Handball Bundesliga team THW Kiel suffered a severe setback in the Champions League. The “Zebras” surprisingly lost to the Slovenian champions RK Celje on Wednesday evening by 35:38 (14:17).
After two matchdays in Group B it is only 2:2 points. 4:0 points were planned after the home win against Elverum (Norway). The defeat could have bad consequences: only the first two teams in the two groups of eight qualify directly for the quarter-finals. The teams in third through sixth place have to go to the play-offs.
THW without inspiration after a good start
Without playmaker Domagoj Duvnjak, who had not made the trip to Slovenia for personal reasons, the North Germans with Nikola Bilyk in the middle backcourt were 8:4 after twelve minutes. Soon after, however, the lead was gone again because the litters of the “Zebras” were too unplaced. On the other hand, Celje’s goalkeeper Gal Gabersek also put in a very strong performance. In the goalkeeper duel with Kiel’s Tomas Mrkva, he had clear advantages.
And suddenly the 25-time Slovenian champion was 12:10 ahead (21st). THW trainer Filip Jicha took the break, but still didn’t bring Miha Zarabec, who was born just 50 kilometers from Celje and played for RK from 2014 to 2017. Things didn’t go well: Five minutes before the break, the uninspired-looking Kielers were even 11:15 behind. With a 14:17 it went into the dressing room.
Kielers can no longer get close
Mrkva was also between the posts at the start of the second period. When the score was 19:24 (38th), Jicha reacted: Niklas Landin came into the game. Up front, however, good opportunities were still wasted – a little later Niclas Ekberg put a seven meter penalty on the post. And so it was soon even six goals behind (19:25).
Although the Kiel came within three hits, but then no closer. The turning point was no longer successful. And so the “Zebras” travel with their first defeat of the season to the Bundesliga North duel at bottom of the table TSV Hannover-Burgdorf on Sunday (2 p.m.).
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NDR 2 Sports | 09/21/2022 | 11:03 p.m
