The SG Flensburg-Handewitt has gone one better. After the clear 38:32 victory in the first leg of the EHF European League play-off at Danish representative Skanderborg-Arhus, Aleš Pajović's team won the important Bundesliga game at TSV Hannover-Burgdorf by 35:32 (18:13) just four days later. It was a deserved victory over sixty minutes for the club from Fördestadt, who were always in the lead after Marko Grgic and Jonannes Golla struck twice to make it 2:0.
The SG got the game off to a good start. After six minutes, the scoreboard in the sold-out ZAG Arena in Hanover showed 2:4. The team repeatedly created very good scoring chances in attack with fast handball. Had the home side's goalkeeper Joel Birlehm not been so strong, the lead would probably have been even clearer for the SG. In the following minutes, however, the Pajovic team had to restrict itself to managing the lead. It was not that the attacking performance weakened, but rather the fact that the referees Marcus Hurst and Mirko Krag awarded three time penalties. However, this also spoke for the intense defensive performance. In defense, the Flensburg team implemented what their coach had given them in preparation. "Focus on the defense". However, the SG was always two or three goals in front, as it continued to create many opportunities in offense and maintained a high level of concentration despite the strong Birlehm. As Simon Pytlick also acted very prudently from the middle of the first half onwards after recovering from injury and resting, the runners-up in the table pulled away from 14:12 (24') to 18:13 at the break.
Problems against Hanover's seven against six in the second half
After the break, it took a while for both teams to find their way to the goal. Emil Jakobsen broke the spell with a converted penalty throw to make it 19:13 in favor of the SG four minutes after the restart. However, the hosts did not give up and fought their way back into the game. In the 38th minute, a monster save by Kevin Møller against TSV right wing Vilhelm Poulsen prevented Hanover from closing the gap to three goals. Instead of 17:20, Simon Pytlick made it 16:21 on the counter-attack. If the home side then scored, the SG repeatedly replied through its outstanding captain and pivot Johannes Golla. "Sportsman, absolute role model, athlete and one of the best pivots in the world," said handball icon "Kretzsche" Stefan Kretzschmar in praise of the national team captain on the streaming channel Dyn. Golla was ultimately the game's top scorer with eleven goals. Former SG left wing August Pedersen, who has been in the service of TSV Hannover-Burgdorf since last summer, scored the same number. However, the Norwegian also scored seven seven-meter penalties. He kept the club from Lower Saxony in the game, which closed the gap to 21:24 in the 43rd minute. In his subsequent timeout, SG Head Coach Aleš Pajović brought Thilo Knutzen back on court. And, as on Tuesday evening in Arhus, the youngster impressed in the seven-on-six. He scored to make it 21:25 and the visitors kept TSV Hannover-Burgdorf within three or four goals. From the 47th minute onwards, however, the home side covered more aggressively and played a seven-against-six formation in attack. This caused major problems for the SG. As a result, the "Recken" fought their way back to within two goals. When Joel Birlehm saved a so-called "free throw" from Niclas Kirkeløkke at 27:29, the game seemed to be tipping over.
Strong nerves in attack the key to victory
However, the SG remained calm in offense after that and scored important goals. Lasse Møller skillfully directed the attacks. After Justus Fischer scored into an empty SG goal to make it 28:30, the Flensburg side took a penalty throw, which Emil Jakobsen converted with nerves of steel to make it 28:31. After very good defending, Pajović's team regained possession and Kirkeløkke did better in defense to make it 28:32. Hanover was again able to prevent a successful finish and the strong Lasse Møller added his sixth goal to make it 28:33 with just under four minutes to go. In the end, it was a deserved 35:32 away win because the SG Flensburg-Handewitt kept its composure and overview in attack.
