Extension is needed: THW Kiel trembles into the dream finale

Tuesday 29 December 2020

Extension is needed
THW Kiel trembles into the dream finale

The final of the Champions League final tournament in handball is here. And it could hardly be more attractive for the THW Kiel. After a heartbeat game against Telekom Veszprem, it goes against the top team of FC Barcelona.

THW Kiel's dream of a third triumph in the Champions League lives on after a handball thriller with a happy ending. The German record champions prevailed against Hungary's top team Telekom Veszprem in the semifinals of the Final 4 tournament of the 2019/20 season, which was delayed due to the corona crisis, with 36:35 (29:29, 18:13) after extra time and now scores in the fight for Europe's handball crown on FC Barcelona.

In front of empty stands in the Lanxess Arena, which actually holds 20,000 spectators, Hendrik Pekeler was the best thrower with eight goals for the Kiel team, who in 2010 and 2012 won the valuable trophy twice under today's national coach Alfred Gislason. Like the THW, Barcelona can win the premier class for the third time after 2011 and 2015. The Spanish series champions decided the first semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain surprisingly clearly with 37:32 (18:14).

"I'm proud of the team. Now we're playing for the title. That's what we came here for," said Kiel's backcourt star Sander Sagosen. "I'm proud of the team. The final against Barcelona is a dream final," said THW coach Filip Jicha on the TV channel Eurosport.

A few weeks after the 33:41 bankruptcy against the Hungarians in the group stage of the current Champions League season, the Kielers, who had to do without the injured Nikola Bilyk and Magnus Landin and Pavel Horak after corona illness, were wide awake in the first half .

After the change came the Hungarians

In the back, Hendrik Pekeler and Patrick Wiencek closed the middle of the defense in the usual way, behind Denmark's world champion goalkeeper Niklas Landin was a reliable support. Although not everything went smoothly in the attack, THW was still ahead with four goals for the first time at 10: 6 (14th).

The good start gave the Kielers additional security, especially since superstar Sander Sagosen now also ignited in the attack. The Norwegian always skillfully staged his teammates and was successful three times himself until the break. The lead at 17:10 (26th) even increased to seven hits. Although the Hungarians were able to shorten a bit, the THW took a comfortable five-goal cushion into the cabin at halftime.

After the change, however, Veszprem turned up. The Kielers now lacked access on the defensive and penetration power in the attack. The lead melted more and more and was used up in the middle of the second half at 24:24. Shortly afterwards, the Hungarians took the lead for the first time and expanded this to four goals. However, Kiel fought his way back and managed to equalize six minutes before the end of the day. In the hot final phase, neither team made the decision, so it went into overtime. There the North Germans had the better end for themselves.