04.03.2021, 06:45
Kiel record comfortable win against Zagreb

GROUP B REVIEW: THW Kiel impressively defeated HC PPD Zagreb to remain unbeaten on the court in the EHF Champions League in 2021

Although THW Kiel’s third-place finish in group B had already been confirmed before the throw-off of their match against HC PPD Zagreb, the defending and four-time EHF Champions League Men champions were eager to end the group phase with another victory.

Two days after beating Celje 33:29, Kiel defeated Zagreb 36:30. The record Croatian champions have lost all 14 group matches, while Kiel finish on 16 points, two points ahead of Aalborg and Motor but below Barça and Veszprém. 

GROUP B
THW Kiel (GER) vs HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) 36:30 (23:15)

• after winning the EHF Champions League 2019/20 title on 29 December 2020, Kiel's subsequent four wins and a draw mean that they have not lost any group match played on court
• Zagreb (zero points) finish with the weakest result of any team since the playing system was changed to eight teams per group in the 2015/16 season. Besiktas in 2015/16 and Kadetten Schaffhausen in 2016/17 both recorded the previous low of two points
• After an equal start, Kiel forged ahead from 11:11 to 21:14 in an 11-minute period that decided the outcome of the match before the break 
• with 10 saves at a 40 per cent save efficiency, goalkeeper Dario Quenstedt was THW Kiel's best player in the first half
• Kiel's biggest lead in the match was eight goals – and although they decelerated in the closing stages, the victory was never endangered
• Kiel will either face Porto or Szeged in the play-offs, while Zagreb will duel with the top-ranked team from group A: either Kielce or Flensburg

What a story for Oskar Sunnefeldt

On 6 October 2020, THW Kiel announced the signing of 22-year-old left back Oskar Sunnefeldt from Danish side Sonderjyske as a replacement for Nikola Bilyk, who will miss the whole season due to a torn ACT.

On 29 December 2020, Sunnefeldt won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with Kiel, and due to an injury to another player, he was also a late replacement in Sweden’s silver-medal winning team at the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship in Egypt. On Thursday, the Swedish left back was Kiel’s top scorer, scoring nine goals.

TEXT: EHF / Björn Pazen