Kielce have the better chance to reach the FINAL4 of the Champions League after the draw in North Germany.

By Peter Bruun

SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce 28:28 (13:14)

Before the Match

The match was the first European encounter ever between the two teams, but the statistics still spoke in favor of Flensburg, as the North German Champions League winners of 2014, had only suffered one home defeat in the Champions League this season – 29:28 against Veszprém during the group phase.

Unlike Kielce – they had no trouble disposing of Meshkov Brest (Belarus); Flensburg had unexpectedly large problems in their Last 16 tie.  Having won 28:27 away against Montpellier, Flensburg were on the edge of exiting the competition in the home game before winning narrowly in the end (31:30).

The Result

Kielce coach Talant Dujshebaev and his son, Vardar Skopje right-back Alex, have a dream of meeting in the FINAL4 in Cologne. Their wish is not likely to come true anymore, as Alex and his Vardar teammates are down by three goals after losing their home game against Veszprém 26:29.

His father, on the other hand is well on his way to compensate for his disappointing performance with the Hungarian national team at the 2016 European championship, qualifying for the Champions League season finale with Kielce.

The 28:28 draw in the FLENS Arena obviously gives the Polish champions a better chance to book the ticket to Cologne.  Not even 11 goals from the experienced right-back Holger Glandorf were enough for Flensburg to take a much-needed victory.

Maybe the fact that Flensburg had played a tough Bundesliga match during the week (23:23 in Magdeburg) while Kielce had no game since last weekend had something to do with it.

1^st Half

It took Flensburg less than two minutes to get up 2:0, but this was the only time in the first half that there was more than one goal between the two clubs. In the beginning, Kielce had particular problems containing Flensburg playmaker Rasmus Lauge.

The Danish international scored four of Flensburg´s first five goals and played an important part in the home team´s early 5:4 lead.

For the rest of the first half hour, the squads took turns at leading by one goal, and with two and a half minute remaining, Krzysztof Lijewski – his older brother and former Flensburg player Marcin, was commenting for Polish TV – provided the visitors with a one goal advantage at half time, 14:13.

2^nd Half

Another veteran player, Karol Bielecki, opened the second half by giving Kielce their first two-goal lead (15:13), but already three minutes later, the score was equal once again at 16:16.

While being two players down, Kielce managed to get up 17:16 through Lijewski.  Symptomatically for the game, now it was Flensburg´s turn to have the upper hand, and by minute 42, Glandorf s ninth goal put the hosts ahead by three (22:19).

Yet, 33-year-old Glandorf´s many goals were not enough to keep Flensburg afloat, even though Lauge and his Danish national teammate, Lasse Svan, on the right wing also kept being dangerous.

But once again, Kielce came back, and with one minute and 28 seconds left, Croatian left-wing Manuel Strlek benefited from a Flensburg mistake, scored and secured the draw for the guests.

For the last 20 seconds, Flensburg added one additional player, but they had to thank goalkeeper Mattias Andersson in the dying seconds for not losing the match.

What´s Next?

Already, he teams will meet again on Wednesday night at Hala M.O.S.I.R of Kielce, with Kielce assuming the role of favorite.

Flensburg will take some comfort that the Polish crew did have certain problems in several of their home matches this season, while Kielce will have figure out what to do about Glandorf.  Dujshebaev predicted after the game, that it (the next match) will be just as tough at home. He may be right…