Barça win fifth Super Globe after thriller against Kiel
The IHF Super Globe Final was a true thriller until the final whistle, a real clash of two powerhouses – and in the end a former THW Kiel player who scored the crucial goal for Barça against his former side with the final shot of the match as Aron Palmarsson netted for the 34:32.
“We were doing everything to get this trophy, but Barça did even more and deserved to win the IHF Super Globe,” said new THW coach Filip Jicha, former Kiel and Barça player. His side was 17:15 up at the break but gave the victory away in the second half.
After 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018, Barça took their fifth title in this unofficial club world championship, which for the first time was hosted in Saudi Arabia. Like in 2012, when they were defeated by Atletico Madrid, 2011 Super Globe winners Kiel lost a final against a Spanish team.
It was a nail-biting game, in which Barcelona was ahead for most of the time. One key for success were the 11 goals by Luka Cindric, another key was the more movable defence of Barça, and even a red card against Dika Mem in the final stages did not stop them.
In the beginning, Kiel stood stronger in defence thanks to goalkeeper Niklas Landin, who had 13 saves in total, but minute by minute Barça improved. Even seven goals of top scorer Niclas Ekberg did not bring Kiel back on the winners’ way, but they showed morale and kept fighting at 33:29 down with two minutes left on the clock.
While Barça and Kiel finished first and second, the third participant from Europa ended in third place: HC Vardar won the bronze-medal match against hosts Al Wehda.
But the 30:26 (16:16) was a tough piece of work for the reigning VELUX EHF Champions League winners, who secured victory only in the closing stages when they went 29:24 up in minute 57.
Vardar’s top scorer was Ivan Cupic with seven goals.
For all three European teams, the Super Globe was an ideal dress rehearsal on the international stage, two weeks before the VELUX EHF Champions League 2019/20 season throws off.
IHF Super Globe 2019:
Thursday, 29 August:
Semi-finals:
- Barça vs Al Wehda 34:24 (13:16)
- THW Kiel vs HC Vardar 34:30 (19:17)
Saturday, 31 August:
Third-place match:
- Al Wehda vs HC Vardar 26:30 (16:16)
Final:
- Barça vs THW Kiel 34:32 (15:17)
[Photos © 2019 IHF / Stephane Pillaud]
TEXT:
Björn Pazen / ew