THW Kiel Ends Derby Curse in European League Victory Over Flensburg
Kiel secured a 32:30 victory against SG Flensburg-Handewitt on Tuesday evening, marking their first win against their rivals in any competition since 2021. This result places the German handball record champions in a favorable position in the European League’s main round group 1, bolstering their chances for direct qualification to the quarter-finals.
First Derby Win in Five Attempts
The THW Kiel achieved their first derby victory over SG Flensburg-Handewitt after a streak of five consecutive defeats. The team’s triumph was attributed to a significant performance improvement in the second half. “A win against Flensburg and especially in Flensburg always feels extremely solid,” stated THW circuit runner Hendrik Pekeler according to Sportschau.
Second-Half Comeback Secures Victory
After initially struggling to replicate the form displayed in their recent victory over Bundesliga leaders Magdeburg, Kiel demonstrated increased defensive aggression in the second half, effectively disrupting Flensburg’s tempo game. Nikola Bilyk led the Kiel scoring with seven goals.
First European Cup Defeat for SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Despite a strong performance from Emil Jakobsen, who scored ten goals, SG Flensburg-Handewitt suffered their first defeat in this year’s European Cup competition. Eurohandball.com reports that this loss ended a 22-match unbeaten run for Flensburg in the EHF European League.
Upcoming Matches
Both teams will have a three-week break before facing each other again in two more derby matches in mid-March. The first, on March 10th, will be a European League second leg, potentially deciding the group winner. The second, on March 14th, will be a league game.
Match Details
SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs. THW Kiel: 30:32 (15:13)
Top Scorers:
- Flensburg: Emil Jakobsen (10 goals)
- Kiel: Nikola Bilyk (7 goals)
Andreas Wolff, Kiel’s national team goalkeeper, played a crucial role in securing the victory, particularly in the final phase of the game.