The SG Flensburg-Handewitt opened the derby week with a defeat. It lost the 115th edition of the northern classic 29:36 (15:18) against THW Kiel. The 116th national derby will follow on Saturday at 8 p.m. - at the same venue.
One decision had already been made by kick-off. The opponent for the play-off round had emerged from the parallel group: On March 31, it's off to the Danish neighborhood - to SAH Aarhus. The SG started with a line-up that could definitely be described as its current best. Nevertheless, it took four-and-a-half minutes for Domen Novak to open the scoring for the visitors. THW mostly went ahead, but the SG followed suit just as quickly. A particularly good spell midway through the first half: Benjamin Burić made saves at the back and Marko Grgić equalized with a double strike up front. Simon Pytlick, who made his 100th appearance for the SG in the derby, then made it 9:8 - the first lead. However, that was just momentum. The home side pulled away to 15:11. The SG endeavored to make up the deficit, but conceded an annoying turnover seconds before the end. Marko Grgić was at least able to reduce the deficit to 15:18 with a spectacular goal.
Quickly distanced after the break
The restart was not to the SG's liking, who hardly found an antidote against THW. It quickly went 24:18 ahead and briefly looked as though it would get better, but then the mistakes piled up again. Aleš Pajović called a team timeout at 21:28. The team now operated with seven court players, but the deficit remained large. Catalin Haidu was now allowed to keep goal and Adin Faljić also celebrated his derby debut. Kiel now also made a few mistakes. Patrick Volz countered to make it 26:32. The SG had already "replaced" both wingers at the break. This was followed by six goalless minutes. A dry spell that Thilo Knutzen ended with his first derby goal. That was as good as it got that evening. Hopefully things will improve on Saturday. After the final whistle, the players thanked their fans for their support.
