Drama at the start of the competitive game: handball champion THW Kiel defeated cup winner Rhein-Neckar Löwen in a gripping game and secured the first title of the new season with the Supercup. The Kiel team triumphed in the nerve thriller in Düsseldorf after throwing seven meters with 37:36 (33:33, 16:16) and set a first sign.
For the people from Kiel it was already the fourth Supercup title in a row and the 13th overall. The best pitchers for the zebras were Harald Reinkind and Patrick Wiencek, each with eight goals. Jannik Kohlbacher and Patrick Groetzki stood out for the lions with seven goals. Over the entire season, no team managed to gain a lead of more than three goals. Seconds before the final siren, Niklas Ekberg brought Kiel into the seven-meter throw with his goal.
“An incredible game with many ups and downs. That’s how you can start the season,” said Kiel’s Nikola Bilyk on “DAZN”: “We may be the lucky winners today, but that gives a good feeling.”
Knorr doesn’t close the bag
Both teams had clearly expressed their hunger for the next title through players and officials before the game. After a short start-up period, both teams got into the game better and better. After about a quarter of an hour it was THW Kiel, led by Reinkind, sole entertainer in the right backcourt, who was able to break away with four goals for the first time.
However, the Löwen managed to equalize just in time for the break – and shortly after the break, Juri Knorr even took the lead for the first time. But as in the first section, the game remained tight. At 25:25 it was time for the last quarter of an hour. The Löwen now had advantages, but Knorr didn’t close the sack ten seconds before the end, and Kiel equalized again in return.
Löwen trainer Sebastian Hinze quarreled: “We have to use those things in the end. It’s a lost trophy.” Knorr said: “I should have closed it, that annoys me.”
The handball season opened with the Supercup for the 30th time. The Bundesliga will start the next round on Thursday with two parallel opening games. THW Kiel will make its season debut on Sunday (3:00 p.m./Dyn) at newly promoted HBW Balingen-Weilstetten.
The lions will play first in the European League at HC Vardar Skopje on Saturday and will play their first Bundesliga game of the new season on August 31 (7:00 p.m./Dyn) at Frisch Auf Göppingen.
THW Kiel – Rhein-Neckar Löwen 37:36 (33:33, 16:16) nS – Goals: Reinkind (8), Wiencek (8), Bilyk (6), Ekberg (3), Wallinius (2), Ellefsen a Skipagötu (2), Johansson (2), Dahmke (1), Överby (1) for Kiel – Groetzki (7), Kohlbacher (7), Lindenchrone (5), Knorr (4), Davidsson (3), Ahouansou (2 ), Zacharias (2), Jacobsen (1), Vest Kirkelokke (1), More (1) for Rhine-Neckar.