Kiel open the gate widely

Last 16, first leg: Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs. THW Kiel (GER) 24:36 (12:14)

It was a demonstration of dominance of THW Kiel – and the Germans standwith more than one leg in the Quarterfinals of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Thanks to a brilliant second half and counter attacks like pin needles the two times VELUX EHF Champions League winner have outdistanced the Polish champions with a twelve goal gap on their home turf in the opening game of the Last 16.

Plock was only able to catch up for 30 minutes, before they were overrun by the fast, powerful and sharp Kiel match play. Top scorer of this one-sided game was Filip Jicha with seven goals – the quintet Jicha, Sprenger, Klein, Ahlm and Anderson (each 5) scored 27 of the 36 THW goals. Best scorer for the Poles was Norwegian Christian Spanne with six goals.

Orlen Wisla Plock – encouraged and pushed by a full packed arena – were on eye level in the first half though THW Kiel was mostly in lead. When Spanne scored the 12:12 the hall went crazy – but it was the last time Plock could level the game. Thanks to six straight goals right before and right after the break, THW broke Wisla’s neck. As goalkeeper Andreas Palicka stood like a wall and the Plock shooters became nervous in attack and missed too many chances, the Kiel express started rolling.

A series of counter attacks decided the game latest in minute 37, when Anderson scored the 21:13 for the Germans. Even a time-out of coach Lars Walther did not stop the downswing of Plock, in contrast: in minute 50 the distance were ten goals for the first time at 20:30, in the end the gap was 12 goals, as the 24:37 had not been accepted by the referees.

On Sunday Plock need more than a miracle to win with a 13 goals margin after this spring walk for THW in Poland.