Revenge succeeded, group victory secured and the foxes Berlin avoided – the plan of the SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the Handball European League worked out. On Tuesday evening we managed a 30:23 (12:13) against IFK Ystad HK at home.
SG coach Maik Machulla’s team suffered their only defeat in Group B of the European League in the first leg against the Swedish champions. Even before the game against Ystad, the North Germans were certain of reaching the round of 16. With the current win, Flensburg are avoiding a quarter-final duel with Füchsen Berlin. This scenario threatens the second in the group.
Flensburg, organizer of the Final Four tournament on 27./28. May, will thus get a group fourth drawn for the round of 16. At the end of the group phase, Flensburg will travel to FTC Budapest next Tuesday.
Flensburg with big problems in half one
In the early minutes it looked as if Flensburg could face another nasty surprise in their second encounter with Sweden this season. After six minutes, the SG was 2:6 behind. Kim Andersson, the 40-year-old ex-professional of THW Kiel, made a good contribution to the four-goal lead in the offensive game with a good overview.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt – IFK Ystad HK 30:23 (12:13)
Goals Flensburg-Handewitt: Mensah Larsen (9), Jakobsen (8/4), Röd (4), Golla (2), Hansen (2), Mensing (2), Kirschberger (1), Einarsson (1), Moeller (1)
Tore Ystad: Jonathan Svensson (6), Stankiewicz (5), Lindskog Andersson (5), Kim Andersson (4), Nygren (1), Palmar (1), Mansson (1)
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The Machulla team, which won their Bundesliga home game against Bergischer HC on Sunday with great ease, seemed unimpressed. The SG defense made a more compact impression in the period that followed, goalkeeper Benjamin Buric improved noticeably behind, and the Danes set the pace up front. Emil Jakobsen equalized to make it 6:6 (12th), Mads Mensah Larsen took the lead immediately afterwards – Flensburg was clearly better in the game now.
Ystad’s coach Oscar Carlén felt that too. The former Flensburg and Hamburger, who ended his professional career after two cruciate ligament tears in autumn 2013, immediately took a break. And the Swedish champions not only stabilized, they again presented the hosts with significant problems. As a result, Ystad was 13:12 ahead at the break.
Ystad cannot follow the SG’s intermediate sprint
And the North Germans also struggled in the first quarter of an hour of the second half. But then Flensburg made an intermediate spurt – and the Scandinavians could not follow this. Jakobsen ensured a four-goal lead with a penalty kick (24:20, 47th). It didn’t get any more exciting after that. In the final phase, SG youngster Leon Kirschberger also scored a goal. After a botched start, it was even a clear affair for Flensburg at the end. The most successful SG player was Mensah Larsen with nine goals.
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NDR 2 Sports | 02/21/2023 | 11:03 p.m
