SG Flensburg-Handewitt has qualified for the EHF Finals, which will be held on May 30 and 31 in Hamburg. On Tuesday evening, the team defeated TSV Hannover-Burgdorf 43–35 (22–20). SG’s top scorers were Emil Jakobsen (10/3), Lasse Møller (9), and Simon Pytlick (8).
In the sold-out Swiss Life Hall, the fast-paced action from the first leg continued. The first seven attacks of the game all ended in goals. When the SG failed to score for the first time, Hannover countered to make it 5-3. Then things got a bit heated. After a minor altercation, Benjamin Burić and Justus Fischer each received two-minute penalties. Domen Novak was even shown a red card after a foul on August Pedersen. Aksel Horgen came on and tied the score at 8:8. Two technical errors set the SG back again. After fifteen minutes, the “Recken” led 13:10. Then the defense finally became a factor: more saves by the goalkeeper and ball recoveries. Things went best right before the break: Simon Pytlick snatched the ball in defense and ran through for the 19:19 equalizer. Johannes Golla scored the 21:20 on a spin move. It was the first lead of the day. With another counterattack, Niclas Kirkeløkke added to the lead.
Lightning-fast start to the second half
The SG entered the second half with a slim two-goal lead. It started ideally—from the SG’s perspective. Emil Jakobsen scored first with a powerful jump shot from the left wing, then on a fast break. The 6-0 defense was wide awake. Simon Pytlick extended the lead to 25:20. Just two minutes after the restart, Hannover called a team timeout. The SG clearly had the upper hand but had to keep playing consistently to avoid a slump. They succeeded, much to the delight of the sizeable fan contingent that had traveled to the Lower Saxony metropolis with plenty of optimistic expectations. With ten minutes remaining, Lasse Møller made it 38:31. It was the ninth goal by the extremely effective Dane. His compatriot Emil Jakobsen sealed the 40th with a pair of seven-meter throws. When Kevin Møller scored from long range to make it 42:34, the whole atmosphere had already shifted into a light party mood. Shortly thereafter, it was official: “Hamburg, here we come!”
