27.05.2012, 10:09
THW Kiel - Winners of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2011/12

THW Kiel 26:21 BM Atletico Madrid

THW Kiel (GER) vs. BM Atletico Madrid (ESP) 26:21 (13:10)
VELUX EHF FINAL4
Final
LANXESS arena, Cologne, Germany

The hero was the same as in 2010: Goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer was the key to the third title in the VELUX EHF Champions League for THW Kiel - same as he had been the match winner two years ago in the final against Barcelona.

For full information about the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2012 including quotes, match reports, statistics, features, videos and much, much more visit www.ehfFINAL4.com.

21 saves of the Frenchmen in the 26:21 (13:10) against Atletico Madrid secured the third trophy for the Germans after 2007 and 2010.

The final of the 2012 edition of the VELUX E HF FINAL4 in Cologne was a 100 percent defence battle, in which Kiel had more alternatives, the greater will and power – and Thierry “Titi” Omeyer, who won the EHF Champions League title for the fourth time.

Atletico Madrid lost their second straight VELUX EHF Champions league final after 2011 against FC Barcelona – and after two victories in the old playing system it was the first time that Atletico (former Ciudad Real) lost a final against Kiel after their 2008 and 2009 titles.

Both teams and 20.000 spectators had been pushed and powered right before the starting whistle by the legendary “The final  Countdown”, live performed by the rock band EUROPE in the LANXESS arena. And cheered by a brilliant atmosphere the final clash of this season began – which became a typical final defence clash of two walls made of concrete.

Madrid started better, led 6:4 after 13 minutes, before the great time of THW shooter Kim Andersson began. Scoring his fifth goal the Swede brought the first lead to Kiel at 7:6. But the Spaniards returned easily to 9:7.

Thanks to some Omeyer saves and superb defence performance THW Kiel – pushed by thousands of fans – started their engines. Young Icelandic Aron Palmarsson took the responsibility, scored three times and was the key for six straight goals for the Germans to 13:9. With his fourth goal Kiril Lazarov reduced to three – as Madrid’s Joan Canellas missed the last Atletico chance by a direct free throw.

And with the beginning of the second half history repeated: Like in the successful 2010 VELUX EHF Champions League final, Omeyer shut up the shop, made the Madrid attackers go crazy with his world class saves.

Though Kiel did not score in the first six minutes of the second half, Atletico could not reduce the gap: With seven saves in only eight minutes Omeyer was the key factor that Kiel was still in lead.

And Atletico was weakened even more: After his third suspension Roberto Parrondo received the red card in minute 41 at the score of 15:13 for the Germans. Not this suspension, but the lack of ideas in attack was the reason, why Madrid could not catch-up.

With long attacks the Spaniards tried to find a hole in the THW defence – but unsuccessful. On the other hand, Kiel missed several shots, too – so the number of goals after 15 minutes of the second half was only six (3:3).

13 minutes before the final buzzer and Kim Andersson’s sixth goal Kiel was ahead for the first time with five goals at 18:13 – and more than half of the LANXESS Arena was shouting “THW, THW”. Madrid lost more and more power and concentration in attack and defence, which caused more suspensions – and thanks to their big number of rotating alternatives Kiel was the fresher team.

A double strike of Jicha brought the 21:15, but the real hero was Omeyer, who received several standing ovations by the audience. Though intermediately Madrid came closer, latest Jicha decided the final with his fifth of in total six goals to 24:19.  

TEXT: Björn Pazen