HSV maintain perfect record after winning German duel

It was a stunner for 30 minutes, then the level decreased after the break, but the tension rose until the final stages. Joan Canellas secured the victory of defending VELUX EHF Champions League winners HSV Hamburg in their All-German duel of Group D against SG Flensburg-Handewitt in the ehfTV.com Match of the Week.

While HSV took their fifth victory in their fifth match, Flensburg are already three points below before the rematch on Thursday on home ground.

Group D:

HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 32:27 (15:14)

They danced with their mascot „Horny“ on the court, knowing that they made a huge step towards the Group D victory. HSV Hamburg were cheered by 6,844 spectators after increasing the distance to their German opponent Flensburg by a tough piece of work.

“Hamburg were the better team and they fully deserved to win, as we could not match them,” Flensburg coach Ljubomir Vranjes said. “As expected, little things decided,” added SG goalkeeper Mattias Andersson.

Both teams started with full speed and power and after the reigning trophy holders initially forged ahead to 5:2, the match was fully equal until the break. The lead changed constantly, both goalkeepers – Johannes Bitter (Hamburg) and Mattias Andersson (Flensburg) - saved brilliantly. But the outstanding figure on the field in the first 30 minutes was unstoppable HSV Croat Domagoj Duvnjak.

First when Serbian Flensburg wing Bogdan Radivojevic defended him man-to-man, HSV had to switch and adapt their tactics. At the break, Hamburg were away by 15:14, but it took 13 more minutes until the distance were three goals again for the first time after the 5:2, when Hans Lindberg (in total six goals like Canellas and Duvnjak) scored for the 21:18.

Surprisingly SG coach Ljubomir Vranjes did not stop his huge rotation with young players like Jim Gottfridsson, Hampus Wanne or Olafur Gustafsson, when the match slipped from the hands of his team. Vranjes kept experienced players like Anders Eggert or Thomas Mogensen on the bench, gave playing time for the youngster.

“They did not play perfect, but they were well. Without giving playing time to them, they and the team cannot develop,” Vranjes explained.

And Flensburg remained close until the final stages. Even when Lindberg scored for the 28:23 in minute 55, nothing was decided, as Flensburg scored another triple strike. But when Canellas, who intermediately had scored three straight HSV goals before, hit the net for the 29:25 and 30:26, the deal was sealed.

“The key to success was improving the defence,” said Canellas, who added that “we were lucky in some situations in a top game”. He – like all others from Hamburg – knows, that “it will be a highly tough duel on Thursday in Flensburg.”

HSV coach Martin Schwalb saw “problems in the defence before the break, but then we improved and especially Joan Canellas found the right solutions in attack.”

Best Flensburg scorer was Steffen Weinhold, who scored eight goals from eight attempts.

So SG do not have their fate in their own hands to become group winner, even a victory on home ground on Thursday would not bring them on top of the table.