SG Flensburg-Handewitt landed their third win in the group phase of the EHF European League. They won 33:26 (18:13) at AHC Potaissa Turda on Tuesday evening. The SG's top scorers were Lukas Jørgensen (5), Kent Robin Tønnesen (4), Marko Grgić (4) and Patrick Volz (4).
The SG got off to an inattentive start in the previously unfamiliar Turda Arena. Two missed shots and a technical foul initially played into the home side's hands. Kent Robin Tønnesen started consistently and scored his third goal to make it 4:2. The Romanian runners-up played with three right-handed players at the back. However, they were unable to capitalize on a double superiority. Aksel Horgen and Marko Grgić scored in this phase. After a quarter of an hour, the SG opened up a three-goal gap for the first time. Simon Pytlick converted a counter-attack to make it 10:7 and Patrick Volz increased the lead with an elegant lob from the left wing. Aleš Pajović was able to rotate early on. Luca Witzke darted through a gap to make it 12:8. After Marko Grgić missed two seven-meter penalties, Domen Novak came off the bench to convert the next penalty. The SG had everything under control, but should have led by more than 18:13 at the break.
Leading by eleven goals at times
Before and after the break, the SG took a short break from scoring. Luca Witzke broke the spell with the score at 19:14. The game had somewhat disjointed phases, but the SG's dominance was never in doubt at any stage. Benjamin Burić had many opportunities to distinguish himself in front of an impressive group of fans. And he even made it 25:15 - thanks to a long-range shot into the empty net. Patrick Volz had previously celebrated a series of threes. The Romanian hosts tried to keep the deficit to a minimum with seven outfield players. They succeeded, as the SG were rather careless with their chances at the other end. Shortly before the end, Jonas Rithaphorn, the last outfield player, was called into action. The young left wing scored to make it 31:25, with Thilo Knutzen following up with the next goal. It was over a little later. The SG squad will spend the night in Transylvania and travel back north tomorrow, Wednesday. From Thursday, everything will revolve around the top match against SC Magdeburg.
