THW Kiel strives for a mandatory win against FA Göppingen

AUDIO: THW Kiel wins against Göppingen (1 min)

by Hanno Bode

However, coach Filip Jicha’s team had a mixed performance in front of their home crowd. In attack, the Schleswig-Holstein team missed an unusually large number of chances. Possibly a concentration problem, which was also partly due to a certain level of tiredness. Because in the third game within seven days – including the duel with champions Füchse Berlin a week ago – the “Zebras” could not be expected to put on a gala performance.

Results, table standings and match days at a glance.

Many technical errors in a turbulent game

It was not a game for handball aesthetes that the spectators saw in the first half. Both teams alternated good and unsuccessful actions with great regularity. After around 15 minutes there were already a total of seven technical errors, three of which were made by the THW and one more by the guests. It was initially a restless encounter in which the rivals were rarely successful after rehearsed moves from the positional attack.

Much was resolved on both sides through individual class. And when it comes to player material, Kiel is far more prominent than the Swabians. Accordingly, the home team quickly led by three goals in what was initially a wild exchange of blows (6:3/11th).

THW keeps failing because of keeper Sæverås

However, the Jicha team was initially unable to break away any further. And keeper Kristian Sæverås in particular played a big part in this. With eight saves in the first 30 minutes, the Norwegian even trumped THW goalkeeper Andreas Wolff, who defused six of Göppingen’s throws in the first half.

The national goalkeeper’s front men only became more confident in their actions in the last few minutes before half-time. Now the “Zebras” game became clearer and more dominant. A temporary five-goal lead (15:10/28th) was evidence of the Schleswig-Holsteiners’ improved performance in the first half.

THW exploits opportunities, but coverage is secure

After the break, the North Germans showed their different face again. A little erratic in attack, a little too timid in defense – and the nice lead was almost gone. Göppingen came within one goal (17:18/36.) and thus silenced the Ostseehalle. However, only in the very short term. Just seconds later, Erik Persson received a two-minute penalty. And with the advantage, the THW was able to pull ahead again by three goals (20:17/38.).

Soon after, Kiel’s 25:20 lead showed on the scoreboard (42nd). The preliminary decision? Not at all! With a 3-0 run to make it 23:25 (46th), the guests created excitement again. Jicha’s facial expressions sometimes slipped because his team continued to miss too many chances in attack. The former world-class backfield player and his protégés will still have to work on finishing. The Czech was largely satisfied with the defensive performance.

In the end, a mediocre performance was enough for the record champion to win against an opponent who could actually have sent the points to the fjord straight away. The Swabians’ last victory to date was 47 years ago.

The “Zebras” showed a concentrated performance over long stretches of the game and are in the main round early after their fourth success in the fourth game.

In a breathtakingly intense Bundesliga top game, the handball record champion lost out to the current title holder.