The German handball champion THW Kiel celebrated its third victory in the third group game in the Champions League. However, the Schleswig-Holsteiners had an extremely difficult time at the North Macedonian club HC Pelister three days before the top Bundesliga game at SC Magdeburg.
In the end there was a 23:20 (11:9) away win for THW Kiel, but the road to get there was very bumpy. On Saturday (7 p.m.), when the German champions compete in Magdeburg, the conditions are different. Nevertheless, the “Zebras” will need an increase in performance in all areas in order to be able to compete with last season’s Champions League winners.
“The atmosphere was fantastic and we are very happy with the two points.”
— THW Managing Director Viktor Szilagyi
“We made too many mistakes, so Pelister always stuck with it. We had to fight for the two points until the end,” said THW managing director Viktor Szilagyi. “Now we’re looking forward to Magdeburg.”
Heated atmosphere in Bitola
In the heated atmosphere in Bitola, the “Zebras” had to work hard for almost every goal. Pelister kept up very well and only allowed the big favorite from the fjord a two-goal lead at the break.
Kiel completely lacked the necessary efficiency to confidently downplay this “mandatory task”. Niclas Ekberg and Co. threw some tickets. After 42 minutes the score was 16:16 and THW coach Filip Jicha’s mood darkened noticeably. Ten minutes later, the German champions had gone within three goals (22:19), but it remained a painfully tough affair for the Schleswig-Holsteiners, who also benefited from the opponent’s inexperience in the final phase.
HC Pelister – THW Kiel 20:23 (9:11)
Goals Pelister: Radivojevic (5), Cehte (4), Peshevski (3), Kisum (2), Atanaseivikj (2), Kuzmanovski (1), Tajnik (1), Tankoski (1), Petrovic (1)
THW Kiel: Ekberg (5), Ellefsen a Skipagötu (5), Wallinius (3), Wiencek (2), Duvnjak (1), Landin Jacobsen (1), Överby (1), Johansson (1), Dahmke (1), Martinez ( 1), Bilyk (1), Pekeler (1)
Viewers: 2,700
With five goals each, Kiel’s Niclas Ekberg and Elias Ellefsen á Skipagötu as well as former Bundesliga player Bogdan Radivojevic were the best throwers of the game for the hosts. “Unfortunately we weren’t as good as we hoped,” Ellefsen said. “But in the end we won and that’s what mattered today.”
Via Leipzig to Magdeburg
The THW doesn’t have much time to deal with the unconvincing performance in Bitola. On Thursday we don’t go back to Kiel from Macedonia, but directly to Leipzig, where the Jicha team is preparing for the top Bundesliga game in Magdeburg. In the Champions League, the North Germans’ next home game against Kielce is on October 11th.
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NDR 2 Sport | Sep 27, 2023 | 11:03 p.m
