The evening began with good news: Emil Jakobsen had overcome his shoulder problem and was able to play. However, it was not enough for the SG Flensburg-Handewitt and its Danish left wing to win the top match of the DAIKIN Handball Bundesliga against VfL Gummersbach.
The home side conceded a goal at literally the last second and had to settle for a 37:37 (20:17) draw. Despite the third draw of the season, the SG remains second in the table.
Since it was only decided on the matchday that Jakobsen would play, Aleš Pajović had included the young left wing Jonas Rithaphorn in the squad for good measure. Catalin Haidu was also in the squad as third goalkeeper to gain further experience with the professionals.
Jakobsen played from the start and got off to a good start with his teammates. Kent Robin Tønnesen gave the SG their first lead at 4:3 (6') and scored a hat-trick to make it 6:4 (8'). The home side hardly missed a single chance and soon built a five-goal lead (12:7/14th and 14:9/16th). Marko Grgić in particular was in a scoring mood and scored new goals before the break.
Nevertheless, the visitors, who fielded two ex-Flensburg players in Kay Smits and Teitur Einarsson from the start, were able to hold on and reduce the deficit slightly by the break (20:17). The home side initially stayed ahead in the second half, but had to concede the equalizer at 23:23 in the 39th minute. Flensburg fought back in this phase and repeatedly managed to take the lead. Domen Novak scored a dream goal to make it 28:27, but the visitors kept coming back. The SG tried to do so by playing 7-on-6 and changing the goalkeeper in the 50th minute. Benjamin Burić immediately made a save, which was confirmed by video evidence. Nevertheless, Gummersbach made it 35:34 shortly before the end of the game (55'), but Burić glanced a seven-meter penalty from his former colleague Smits over the goal and the home win was within touching distance again at 37:35. Grgić was unlucky just a few seconds before the end. The SG's top scorer with 13 goals missed the inside of the post and Gummersbach was able to tie the scores.
