16.10.2014, 10:07
Flensburg make it all clear in the second half

GROUP B MATCH REVIEW: Defending champions survived the first half letargy in Istanbul and celebrated a convincing win at the end. Newcomers from Besiktas recorded their best half and the narrowest defeat in the season so far.

Flensburg make it all clear in the second half

Despite losing a five-goal lead in the first half, SG Flensburg-Handewitt made contact with the top of Group B of the VELUX EHF Champions League through a 27:20 win away against Besiktas MOGAZ HT on Thursday night.

Flensburg, who made everything clear in the second half now have six points after four matches in third position of the group.

GROUP B
Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) vs SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 20:27 (11:11)

With the clear win in Istanbul, Flensburg established contact with the top of the group, but the reigning VELUX EHF Champions League winners had their trouble, especially in the first half, and not until the last 20 minutes did they make everything clear.

Flensburg were still missing injured Swedish playmaker Jim Gottfridsson, while left wing Anders Eggert also had stayed at home, nursing Achilles tendon trouble.

These personnel problems did not seem to bother Flensburg at the start, though. Without any problems, the visitors got up 3:0, 6:1 and 7:2.

However, a more aggressive defence by Besiktas and increasing lack of concentrations by Flensburg soon brought the Turkish champions back in the game, and after 22 minutes and ten seconds, the hosts equalised to 9:9.

The rest of the first half remained equal. Flensburg got two up again, but after the first 30 minutes, Besiktas could look back on their best half time so far in the competition, as the score was even, 11:11.

The home team also got their best result in their group phase campaign so far, as the seven-goal defeat was their smallest loss in their four first group matches.

They even had the triumph of keeping Flensburg on a short leash until about ten minutes into the second half.

From that point on, however, the favourites made the larger experience count and created the deciding distance.

With the win, Flensburg are on six points, just like the top teams KIF Kolding Kobenhavn and FC Barcelona, but for one match more than those two teams.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br