Fides St. Gallen vs Emmen: Thrilling 38-37 Handball Victory

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland – In a tightly contested match that went down to the wire, Fides St. Gallen narrowly defeated Handball Emmen 38-37 on February 24, 2026. The victory, secured at the St. Gallen Athletics Center in front of 177 spectators, saw a dominant performance from Elia Tarneller, who scored 13 goals for Fides.

The game began at a frantic pace, with Tarneller opening the scoring just 40 seconds into play. From the outset, the match was characterized by intense competition and back-and-forth action. Tarneller quickly established himself as a key offensive threat, registering six of Fides’ first ten goals. Around the 15-minute mark, Fides managed to build a three-goal lead, prompting Emmen coach to call a timeout in an attempt to disrupt their momentum. The timeout proved effective, as Emmen battled back to equalize at 11-11. Fides responded with a timeout of their own, but neither team could establish a decisive advantage before halftime, with the score locked at 17-17.

The second half saw Emmen initially take the lead, moving ahead 19-17. However, Tarneller and Weber quickly responded, leveling the score. Emmen once again edged ahead, but Fides consistently countered, regaining the lead through a goal from Simon Locher after 41 minutes. The remainder of the game was a high-scoring affair, remaining exciting and closely contested until the final minute. Fides secured the win by a single goal, 38-37, benefiting from a crucial stroke of luck in the closing moments.

Tarneller’s exceptional performance, with his 13 goals, was pivotal to Fides’ success. The team also received contributions from Weber, who scored seven goals, and Locher, who added six. For Emmen, Gavranovic and Hochuli led the scoring with seven and eight goals respectively.

The match was officiated by Spengler and Woschitz, with Vitzthum serving as the delegate. Both teams received penalty time, with Fides incurring four two-minute penalties and Emmen two. Fides was without several players due to injury and other commitments, including G. Tarneller and Halbeisen, while Emmen also had a number of players unavailable.

Fides St. Gallen’s starting lineup included R. Schmid in goal, alongside Brülisauer, Coric, Fricker, Heinl, Linde, Locher, Niederer, Pfründer, J. Schmid, Tarneller, Weber, Wick, Wurst, and Zeltner. Emmen fielded Näf in goal, with Achermann, Büchli, Buholzer, Dürger, Gavranovic, Hochuli, Lampart, Röttges, Schärli, Sigrist, Sluijters, Steiner, and Theiler completing the team.

The statistics revealed a closely matched contest. Fides’ R. Schmid made seven saves, while Emmen’s Näf recorded ten. Both teams converted penalties, with Fides scoring one from two attempts and Emmen converting one of their two penalty attempts.

Looking ahead, Fides St. Gallen will travel to central Switzerland next week to face BSV Stans. This upcoming match presents another challenging opportunity for Fides to build on their narrow victory and continue their campaign. The team will need to maintain their offensive momentum and defensive solidity to succeed against a potentially formidable opponent.

The win is significant for Fides St. Gallen as they continue to navigate the season. While the league standings weren’t immediately available, a victory of this nature, particularly against a competitive opponent like Emmen, will undoubtedly boost team morale and potentially improve their position in the league table. The team’s ability to overcome adversity, as demonstrated by their comeback in the second half, suggests a resilient and determined squad capable of challenging for higher honors.

The absence of key players for Fides, including G. Tarneller and Halbeisen, highlights the depth of the squad and their ability to perform even when facing personnel challenges. The team’s reliance on Elia Tarneller’s scoring prowess was evident, but the contributions from Weber and Locher demonstrate that Fides possesses multiple offensive threats. Emmen’s strong performance, despite the loss, indicates they are a capable team and will likely pose a threat to other opponents throughout the season.

The close nature of the game, decided by a single goal, underscores the competitive balance within the league. Every possession and every shot proved crucial, and the ability of both teams to respond to setbacks was commendable. The match served as a thrilling spectacle for the 177 spectators in attendance and further cemented the reputation of Swiss handball as a dynamic and exciting sport.