Handball
Cup surprise: Kiel’s handball team loses against Wetzlar
Filip Jicha and THW Kiel were surprisingly eliminated from the cup against HSG Wetzlar. photo
© Eroll Popova/dpa
Big surprise in the third round of the German Handball Cup. The twelve-time winner from Kiel loses in their own hall against the league’s penultimate HSG Wetzlar.
Record winner THW Kiel is completely unexpected in the third round of the German Handball Cup eliminated. The twelve-time winner lost in their own hall to the league’s penultimate HSG Wetzlar with 31:32 (17:19).
The best thrower in front of the 4,389 spectators in the Kiel Arena was Domen Novak from Wetzlar with nine hits. Eric Johansson scored seven times for the disappointing hosts.
“Not a good atmosphere” at halftime
Unlike the 33:22 in the league game a month ago, the Kiel team had big problems with the Central Hesse team. Even a three-goal lead (7:4/7th minute) didn’t give THW any security at the start of the game. Wetzlar took command. At 12:15 (23rd), the hosts were lucky that HSG right winger Novak put a seven-meter shot wide of the goal.
THW coach Filip Jicha loudly encouraged his team during a timeout. At halftime there was “not a good atmosphere” in the dressing room, said Kiel pivot Petter Överby on the online broadcaster Dyn. Wetzlar’s Hendrik Wagner certified that his team had done “a huge job in attack” at that point.
The guests remained calm even after the break. For the Kiel team, goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene ensured that his team didn’t fall behind. Shortly before the end, the outsider led 32:30 (58th) – and the THW only managed to catch up.