Saturday March 27th 2021
New Bundesliga leader
Kiel fails because of Flensburg’s monster series
The squad is decimated, but the derby has its special charm – especially when it comes to the league leadership in the handball Bundesliga. And so the SG Flensburg-Handewitt rears up after a week-long break and pulls past the THW Kiel.
The SG Flensburg-Handewitt set a big exclamation mark in the prestigious north derby against the THW Kiel in the race for the championship and recaptured the championship lead in the handball Bundesliga. The team of coach Maik Machulla prevailed against the record champions in an intense game with 31:28 (17:15). With 34: 4 points, Flensburg is the new front runner and relegated the rival from Kiel to second place (33: 5 points). In the 104th edition of the classic, Hampus Wanne was the best thrower with ten hits for the Flensburgers, who with the victory expanded their impressive series to 47 home games without defeat. For Kiel, Sander Sagosen was the most successful shooter with nine goals.
“I’m incredibly proud, that will help us for the tasks ahead,” said Machulla after the game at Sky: “It’s just half-time, it will be a long and crisp season.” For THW coach Filip Jicha, however, it was “a used day”. His team did not find their game: “We were too focused on what Flensburg was doing.”
In the run-up, discussions about the effects of the pandemic had overshadowed the handball summit. Jicha had caused a stir with statements about the tight schedule, and THW had to do without world handball player Niklas Landin (quarantine) in the goal.
Tub shines especially before the break
Several players were missing at Flensburg due to injuries and quarantine orders, and due to the pandemic, the team had not played a competitive game since March 7th. “We’ll make the best of it, give full throttle and see if we have enough strength,” said Machulla about his sparse squad before the game.
Both teams started with a lot of pace, but the beginning phase was marked by some technical errors and ball losses. Kiel got better and better into the game and in the meantime expanded the lead to up to three goals. But Flensburg turned the game around thanks to left winger Wanne, who scored seven goals in the first half.
The goalkeepers did not initially play a decisive role in a close match. For Dario Quenstedt, who did not make a save until he was substituted (21st), Mattias Andersson came in, who actually works as goalkeeping coach at Kiel and is currently replacing him in the absence of Landin. The ex-Flensburg resident, who celebrates his 43rd birthday on Monday, made the first parade immediately after being substituted on (22nd).
Even after the break, the SG continued to play courageously, with international Johannes Golla giving the hosts a four-goal lead for the first time with his fourth goal (40th). Andersson and Domagoj Duvnjak kept Kiel in the game, but Flensburg could not be deterred.
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