For the first time in over six years, SG Flensburg-Handewitt won at FRISCH AUF! Göppingen for the first time in six years. The narrow 33:32 (15:13) victory on Saturday evening opened the second half of the DAIKIN HBL season. The SG's top scorers were Emil Jakobsen (13/5) and Simon Pytlick (6).
Not even that, one or the other may have thought in the opening phase. Kent Robin Tønnesen had returned to Flensburg due to a thigh injury, then substitute Niclas Kirkeløkke was lying on the floor after a successful shot on goal and had to be treated. The situation was clarified in the video evidence: Ymir Örn Gislason had hit the Dane in the face and was shown the red card after just 2:45 minutes. Fortunately, the SG left-hander was able to continue. Göppingen had to change their defense early on, but nevertheless got into the game better. The SG initially missed too many chances and also made the odd technical error. The SG trailed 3:7 after twelve minutes. The SG gradually recovered. Simon Pytlick reduced the deficit to 9:10, now playing at right back. Aleš Pajović also made a number of other changes. Lasse Møller, Lukas Jørgensen and Aksel Horgen were now involved. Emil Jakobsen equalized from the seven-meter line to make it 11:11. Kevin Møller now had some success and made a gesture of jubilation towards the numerous SG fans. They were now enjoying the game more. Marko Grgić scored - and Lasse Møller even added a spectacular underhand shot. The SG punished a technical mistake with lightning speed: Emil Jakobsen scored on the counter-attack to take a 15:13 lead at the break.
A game of nerves
Both teams came out of the break with a lot of pace and more precision. Emil Jakobsen took precise aim from an acute angle and had the ball in his grasp again just a few seconds later to make it 19:16. However, it was still not a walk in the park. Göppingen fought back with the support of "Hell South" and tied the scores at 22:22. Shortly afterwards, Aleš Pajović pressed the buzzer to get his team in the mood for the final quarter of an hour. Göppingen now covered very well in offense and wanted to really put pressure on the club from the north. But they still had Benjamin Burić. He initially let a seven-meter penalty through, but then stopped four shots in a row. The SG led 27:25. Two minutes later, the home side was back in front and the SG had to play with a double deficit. It had to digest two deficits before Emil Jakobsen replied to make it 30:29. It was all about the little things, the decisive blinks of an eye and perhaps also better nerves. Simon Pytlick scored with 24 seconds remaining to make it 33:32. The SG covered the final sequences well. A last desperate shot from Göppingen flew past the hoop. There was great jubilation: The SG had won in Göppingen for the first time since 2019.
