Champions League
Thanks to catching up: THW Kiel reaches the Final Four
Kiel’s Patrick Wiencek celebrates a goal. In the end, THW managed to make it into the top four. photo
© Axel Heimken/dpa
The handball record champions made up a nine-goal deficit against Montpellier in the quarter-final second leg of the premier class and booked their ticket to the final tournament with a 31:21 win.
Handball record champions THW Kiel still made it into the final tournament with the magical night they had hoped for Champions League done. After 30:39 in the first leg, the North Germans prevailed in the quarter-final second leg against the French representatives Montpellier HB with 31:21 (17:12).
Afterwards, the THW players hugged each other and cheered. The best throwers were Eric Johansson with eight goals for Kiel and Lucas Pellas with six goals for the guests.
The hosts tried to set an example with tough defense right from the start. Captain Domagoj Duvnjak received a time penalty in the first minute of the game. The North Germans began the attack nervously. Niclas Ekberg put the first seven meter shot well over the goal (6th). Kiel’s defense specialist Petter Överby then exaggerated his defensive effort and was shown the red card after a hard tackle against Valentin Porte (11th).
With 16:11 by Hendrik Pekeler (26th), the THW had for the first time made up more than half of the nine-goal deficit from the first duel. The pivot remained the man for the important goals. He scored 20:14 (35th) and 27:20 (49th). The Kiel Arena was boiling when Johansson threw the THW into the Final Four with 31:21 (58th). Montpellier only scored twice in the last 15 minutes and did not convert any of their three seven-meter penalties. This also played into the hands of THW coach Filip Jicha’s team.