THW Kiel got a last second point in the Handball Champions League. The top Polish club KS Kielce scored 36:36 (17:15) on Wednesday evening. Given the way the game went, more would have been possible for the strong Kiel team.
It was a crime thriller in Poland. Shortly before the end, Kiel’s best thrower Niclas Ekberg (like Eric Johansson seven goals) equalized from seven meters. But Kielce still had 30 seconds to respond and scored what would have been the victory. But in return, Ekberg made it 36:36 practically with the final siren. This means that the THW has been waiting for a victory in Kielce since 2011, but still has all the trump cards in terms of a direct quarter-final entry as the leader of Group A.
After the Bundesliga home game against TVB Stuttgart on Sunday (4:30 p.m.), the Kiel team will continue in the Champions League four days later in their own hall: Pelister from North Macedonia, who are still without a point, will be the guests. With a win, the door to the quarter-finals would be wide open, because at the same time the pursuers Paris and Kielce (both three points less than Kiel) take points away from each other. The top two teams in the group advance directly to the round of the last eight. The teams in places three to six qualify for the round of 16.
THW significantly improved offensively
At first the THW in Kielce was constantly chasing a deficit, but after about ten minutes they managed to turn things around – also because substitute Tomas Mrkva saved a seven-meter shot. Shortly afterwards, Hendrik Pekeler and Ekberg extended Kiel’s first lead to three goals (15th/9:6).
KS Kielce – THW Kiel 36:36 (15:17) in shorthand:
Goals KS Kielce: A. Dujshebaev 7/1, Tournat 7, Nahi 6, Sicko 6/1, D. Dujshebaev 3, Karacic 3, Moryto 2, Olejniczak 1, Wiaderny 1
THW Kiel: Ekberg 7/2, Johansson 7, Reinkind 6, Duvnjak 4, Bilyk 3, E. Ellefsen and Skipagotu 2, M. Landin 2, Pekeler 2, Wallinius 1, Wiencek 1, Överby 1
Viewers: 4,200 (sold out)
Penalty minutes: 6/12
Disqualification: – / Överby (56th/3rd time penalty)
Two time penalties from Kiel players brought the hosts back, but the THW was defensively stable and, above all, significantly better on offense than in the league game at Bergischer HC (29:25). The Schleswig-Holsteiners at least saved a 17:15 lead at the break.
Wild final phase
Domagoj Duvnjak increased the lead to 18:15 at the restart, but a three-goal lead meant nothing in this game – like twice in the first half, the Poles came back strongly and turned 18:21 into 21:21 with a 3-0 run (36.). But Kiel kept calm and took the lead again with three goals (42nd/26:23).
It still remained an open game. Samir Bellahcene initially parried a seven-meter penalty with his toe, but the hosts’ equalizer was only postponed. Seven minutes before the end it was 30:30. The final phase was wild with changing leads. Shortly before the end, Petter Överby received a red card and, being outnumbered, the North Germans made up a two-goal deficit (58th/34:34). Then came the crucial 120 seconds…
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NDR 2 Sport | 02/14/2024 | 11:03 p.m
