Clear win for Flensburg despite difficult start

SG Flensburg-Handewitt gained contact with the top of Group B of the VELUX EHF Champions League, as they overcame a troublesome start to defeat Orlen Wisla Plock by seven goals 35:28 in the opening game of the Round 3 in the FLENS-ARENA of Flensburg. Thomas Mogensen, Bogdan Radivojevic and Drasko Nenadic scored seven goals each for the hosts, while Valentin Ghionea was the Plock top scorer with the same output.

GROUP B
SG Flensburg-Handewitt(GER) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 35:28 (21:16)

Flensburg playmaker Thomas Mogensen, who had to leave the Sunday match against Alingsas after 40 minutes due to a blow to his left knee, had become fit for the match.

This was particularly important to Flensburg – partly as their young and talented Swedish playmaker Jim Gottfridsson is sidelined for another seven weeks due to injury, and partly because Mogensen proved a great organiser of Flensburg's attacking play once again beside being a dangerous shooter himself.

Still, it seemed as if Plock were going to steamroll the hosts from the start, taking a 6:1 lead after only six minutes.

It was not a match for the defences, but still it was a more aggressive Flensburg defence which changed to course of the game.

After 14 minutes and 45 second could their Serbian left back Drasko Nenadic equalise to 9:9, and less than three minutes later Mogensen gave the home team their first lead at 11:10.

The rest of the high-scoring first half was dominated by Flensburg who could enjoy a five-goal lead at half time.

Only one and a half minute into the second half, Plock coach Manuel Cadenas found the need to take his second time-out in the match, as his team had fallen two further goals behind already.

At first, the time-out seemed to help, as Plock managed to reduce to 24:20. However, it did not take Flensburg long to double the lead to eight goals, and even though the visitors managed to get a bit closer again, they could never really threaten the Flensburg win.

Flensburg now have four points, the same amount as KIF Kolding København and FC Barcelona, but for a match more than those two teams.