Wing gala as Kiel shatter GOG’s hopes

They had started on the same level after each two victories in their first two EHF Cup group matches, but after this direct duel THW Kiel are now far ahead of their Danish opponent’s GOG, not only by these two points, but with the three-time Men’s EHF Champions League and Men’s EHF Cup winners having more in their account after the 37:23 win.

• It was Kiel’s fourth victory by 10 goals or higher in this EHF Cup season
• Niclas Ekberg (10) and Rune Dahmke (9) scored 19 of THW’s 37 total goals
• Top scorer for GOG was Odinn Thor Rikhardsson with six strikes.

GROUP D
THW Kiel (GER) vs GOG (DEN) 37:23 (19:10)

Almost 8,000 fans witnessed a handball gala on Sunday afternoon, with an unexpectedly one-sided demonstration of power by the hosts of the forthcoming AKQUINET EHF Cup Finals, THW Kiel.

Despite beating the Danish side in seven of their last eight previous international matches, the German side had respect for GOG but their wingers Niclas Ekberg (in the first half) and Rune Dahmke (second half) both put in outstanding performances, slotting home from counter attacks mainly.

GOG’s coach Nicolej Krickau had already used his green time-out card for the second time just 21 minutes into the first half by when Kiel had easily-extended their gap from 8:5 to 14:7. And even in the first half, Dahmke netted in for the first 10-goal lead of the hosts, who scored from all over the court and were firing on all cylinders.

The 19:10 half-time score ensured the match decision was already made, but if those watching thought Kiel would decelerate, they would be proved wrong as THW ran over their opponents.

One clear indicator of this was Krickau’s third, and last, time-out, taken in the 35th minute with his opponents 14 goals up (25:11).

25 minutes later, when the final buzzer sounded, the difference was the same (37:23) as the hosts extended their spectacular home series of results in the Men’s EHF Cup to 19 victories in 19 matches.

"We played a strong defence with Niklas Landin very good behind it," said THW Kiel coach Alfred Gislason. "We also played fast handball in attack. Many things went well this afternoon."