After a bang against SCM
THW Kiel hits hard on the ground
September 26, 2024, 9:42 p.m
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen narrowly lose in Leipzig and miss out on top of the table in the handball Bundesliga. THW Kiel has already suffered its second defeat of the season. The Zebras can no longer recover from a weak first half in Melsungen.
The German handball record champion THW Kiel was rudely brought back down to earth in the Bundesliga after his coup against defending champion SC Magdeburg. Four days after their success on the Elbe, the Zebras unexpectedly suffered their second defeat of the season against MT Melsungen with 21:25 (8:15) and thus initially missed their desired advance into the top group.
Meanwhile, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen had to bury their dreams of being at the top of the table, at least for the time being, due to their first defeat of the season. The former champions, who arrived with a clean slate, lost at the start of the 4th match day at SC DHfK Leipzig 27:28 (13:13) and were therefore unable to push SG Flensburg-Handewitt off the top. The North Germans are now the only team in the upper house without losing a point and can move away from ThSV Eisenach to two points on Friday. Melsungen and Leipzig are tied with the Lions in third and fourth place.
In the duel between the European League participants, the Dane Emil Madsen was unable to prevent the former champions’ first home defeat with six hits as the Zebras’ most successful pitcher. Coach Filip Jicha’s team, which failed to build on its gala performance in Magdeburg, especially before the break, was only in the lead in the early stages. The guests from North Hesse then took command and gained a lead of up to seven goals. Latvian star Dainis Kristopans stood out in Melsungen’s second away win with seven goals.
In Leipzig, the guests twice caught up by five goals and seemed to be on the winning path in the middle of the second half of the game. But the home team, led by seven-time goalscorer Staffan Peter, was able to turn the game around again and bring the favored guests to their knees. In the end, nine goals from Ivan Martinovic weren’t even enough for the Lions to draw.
