Defeat in Kiel, pressure in Zagreb

The 59th Northern derby between THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt offered almost every element of handball. Fight, quick speed, but also a hectic game with many technical mistakes – all in 60 minutes that ended with a 30:28 (15:14) Kiel made an important step towards the German title with the victory.

The Flensburg players had the chance to equalise just a couple of seconds before the end, but the ball slipped out of the hand of right winger Torge Johannsen.

The guests will not have too much time to mourn this bitter defeat. On Sunday at 16:00 hrs, the Bundesliga side will travel in Zagreb where they will have to face big pressure.

“This will be our last chance,” knows the sports director, Anders Dahl-Nielsen, well. “We showed in Kiel that we can fight. This is what we have to do in Zagreb.”

Coach Kent-Harry Andersson has also gained confidence from this last performance – and also from the job done by Michael Knudsen. The Danish line player, who recently had an injury, was in the defence of the Danish team. “That was the old Knudsen again,” said Kent-Harry Andersson happily. On the other hand, the test on the knee of Johnny Jensen came out negative.

Zagreb game coming up

The entrance to the Dom Sportova is a very special thing for one of the players: Blazenko Lackovic.

“Zagreb has a high class team with many experienced, individually strong players,” says the Croatian national player about his former club. “I’m sure that Zagreb have self-confidence now.”

Background: the Croatian champions have beaten Portland San Antonio two weeks ago by 29:23. Flensburg lost against the Spanish side 22:30 last weekend.