10.11.2018, 07:40
PSG struggle but remain undefeated

GROUP B REVIEW: Despite missing key players as Tobias Karlsson and Magnus Röd, Flensburg came close to upsetting the French champions but ultimately went down 29:28

PSG struggle but remain undefeated

Ahead on the scoring board for more than 50 minutes was not enough for Flensburg-Handewitt against PSG in the VELUX EHF Champions League on Saturday evening.

The hosts came back thanks to a stronger defence and some saves by Thierry Omeyer, and got their seventh straight win.

• PSG were behind for 52 minutes but ultimately claimed the win

• Flensburg’s Jeppsson was best scorer with nine, PSG’s Gensheimer had eight

• PSG remain undefeated after seven games

GROUP B

Paris Saint-Germain HB (FRA) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 29:28 (12:15)

For Flensburg, the start of the game was perfect. While PSG were unusually struggling offensively, the young German players were finding solutions with long range shots.

Goeran Johannessen and Simon Jeppsson were successful. The two backs helped their team get an important push around the 12th minute, as Flensburg took a three-goal lead which they retained until half-time (15:12).

The second half didn’t start better for the hosts from Paris, as Mikkel Hansen and Nédim Rémili were perfectly stopped by the visitors’ defence.

Simon Jeppsson was still scoring with shots from distance and with the end in sight, Flensburg were ahead by four (24:20), the biggest lead of the game.

But an injury was the turning point of the game. Goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales was forced off the court with an ankle injury, and Thierry Omeyer came back. The oldest player on the court displayed all his experience with five saves in the last 10 minutes, while his teammates finally found solutions offensively.

PSG came back and used the last timeout to put Uwe Gensheimer in a perfect position to score the winning goal (29:18) a few seconds before the final buzzer.

Afterwards Flensburg right wing Lasse Svan said: "We worked hard to bring two points back to Flensburg. When you play against one of the toughest team in the world, you need to be at your best for 60 minutes. We were for 55. We are a bit disappointed but proud as well."

TEXT: Kevin Domas / ew