THW Kiel missed revenge for the home debacle a week ago in the Handball Champions League at Aalborg Handbold. In the top duel in Group A on Wednesday evening, the table leader was unable to get past his pursuer by a score of 27:27 (17:13), despite having a clear lead for a while.
In the dramatic final seconds, the Kiel team were even lucky that Aalborg’s Mikkel Hansen threw a seven-meter shot over the goal and thus missed out on a possible victory for the Danish runner-up. “We just did a bad job at the front,” THW professional Nikola Bilyk complained about the final phase, in which his team gave up their lead. “But overall we played a good game.” Christian Sprenger, who represented the sick coach Filip Jicha, also saw it that way: “We showed a completely different face than last week.”
“We even have to talk about a point won because we could have lost in the end.”
— THW handball player Nikola Bilyk
With the draw, THW preserved its chance of direct qualification for the quarter-finals. The first two of the preliminary round groups skip the round of 16, Kiel has good prospects as the leader of Group A with eleven points from eight games.
They can get even better if the “Zebras” are successful in their two remaining games in the premier class this year: Paris SG will be visiting the fjord on Thursday (6.45 p.m.), Kolstad will be visiting on December 6th.
Fast-paced duel at eye level
Less than two minutes had been played when there was the first déjà vu for Kiel: Aalborg’s goalkeeper Niklas Landin saved Kiel’s Eric Johansson’s throw. But because THW keeper Samir Bellahcene couldn’t be overcome on the other side twice, the German record champions initially pulled away to 3-1 (3rd).
Aalborg HB – THW Kiel 27:27 (13:17):
Tore Aalborg HB: Hald 5, Nilsson 5, Björnsen 4, Hansen 3/3, Hoxer 3, Juul-Lassen 3, Vlah 2, Antonsen 1, Barthold 1
THW Kiel: Bilyk 6, Ekberg 5/3, Wiencek 5, Johansson 4, Gurbindo 3, Landin 2, Ellefsen a Skipagotu 1/1, Wallinius 1
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Penalty minutes: 2 / 8
Niklas Landin actually continued where he left off a week ago in Kiel: Thanks to his saves, the hosts were able to turn the game around (12th/5:4). Afterwards, a competitive, balanced and fast-paced handball game developed, in which the lead initially changed back and forth.
THW defense is strong, offense is magical
This time, the THW was highly concentrated in defense and did not let themselves be disturbed by three time penalties (Patrick Wiencek, Domagoj Duvnjak, Hendrik Pekeler). On the contrary: With a 5-0 run – partly outnumbered – the Kiel team even gained a five-goal lead (24th/14:9).
On offense, the Kiel team were mercilessly efficient, and at times they even worked magic – Eduardo Gurbindo scored 16:12 with a Kempa trick (29th). Shortly afterwards, Niclas Ekberg made it 17:13 at half-time with a seven-meter goal, as Bellahcene held on to a throw from Patrick Wiesmach Larsen just before the half-time siren.
Kiel doesn’t let anything go wrong for a long time in the second half…
After the restart, the guests continued to impress: the inside block stood securely, and Tomas Mrkva, who was now standing for Bellahcene between the posts, also took a few throws away from Aalborg. The “Zebras” also continued to be accurate in front of the opposing goal – Nikola Bilyk scored 22:15 (38th) after a quick counterattack.
…but Landin makes it exciting again
The hosts fought back against the defeat, but the THW was able to maintain their lead for a long time: ten minutes before the end, the North Germans were still ahead by six goals (26:20). But then Landin, of all people, was back to his best in the Aalborg goal. While Kiel threw one ticket after the other, the Danes came up with one goal after another. Lukas Nilsson scored the next goal three and a half minutes before the end (26:27), Simon Hald equalized shortly afterwards (58th).
Now it was a thriller: Kiels Ekberg put a seven-meter shot at the post (59th), on the other side Hansen threw his seven-meter shot over the goal. The “Zebras” had possession of the ball again – but Duvnjak’s powerful throw was fended off by Landin in the Aalborg goal.
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NDR 2 Sport | November 22, 2023 | 11:03 p.m
