10.02.2019, 09:45
Unleashed Zebras run over Granollers

GROUP D REVIEW: After a weak start, the hosts of the EHF Cup Finals enjoyed an easy-going opener

Unleashed Zebras run over Granollers

The first-ever duel between former EHF Cup winners Fraikin BM. Granollers and THW Kiel ended in an unexpectedly clear win for the Germans. The host were overrun by the Zebras, who underlined their ambitions for the competition.

• This was one of Granollers’ biggest EHF Cup defeats
• Kiel turned a 5:9 deficit into a 18:11 halftime score
• Adrian Figueras was the game’s top scorer with seven goals for Granollers

GROUP D
Fraikin BM Granollers (ESP) vs THW Kiel (GER) 22:33 (11:18)

Midway through the first half Granollers were smiling at life; only 17 minutes later, the hopes of the Catalan club had been shattered by the three-time Champions League and EHF Cup winners.

Kiel had a lacklustre start, being down by 5:9, but when Danish World Championship and All Star Team goalkeeper Niklas Landin got into gear – making 15 saves in total – his team pulled ahead.

Granollers were hit hard by a 13:2 run by THW until the break, with almost all players scoring from all cylinders.

In the second half, even the red card against defence specialist Sebastian Firnhaber after three suspensions did not stop Kiel’s flow. Right after Firnhaber had taken his seat in the tribune in minute 47, his teammate Miha Zarabec netted in to put Kiel 10 ahead.

Seven goals from the match’s top scorer Adrian Figueras were not enough to stop Kiel’s victory, its 21st straight win across all competitions of this season.

TEXT: Björn Pazen/jh