After three Bundesliga defeats in a row, the THW Kiel handball players experienced their next setback with the early exit from the cup. The 31:32 (17:19) in the third cup round against the league’s penultimate HSG Wetzlar was a huge surprise.
“We’re always running behind and can never get the game under control,” said Kiel backcourt player Harald Reinkind after the final whistle on the online broadcaster Dyn. In the end, the THW was “not good enough” to win, the Norwegian added . However, the emotional situation among the people of Wetzlar was completely different. “We were ready for anything and overcame every difficult situation,” said goalkeeper Till Klimpke.
“Not a good atmosphere” at halftime
Unlike the 33:22 in the league game a month ago, the twelve-time cup winners from Kiel had big problems with the Central Hesse team. Even a three-goal lead (7:4/7th minute) didn’t give THW any security at the start of the game. Wetzlar took command in front of the 4,389 spectators. At 12:15 (23rd), the hosts were lucky that HSG right winger Domen Novak put a seven-meter shot wide of the goal.
THW coach Filip Jicha loudly encouraged his team during a time out. At halftime there was “not a good atmosphere” in the dressing room, said Kiel player Petter Överby. At this point, Wetzlar’s Hendrik Wagner certified that his team had done “a huge job in attack”.
The guests remained calm even after the break. For the Kiel team, goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene ensured that his team didn’t fall behind. Shortly before the end, the outsider led 32:30 (58th) – and the THW only managed to catch up.
Füchse and MT Melsungen continue with difficulty
The Füchse Berlin and MT Melsungen, who still had no loss points in the league, only booked their ticket for the next round after a hard struggle. The capital city team needed extra time against their Bundesliga rivals HC Erlangen before they secured a 38:35 (30:30, 16:13) victory. Berlin’s last three goals came in the final minute. The league leader from North Hesse was behind 12:17 at halftime against the lower-class Dessau-Roßlauer HV. Then the MT managed to turn things around and win 31:28.
The round of 16, which has not yet been drawn, will be played on December 12th and 13th. Then defending champions Rhein-Neckar Löwen, final loser SC Magdeburg and third-placed SG Flensburg-Handewitt also intervene in the cup action.
