Handball Bundesliga club SG Flensburg has qualified early for the round of 16 of the European League. The Schleswig-Holsteiners defeated Valur Reykjavik 33:30 (16:14) and can no longer be pushed out of one of the top four places in Group B.
Three days after the exhausting quarter-final duel in the DHB Cup with HSG Wetzlar, coach Maik Machulla’s team showed a mixed performance against the Icelandic record champions on Tuesday evening. The absence of the injured backcourt performers Jim Gottfridsson and Lasse Møller was clearly noticeable for the North Germans. From the center only the ailing middle man Mads Mensah provided sustained pressure. So it took a show of strength for the SG to put the outsider in his place.
It was Flensburg’s sixth win in seven games.
Machulla angry: “It’s not 100 percent”
However, the SG has to put up with the accusation of not having led higher against the individually inferior Icelanders at the break. The hosts sometimes acted in an unfocused attack and made some hair-raising turnovers. “It’s not 100 percent,” Machulla scolded during his first time out (24th). At this point, his team was 14:11 ahead. The defensive work that was too passive at times and the inconsistency in playing the attacks were a thorn in the side of the coach.
The 46-year-old was visibly unnerved by the fact that the 13:8 lead (19 th ) had melted down to two goals at the break. At least you could rely on keeper Kevin Møller. The Dane was able to cover up the negligence of the people in front at least a little with many saves.
Flensburg also struggled after half-time
Even after the change of sides, Flensburg faced a lot of resistance from Reykjavik. When Stiven Valencia first managed to equalize 19:19 (36th) and shortly afterwards Magnús Óli Magnússon even gave the visitors the lead for the first time (20:19/39th), the SG threatened to lose the game for good. But Flensburg increased the number of strokes again at the right moment. Mensah took control of the game even more, backfield left Aaron Mensing scored important goals and goalkeeper Møller continued to be in top form.
The Machulla team took the lead again with three goals (26:23/48.) and made the decision three and a half minutes before the end of the game with Johan Hansen’s 31:27.
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NDR 2 Sports | 07.02.2023 | 11:03 p.m
