THW Kiel after the handball drama in the Champions League final | NDR.de – Sport

Status: December 28, 2020 10:29 pm

THW Kiel has reached the final of the four finalists of the 2019/2020 Champions League season. The record handball champions beat KC Veszprem on Monday night in Cologne with 36:35 (29:29, 18:13) after extra time.

by Hanno Bode

The “Zebras” will face on Tuesday night (8.30pm) against FC Barcelona, ​​which had won the first semifinal match against Paris Saint-Germain with 37:32 (18:14). “I am very proud of my team. Today we played against a strong opponent at the highest level. The boys fought like lions,” said THW coach Filip Jicha. And facing the final against “Barça”, the Czech declared: “We want to take everything we have.”

Kiel with furious first half

The Schleswig-Holsteiners showed outstanding performance in their first Final Four appearance since 2016 in the first section, probably the best by far in this series. The coverage around the center block of the regular national team Hendrik Pekeler / Patrick Wiencek was very agile and focused. Time and again the Hungarians’ attacks were prevented or disturbed in such a way that coach David Davis Camara’s protégés had to complete from poor launching positions. However, it is also strange that Veszprem, despite several failed attempts, kept trying to achieve success through the center. It wasn’t until a few minutes before the break that the Magyars began to use their wings more frequently.

THW on cover and outstanding second wave

At this point, Camara had already taken two breaks. In view of the uninspired execution of the attack, it was urgently needed. Jicha only got the green card once in the first section. The Czech had little to nothing to complain about until the final stages. Because the North Germans were convincing not only in defense, but also in attack. In the second wave in particular, the record champions were extremely efficient.

But the Bundesliga team were also able to please in attacking positions, although captain Domagoj Duvnjak, still weakened after a coronavirus infection, was only sporadically at the plate before half-time.

Kiel throws a seven-goal lead

From the bench, the exceptional Croatian player watched his teammates walk away at 17:10 in the 26th minute. Only then did the three-time premier class winner suffer a brief period of weakness, giving the advantage at half-time it was “only” five hits. Bitter for Kiel: Superstar Sander Sagosen received his second two-minute penalty a few seconds before entering the booths and, like left wing Rune Dahmke, who was already on the bench for the same reason at this point, had to keep watch at the beginning of the second round.

Jicha’s team suddenly collapses

The Schleswig-Holsteiners survived the outnumbered phase after the break. Coverage was still stable, but Jicha’s protégés found it much, much more difficult in possession of the ball. The lead narrowed to 22:20, prompting the Kiel coach to take a break (40th). But the performance of the THW professionals was even weaker afterwards. Initially, Veszprem tied through Vuko Borozan (46th), shortly afterwards the Hungarians were tied up front with 28:24 (50th).

Jicha got the green card again. “Sh … on that. We can turn that around. I need a team performance now,” said the former world-class player.

Referees reject THW seven meters

And Jicha got what she asked for. Outnumbered – Rogerio Moraes Ferreira hummed a two-minute penalty – THW dropped to 27:28 (53rd). Soon after, Sagosen tied (54th), before the Norwegian even threw the North Germans to the front with 29:28 (55th). Kiel had possession of the ball, but missed the possible 30:28 with one more player. On the other hand, Yahia Khaled Omar was successful in 29:29 (58).

Bitter for Kiel: Seconds before the end of the day, Veszprems goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales Rodal threw the ball in front of a referee and deprived THW, who would have had a throw-in, a chance for a final conclusion. According to the rules, there should be a red card for the goalkeeper and a seven-meter card for THW. But the referees Andreu Marín and Ignacio García Serradilla (Spain) did not sanction at all the action of their compatriot. So he went into overtime.

Wiencek flies from the field – Ekberg makes the decision

And in this, the masters of the game made another negative appearance. Once again, the TSC suffered the most, especially Wiencek. Because the cyclist saw the red card for an alleged foul on Gasper Marguc (64th). A blatantly wrong decision, as the television images that the referees also saw (!) Clearly showed that Marguc Wiencek had stepped on his foot and thus lost his balance.

Kiel was not discouraged, neither by the referees nor by the opponent. Niclas Ekberg made the decision with his seventh goal (70). Soon after, the rest were limitless cheers from THW.

Barcelona flex its muscles against Paris

In the first semi-final, Barcelona had impressively bolstered their role as tournament favorite against PSG. In the 22nd consecutive victory for the Catalans in the Champions League, Dika Mem stood out with eight goals against his French compatriots. However, former Kiel middleman Aron Palmarsson and goalkeeper Kevin Möller also played a role in the success. The Dane, who returns to SG Flensburg-Handewitt next summer, saved six free throws on the first leg alone.

Nahi is the best shooter for a weakened PSG

Paris fought bravely to the end, but ultimately did not stand a chance due to some crown-related failures and the absence of three-time world handball player Nikola Karabatic (torn cruciate ligament). Bitter for the French: For a short time, Luc Steins, who was signed up for the former Kiel backcourt player, was also canceled due to a positive test for SARS-CoV-2. In Karabatic and the Dutch, coach Raúl González Gutiérrez broke his central axis.

PSG’s most successful shooter was left winger Dylan Nahi with nine goals. World and European champion and Olympic champion Mikkel Hansen scored seven goals. The Dane must continue to look forward to his first premier class win, at least until next year.