The SG Flensburg-Handewitt won an important point in Melsungen. THW Kiel won the top game of the Handball Bundesliga at champion SC Magdeburg. The Rhein-Neckar Löwen also got an away win. On Sunday evening, table leader Füchse Berlin followed up with a rather difficult victory.
The three-time German handball champion SG Flensburg-Handewitt avoided his fourth away defeat of the season with a lot of effort. Coach Maik Machulla’s team drew 25:25 (12:12) on Sunday (November 20th, 2022) on the 13th Bundesliga matchday at MT Melsungen.
Melsungen’s winning streak against Flensburg ended
In front of 4,309 spectators in Melsungen in northern Hesse, no team was able to break away by more than two goals in what was always a tight game. For the hosts (15:11 points) it was the first loss of points after five wins in a row. In a thrilling finale, the visitors took a 25-24 lead through Göran Johannessen with 37 seconds to go, but Aidenas Malasinskas equalized for the MT four seconds before the final siren. Former European champion Kai Häfner was the best thrower at Melsungen with seven goals, while Hans Aaron Mensing (5) and Lasse Möller (4) scored best for the SG.
Despite the tie, Flensburg 18:8 points past SC Magdeburg (17:5) in fourth place. The defending champion lost 33:34 in a turbulent and high-class top game at home against record champions THW Kiel.
The 6,600 fans in Magdeburg saw a fast and high-scoring game at a high level, in which neither team was able to gain a clear lead at the beginning. Both teams provided spectacular finishes in the early stages Highlights. Kiel hardly made any mistakes in the first half. Shortly before the break, coach Filip Jicha’s team pulled away by three goals and took this lead into half-time.
Kiel stumbles late
Even after the break, Kiel played disciplined and almost flawlessly, extending the lead to eight goals in the meantime. Two-time world handball player Niklas Landin was a safe support for Kiel with his eleven strong saves in goal. Magdeburg fought back into the game and reduced the deficit to one goal shortly before the end.
In the end, however, Kiel was allowed to celebrate. “Magdeburg caused us a lot of problems, but we prevailed. I’m enormously proud of the boys.”said THW coach Filip Jicha in the sports show and emphasized his strong back axis with Eric Johansson (8 goals) and Nikola Bilyk (7).
Wiegert lacks the reward
But SCM coach Bennet Wiegert also took positives from the sports show: “The way we fought back is extraordinary. I would have liked to see the lads reward themselves for the last 15 minutes.” Magdeburgt’s Omar Magnussen was the best scorer of the game with nine goals. Magdeburg is still in fourth place, but has played fewer games than the top three teams.
Berlin work success against Lemgo
Berlin celebrated a 32:26 work victory against Lemgo. It was only after the narrow gap at the break (12:13) that the home side prevailed through a team effort. When the foxes won their third league in a row, the five-time goal scorers Hans Lindberg and Lasse Bred Andersson were Berlin’s best throwers. The most successful player on the floor, however, was guest ace Lukas Jutecek with six goals.
Meanwhile, DHfK Leipzig moved further away from the relegation zone with the third win in the third game under the new coach Runar Sigtryggsson with 33:26 (18:11) at TVB Stuttgart.
Rhein-Neckar Löwen must fight
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen remain in wait as third. The Mannheimers got a 33:30 (16:18) away win at HC Erlangen. The lions, who had been behind for long stretches, only found their way in the final quarter of an hour.
The guests turned the game around with several saves from goalkeeper Mikael Appelgren and a good number of shots. A goal from Olle Schevfert 13 seconds before the end at 33:30 finally ensured the success of the lions.
Wetzlar releases coach Matschke
The day of away wins was completed by Bergische HC with a 31:27 at bottom ASV Hamm-Westfalen and HSV Hamburg with a 30:28 in Wetzlar. With their seventh win of the season and now 14:12 points in tenth place, HSV made the connection to the top half of the table. Wetzlar parted ways with coach Ben Matschke after the defeat. Take over on an interim basis at the current Table-15. the sporting director Jasmin Camdzic and assistant trainer Filip Mirkulovski took on the trainer’s duties.