German squad succumbs to a massive, crushing defeat.
European League Semifinals: THW Kiel Miss Out on Final Against Rivals Flensburg-Handewitt
In the European League semifinals, the dream of a North German derby final between THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt was dashed when Kiel suffered a dramatic 32:31 loss to Montpellier Handball. Flensburg, on the other hand, secured their spot in the final with a narrow 35:34 victory over MT Melsungen, extending their title defense.
The closely contested match between Flensburg and Melsungen saw the Northern Germans, coached by Ales Pajovic, overcoming a five-goal deficit in the first half. Emil Jakobsen stood out as Flensburg's top scorer, netting nine goals. The lead changed hands multiple times in the second half, but Flensburg maintained their composure in extra time, benefiting from a strong performance by Danish world champion Kevin Möller in goal.
Kiel, who were favored to win, endured a slow start and found themselves trailing by five goals early on. They gradually improved their defensive play and increased their scoring power in attack, managing to take a brief lead in the first half. Following the break, an intense back-and-forth ensued, but it was Montpellier who emerged victorious, with Hesham Elsayed Moham scoring the decisive goal just before the final whistle.
The loss meant Kiel would compete in the third-place match against Melsungen the following day. In the final on Sunday, Flensburg faced Montpellier, seeking their third European League title since 2015. They succeeded in their quest, securing back-to-back championships.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Handball
- THW Kiel
- Flensburg
Despite THW Kiel's strong performance in football, their handball team missed out on the European League final, losing to Montpellier Handball in the semifinals. Meanwhile, rivals Flensburg-Handewitt, known for their dominance in football, defended their European League title by winning the championship in the following match, making them reigning champions of both sports.
