Flensburg in top form already

New tension and a new number one in the Bundesliga, celebrations in Flensburg and high hopes for the start of the Champions League: five month after losing the Champions League final against the old rival, THW Kiel, SG Flensburg won the “return match” in the Bundesliga by 37:32 (20:12).

More than 6,000 spectators filled the hall completely and celebrated the team of coach Kent-Harry Andersson on Saturday.

“It’s a great day for us. I hope we can show a similar performance next weekend when we start the Champions league against Ciudad Real,” said SG manager, Fynn Holpert, after the victory against Kiel.

THW coach, Noka Serdarusic, was disappointed, but made a clear analysis on why his team lost the “match of matches”:

“We played well in the first 15 minutes and were in lead. But we made too many mistakes in the attack, lost too many balls and were punished by Flensburg before the halftime whistle. We lost control and could not turn the match. It was very hard to stop Flensburg, although the pressure was on them. SG played a great match.”

Top performance

Flensburg were too calm in defence in first 15 minutes, and was overrun by THW that took a 7:4 lead. But then the home team speeded up, turned the match at 9:8 and were leading at halftime with a comfortable 20:12.

The spectators were shouting, singing and SG preserved the difference until mid second half.

“We tried to get closer, but in the decisive moments we were not cool enough and made too many mistakes again,” said Kiel’s playmaker, Stefan Lövgren. His club had a chance to equalise, especially after the 28:26 when Kim Andersson scored, but then THW lost their confidence and concentration: three fast breaks decided the match.

“In the last 20 minutes of the first half, we scored nearly every 20 seconds. It was a dream for us, we played very well. We thrashed Kiel with their own weapons such as speed and fast breaks,” said Flensburg’s left winger, Lars Christianssen. His Danish team mate, Thomas Mogensen, signed by Flensburg before the season, made a great match with eight goals. The best Flensburg player, however, was goalkeeper Dan Beutler. He saved 22 shots – even more than Kiel’s Thierry Omeyer.

Bad luck for Kiel: they did not only lose the match, but also their new backcourt player, Filip Jicha. The Czech was injured after 28 minutes and could no longer play. The doctors have to work hard to get him back on court by the start of the Champions League as Christian Zeitz will neither be able to play. Nikola Karabatic was the top scorer of THW with 10 goals.

Flensburg on top of the table

“The problem was that we made too many mistakes, especially in attack,” said THW manager, Uwe Schwenker: “We had the burden of being favourites, so maybe we could not carry this,” he said after Kiel’s first defeat this season after five victories. Flensburg, that made a draw last weekend against Essen, are the new number one in the Bundesliga with one point ahead of Kiel.

“We made a great match and we jumped on the top of the league table. Nevertheless, we are still not the favourite. That remain Kiel,” said SG manager, Fynn Holpert.

“We feel good in the role of outsiders,” repeated SG coach Andersson.

Sports director, Anders Dahl-Nielsen, is looking ahead already: “We have to preserve this performance for next week. In case we play like this, we also have a chance against Ciudad Real in the Champions League.”