SG Flensburg-Handewitt stops HSV Hamburg’s winning streak

AUDIO: SG goalkeeper Kevin Möller: “Really good first half” (3 min)

by Christian Görtzen

Without backcourt player Lasse Möller, who suffered a fracture in his right metacarpal hand in the European League game against Bidasoa Irun, the SG ended HSVH’s winning streak. The Hamburg team had won all three previous Bundesliga games, including against VfL Gummersbach and even against champions Füchse Berlin.

Since nominally easier tasks await coach Torsten Jansen’s team in the coming weeks, there is a good chance that they will be able to eliminate all doubts about staying in the league by Christmas. We can be “very satisfied” with the first third of the season, said HSVH captain Niklas Weller. “The even more important games are coming now, and we have to be there for them too.” The guest performance at Frisch Auf Göppingen is on Thursday (7 p.m., in the live center at NDR.de).

Flensburg is now in the summit meeting with SC Magdeburg

The SG is also undefeated after the eleventh matchday. She leads the table with 20:2 points. Coach Ales Pajovic’s team remained undefeated in their 15th competitive game this season. “I don’t see us as leaders because SC Magdeburg only has one minus point,” said Kevin Möller in an interview with NDR.

Next Saturday, the people of Flensburg have it in their own hands to change this – then the SCM will be a guest in the Bundesliga at 8 p.m. (in the live center at NDR.de). Before that, there is the European League game against the Romanian club AHC Potaissa Turda on Tuesday (6.45 p.m.).

SG consistently punishes Hamburg’s weak phase

The man from the first minutes in the Flensburg Arena was Robin Haug. HSVH’s Norwegian goalkeeper fended off three throws from the hosts in the early stages, including a strong save on a throw from his compatriot Kent Robin Tönnesen (7th). After the 5:5 (12th minute), however, the guests made a number of missed throws and technical errors, and they also struggled with the decisions of the referee team Marcus Hurst/Mirko Krag – and that was understandable at points.

The Hanseatic League didn’t manage to score for six minutes, and the SG used this time to pull away to 9:5. With his goal to make it 12:6 (21st), Flensburg’s Emil Jakobsen ensured that Jansen resorted to the green card and took a time out. He spoke reassuringly to his team.

Results, table standings and match days at a glance.

The hosts’ lead did not grow to more than six goals in the first half. On the contrary: the SG made some negligence in the final minutes of the first section. Among other things, Luca Witzke, who had recovered from a shoulder injury, introduced himself with a bad pass, which Casper Mortsensen used to counterattack and score. At the break, Flensburg was only four goals ahead (17:13).

Kevin Möller is a strong supporter of the SG

In the meantime, the Schleswig-Holsteiners also had advantages in the goalkeeping position: Haug had a save rate of 28 percent after 35 minutes, while SG keeper Kevin Möller had a very strong 46 percent. The 36-year-old Dane, who is leaving Flensburg-Handewitt after the season, fended off a seven-meter shot from his compatriot Frederik Bo Andersen (34th). Shortly afterwards, the SG was six goals ahead again with a score of 20:14 (36th).

But the people of Hamburg were far from distant. HSVH, who radically reduced the number of technical errors in the second half, came closer goal by goal. Right winger Andersen made it 23:24 (45th) with a quick counterattack. The Egyptian national goalkeeper Mohamed El-Tayar was now standing between the posts at HSVH.

But Flensburg’s reaction was very good and ultimately decisive in winning the game. Thanks in particular to Kevin Möller’s saves, the SG managed to pull ahead by five goals (31:26, 53rd). The Hamburgers were no longer able to react to this renewed tightening by the hosts. The most successful Flensburg player was Marko Grgic with seven goals, while at HSVH it was Nicolaj Jörgensen with the same number.