga season, the team secured the runners-up spot. In the 31-19 (15-8) win at Buchholz-Rosengarten, second from bottom in the table, the Dortmund women only encountered a few problems in the early stages, but then emerged on top in a very confident manner and finally won with a result befitting their standing in the table. BVB top scorer was right wing Tina Abdulla with seven goals.

“I am satisfied, we really wanted to get two more points. I have to underline that again. To finish runners-up is a nice success for us. We gave Bietigheim a strong challenge for a long time over the course of this season, held our own and were only trailing by two points up until the Blomberg game. On the other hand, you have to fully recognise Bietigheim's strength," Borussia coach André Fuhr summed up after the game.

It was obvious to both teams that the season had been long and exhausting. Noticeably, there were a lot of mistakes, little confidence in the finishing, and many balls rattled off the crossbar or the post. BVB did not find their way into the game at first, had problems with the deep lying defence of the "Lynxes" and could thank their goalkeeper Yara ten Holte that the score was not even closer.

At least in the first 15 minutes, the hosts had high hopes of achieving a close result. As in the past, BVB found it relatively difficult to score from the back, but led 5-4 in the 10th minute, 7-4 two minutes later and finally 12-8 after a quarter of an hour. Dortmund had woken up, had a strong goalkeeper in ten Holte and played out their speed with numerous goals from wide areas. When right-winger Tina Abdulla scored her fifth goal of the game just seconds before the break to make it 15-8, the game was as good as decided.

And so it continued in the second half. Buchholz-Rosengarten struggled to keep the deficit down. The Black & Yellows played within themselves and defended very well. Coach André Fuhr took the opportunity to give players from the bench a chance. Mie Sando came in for Merel Freriks on the circle, Frida Rønning replaced Alina Grijseels. Japanese star Haruno Sasaki also returned after a long time out due to injury and Corona. Substitute goalkeeper Yan Li Stannies from the 2nd team also gained her first experience in the Bundesliga.

BVB then underlined its individual class against an opponent who was losing more and more energy. After only eight minutes of play in the second half, BVB had increased the margin to 20-10. The lead had stretched to 28-16 in the 50th minute and 31-19 at the final whistle. A result befitting the occasion.

"At the beginning, we didn't show 100 per cent commitment. But then we extended the lead with a strong defensive and goalkeeping performance. I'm satisfied," head coach André Fuhr commented on the fourth-last Bundesliga match of the season: "Second place in the Bundesliga is worthy of all credit for our team, given our budget and we were also extremely unfortunate with numerous long-term injuries."

BVB: ten Holte, Stannies; Grijseels (1/1), Zschocke (1), Sando (1), van Zijl (2), Moreno (3), Abdulla (7), Gutiérrez Bermejo (5), Freriks, Sasaki (2), van der Heijden (5), Rønning (3/2), Nordberg (1), Uscinowicz