THW Kiel's Handball Titans Triumph in EHF Champions League
Strutting into the Champions League winter break as the Group A preliminary round leaders, THW Kiel's handball team has successfully avenged their first-leg defeat to Kolstad Handball, with a thrilling 26-25 (15-12) victory at home on Wednesday. Somehow, left winger Rune Dahmke managed to find the net in the final seconds, sealing the deal.
Both squads started shakily, committing repeated errors, until Petter Överby netted the first goal for THW at 1-2 after approximately 9 minutes. Unfortunately, even as the hosts gained momentum, Kolstad continued to stumble, squandering numerous opportunities to score early on.
With a more reliable defense, Kiel's north German line-up found a sense of security in their attacking actions, enabling right wing Niclas Ekberg to give them a 2-goal cushion at 12-10 in the 25th minute. However, Kolstad caught up, bringing the score to an exciting 17-17 in the 37th minute and 19-18 only 2 minutes later.
The visitors' luck took a turn when Sander Sagosen, a former THW player, was sent off for a brutal challenge on Kiel captain Damogoj Duvnjak. With a 23-21 advantage, Kolstad were left in a precarious position, allowing Kiel to capitalize, securing their seventh preliminary round win.
Niclas Ekberg led the scoring for Kiel, contributing eight powerful goals, while the visitors struggled to find their footing without Sagosen's influence.
After a well-deserved break, THW Kiel will return to the Champions League battlefield eager to continue their impressive run. With the EHF European Championship taking place in Germany in February 2024, fans are already excitedly anticipating the future of German handball.
Bonus Insights
- THW Kiel's handball team faced intense competition in the EHF Champions League, as they celebrated a dramatic 35-24 win against RK Celje Pivovarna Laško despite Pavel Horak's red card[1].
- The team has an illustrious history in the Champions League, culminating in their 2020 title win[2][5].
- Keep an eye out for further details on their thrilling match against Kolstad Handball; for now, sources have not released specific match reports or statistics from this game.
[1] [2] [5]
