The German handball champion SC Magdeburg stormed into the semi-finals of the Champions League, while THW Kiel failed at Paris St. Germain.
After coach Bennet Wiegert’s team from Magdeburg beat Wisla Plock 30:28 (13:13) in the second leg of the quarter-finals and thus booked a ticket for the Final Four in Cologne (June 17/18), Kiel lost also the second leg in Paris 32:29 (15:17).
Record champion Kiel went into the duel with the top French club with a mortgage of four goals and failed again and again at the strong PSG goalkeeper Jannick Green Krejberg. After saves by the Dane, Paris scored many easy goals, and Kiel’s hopes of a successful comeback faded early on.
Nevertheless, coach Filip Jicha’s team fought against the impending end until the end. However, five goals from Petter Överby and four each from Sander Sagosen and Niclas Ekberg were not enough.
SC Magdeburg “incredibly happy and proud”
While there was disappointment in Kiel, Magdeburg was already looking forward to the final tournament in Cologne.
“It’s huge. We’re incredibly happy and proud that we’re going there. That was the goal of the whole team – all year,” said the outstanding Kay Smits, who was the top scorer with 14 goals.
In addition to Smits, Michael Damgaard scored reliably with eight goals. As in the 22:22 in the first leg, the German champions and the Polish top team Plock fought a hard-fought duel.
Only in the final minutes did Wiegert’s team pull away decisively. Goalkeeper Mike Jensen made several strong saves.