Vinnhorst vs Potsdam

Potsdam began the brighter of the two sides, leveraging their higher-tier experience to build an early lead. But Vinnhorst, spearheaded by former Potsdam man Joshua Thiele, fought back tenaciously. The 3. Liga side matched the visitors blow for blow through the opening half, and the teams entered the break separated by only a narrow margin.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Potsdam stretched their advantage on several occasions, only for Vinnhorst to claw their way back each time. With head coach Emir Kurtagic — celebrating his 46th birthday on the day — orchestrating from the sideline, the visitors showed composure in the closing stages. They held their nerve to see out a one-goal victory and book their place in round two.

Potsdam conceded twice in quick succession with under ten minutes remaining, turning what had been a comfortable three-goal cushion into a precarious 32-31 lead. The defining moment came when Potsdam goalkeeper made a crucial save in the final minutes, denying Vinnhorst the equaliser. At the other end, Potsdam added a decisive 33rd goal, and though Vinnhorst pulled one back in the dying seconds, time ran out.

• Joshua Thiele (Vinnhorst): The former Potsdam Kreisläufer was immense for the hosts, using his intimate knowledge of the opposition to anchor Vinnhorst's defence and contribute in attack. His physical presence was a constant problem for his former club.
• Potsdam's back line: Under pressure from a motivated Vinnhorst attack that refused to wilt, Potsdam's defensive unit held firm when it mattered most — particularly during the frantic final exchanges.
• Emir Kurtagic (Potsdam head coach): Marked his 46th birthday with a hard-fought victory. His tactical adjustments in the second half helped Potsdam regain control after Vinnhorst threatened to take the lead.

Player of the match honours went to the Potsdam collective rather than any individual — the sign of a team that ground out an ugly win under significant pressure.

The 65 total goals (32-33) are a far cry from the 68 the sides managed across their previous two meetings (53 goals average), but this was a far tighter contest than the head-to-head history suggested. Vinnhorst's 32 goals against a 2. Bundesliga defence demonstrate they were a genuine threat throughout. The one-goal margin reflects a game that could have swung either way — a marked improvement for Vinnhorst compared to the 40-28 defeat they suffered in their last meeting with Potsdam in 2024.

Potsdam advance to the second round of the DHB-Pokal 2026/27, keeping alive their hopes of a deep cup run before the 2. Bundesliga season kicks off. For Vinnhorst, the narrow defeat will sting — but it also serves notice that they are more than capable of competing with higher-tier opposition. The 3. Liga side can take considerable heart from their performance as they turn their attention to league duties.

Potsdam did what favourites are supposed to do — they found a way to win despite not being at their best. Vinnhorst, however, earned every ounce of respect with a performance that suggests they will be a force in the 3. Liga this season. The DHB-Pokal's romance lives on; it just didn't get its Cinderella story tonight.