Hamburg (AP) – Record champion THW Kiel has fended off SC Magdeburg’s first attack on its long-standing dominance in German handball.
The Schleswig-Holsteiners won the final of the DHB Cup in Hamburg with a 28:21 (12:13) against the success-hungry SCM and secured the cup for the twelfth time in their club history. “I’m super happy. I’m very proud of the team,” said THW trainer Filip Jicha.
In front of 13,200 spectators in the sold-out Barclays Arena, both teams delivered a high-class and dramatic final. Kiel had the better starting phase because Magdeburg had problems with the defensive bulwark of the North Germans. In addition, Niklas Landin, the current world handball player of the year, was in the THW goal. “We only have one problem,” said SCM trainer Bennet Wiegert during a break, “that we discard too much.”
This final was also about prestige
The impressive form of the THW goalkeeper was not achieved by his Danish national team colleague Yannick Green in the Magdeburg goal. Landin parried 14 throws, Green six. However, with a 5-0 run, SCM, who were confident in combining, put themselves in the lead up until the half-time break. After the change of sides, it was just as competitive. Once again, the people of Kiel successfully defended their goal and took the lead with fast counterattacks. In the last few minutes, the Kielers managed almost everything, the disappointed Magdeburgers only a little.
The dogged duels proved that this final was also about prestige, about being number one in Germany. No team wanted to back down. The coaches Wiegert and Jicha on the sidelines were also highly committed. National coach Alfred Gislason, who once coached both teams, had to wipe the sweat from his forehead during the half-time break. “I’m attached to both clubs,” said the Icelander, who won the Champions League with both SCM (1999 to 2006) and THW Kiel (2008 to 2019).
Cup finals move to Cologne
However, the defeat in the final will not deter Magdeburg from their other plans. In a few weeks, the Bundesliga leaders want to hold the championship trophy in their hands for the second time since 2001. Eight games before the end of the season, the Bördestadt team are eight points ahead of defending champions Kiel and Füchsen Berlin. The team is already world club champions this season. The next triumph is victory in the European League.
The cup tournament bid farewell to Hamburg. After 28 years in the Hanseatic city, the final round is moving to the 18,000-seat Lanxess Arena in Cologne. The venue in Hamburg only has 13,200 seats. Jicha, whose team all won their twelve cups in Hamburg, regrets the move. “I really like being here and I’m very sad that we’re leaving Hamburg,” said the 40-year-old Czech. “I say goodbye with an incredible feeling.”