No Duisburg Derby in the Cup Final: ASCD Reaches for the Title

A Duisburg final in the cup does not materialize. At the cup finals in Berlin-Schöneberg – the compact final tournament with semifinals as well as final and placement matches – both Duisburg water polo teams make it to the last four, but in the end only ASC Duisburg stands in the final. The ASCD advances with a clear 19:7 against the White Sharks Hannover, while Duisburger SV 98, after an 8:27 against Waspo 98 Hannover, plays for bronze.

ASCD Sets the Tone Early and Clearly Advances to the Final

ASC Duisburg wins its semifinal against the White Sharks Hannover with 19:7 (5:1, 4:2, 5:2, 5:2) and takes control of the match from the start. The first quarter alone (5:1) sets the direction: ASCD stands solid in defense, quickly transitions, and consistently converts its chances. The fact that at least four Duisburg goals are scored in each of the four quarters underscores the consistency in offensive play – Hannover finds neither access nor a way to break the rhythm.

Vukasin Simic is the most prominent scorer with five goals. Elias Metten adds three goals, and Gergelyfi, Lennox Metten, Nosnik, and Seifert each score twice. Dolff, Ollila, and Satter complete the result. The clear victory is even more decisive than the two league encounters with the White Sharks, which ASCD had won 20:12 and 17:9 – an indication of how cleanly Duisburg fulfilled its role as favorite in a knockout match.

After the final whistle, Simic sums up the performance: “We did everything the way we wanted to. We played good defense. Up front, we put the balls in.” And looking ahead to the final: “And for tomorrow: It’s one game. Our goal is to win it.”

DSV 98 Keeps Up for a Half, Then Waspo Pulls Away

In the second semifinal, DSV 98 loses to the reigning triple winner Waspo 98 Hannover 8:27 (3:7, 3:4, 1:8, 1:8). Up to halftime, the match remains within a range that allows resistance from Duisburg’s perspective: Over two quarters, DSV 98 holds its own and repeatedly finds offensive solutions to stay in the game.

After the break, however, the match completely tips. Waspo pulls away with an 8:0 run, making everything clear early in the second half. In such phases, it is often decided who controls the center and who, under constant pressure, produces chains of errors – for DSV 98, it is made even more difficult by the absence of center player Andrei Covaci. Especially in water polo, the center position is a focal point: It can provide relief through duels, ball retention, and creating man-up situations. If this option is missing, it becomes much harder to bring calm to the attacks – and likewise, to stop the opponent’s runs.

For Duisburg, Reibel and Stefanovic each score twice, as do Hennig, Karasov, Schmidt, and Tanaskovic. The result ultimately reflects the class difference, which after the break translates into dominance and power for the favorite.

Final Day Brings Title Chance for ASCD and Medal Match for DSV 98

On the final day, the two Duisburg neighbors avoid each other: ASCD meets Waspo 98 Hannover in the final on Saturday at 6 p.m. DSV 98 already plays at 12 p.m. against the White Sharks Hannover for third place.

For ASC, the final is the chance for the title – and the semifinal performance provides momentum, as it was characterized not only by individual scoring ability but above all by structure and pace. For DSV 98, the small final is about more than a conciliatory conclusion: A placement among the top three would bring the club its first national men’s medal in more than three decades.

From Duisburg’s perspective, a look at the league also speaks for a realistic chance: The 98ers had won both games against the White Sharks Hannover. The decisive factor will be whether they can extend the good phase from the Waspo match over more than two quarters – and assert themselves against Hannover’s counterattacks and physical duels so that the game remains open until the final phase.