The SG Flensburg-Handewitt has added another win to this year's success story. After losing the second leg in the semifinal at Spanish team BM Aragon 31-34(13-16), the SG advanced to the final due to a nine-goal victory in the first leg. Flensburg will be playing against German club VfL Gummersbach who advanced against Slovenian team RK Celje. "It was another highlight of this season and another unbelievable effort," SG manager Dierk Schmäschke said after the game.
The visitors got off to a good start with a 4-1 lead early on. The team was not quite able to keep the lead but could keep the game tied until just before halftime. The Spanish fans, however, gave it all and tried to push their team. Aragon showed that it is a good team and put pressure on Flensburg but the SG was able to keep the game close. Goalkeeper Mattias Andersson once again made many important saves. "My players fought like heroes in this incredible atmosphere," SG coach Ljubomir Vranjes said after the game.
The home team kept the lead but only got off to a four-goal lead at 29-25. During the final minutes, everybody on the SG bench had a relieved smile on their faces. "We're really happy to have reached a European final again after five years," left wing Anders Eggert said. "I'm going to enjoy this evening now."
BM Aragon – SG Flensburg-Handewitt 34-31 (16-13)
BM Aragon: Malumbres, Hernández – Sorli (4), Maqueda, Val, Humet (7), Grebenar, Lozano (3), Vigo (2), Casanova (2), Molina (2), Masachs (2), Cartón (9/6), Garcia Rubio (1), Postigo (2)
SG Flensburg-Handewitt: Andersson (20 saves), Rasmussen (1/1 save) – Karlsson, Eggert (3/2), Mogensen (3), Svan Hansen (2), Djordjic (2), Mocsai (5), Szilagyi (1), Kaufmann (9), Knudsen (6)
Referees: Horváth/Marton (Hungary); Suspensions: 10:8 Minutes (Carton 2, Molina 2, Maqueda 2, Val 2, Lozano 2 – Knudsen 4, Svan Hansen 2, Djordjic 2); Penalty throws: 7/6:2/2 (Rasmussen saves against Carton); Attendance: 6120
Timeline: 2:4 (7.), 7:7 (15.), 12:12 (25.), 14:13 (27.) – 16:14 (32.), 20:17 (40.), 22:21 (45.), 26:23 (50.), 29:25 (55.), 30:28 (57.)
