Kiel handball team loses 18:27 against Aalborg HB
Record handball champions THW Kiel have suffered their second defeat in the group stage of the Champions League. On Thursday, the North Germans lost 18:27 (6:11) to Danish runners-up Aalborg HB. At the end of the first half of the season, THW remain top of Group A with 10:4 points. However, Aalborg, the new runners-up, came as close as one point with 9:5 points. The best scorers were Niclas Ekberg with seven goals for the hosts and Sebastian Barthold with five goals for the Danes.
Niklas Landin, who returned to his home country at the start of the season after eight years in Kiel, was immediately at the heart of the action. In the first half alone, the Aalborg keeper saved seven-meter shots from Ekberg, his brother Magnus Landin and Elias Ellefsen á Skipagötu. In the end, Niklas Landin made a strong 19 saves.
THW completely lost the thread after taking a 4:2 lead (10th minute). Many technical mistakes were compounded by poor throwing decisions. As a result, the Danes pulled away to 11:5 (26'). Kiel went more than eleven minutes without scoring in this phase.
The North Germans also failed to get off to a good start to the second half. The visitors scored three goals in just over a minute and extended their lead to 14:7 (32'). THW's Head Coach Filip Jicha called his final timeout in the 45th minute. That did nothing to change the first home defeat in the current premier league season.
Despite the loss, THW Kiel, known as the Champions League handball champions for men, are still leading Group A with 10 points. In the Champions League match against Aalborg HB, THW Kiel's top scorer Niclas Ekberg managed to score seven goals, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 18:27 defeat.
Source: www.dpa.com
