Kielce extend unbeaten start to six

KS Vive Tauron Kielce kept up their perfect start to VELUX EHF Champions League Group D as they proved too strong for Aalborg Handball, prevailing 33:26 at home on Sunday.

The visitors started well but could not keep up with the Polish side to deny them a sixth straight success, succumbing to a third defeat in their opening six games to sit third in Group D.

VELUX EHF Champions League Group D

KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) v Aalborg Handball (DEN) 33:26 (18:15)

Kielce maintained their perfect VELUX EHF Champions League record this season and regained top spot in Group D with a convincing success against Aalborg.

Aalborg knew before the trip to Poland that only a flawless performance would bring points and despite their valiant effort, the visitors made too many mistakes to challenge the favourites.

The Danes did start well, jumping out to a 2:0 lead and denying Kielce for the first five-and-a-half minutes of the contest.

In the early stages it looked as though they would not miss the injured Emil Berggren as Martin Larsen picked up the slack, scoring five times in the first half.

Aalborg had built a 6:3 lead by the 12th minute and introduced a seventh outfield player in an attempt to widen the gap. But the hosts stood firm behind their 5-1 defensive zone, and as their opponents failed in front of goal, the Polish side began to hit them on the counter attack.

This laid the foundations for Kielce to take their first lead at 11:10 in the 23rd minute, and by the 27th minute their advantage had grown to 16:12.

The Danish side responded after the break, however, and Isaias Guardiola scored three times in quick succession to bring Aalborg back within one at 18:17, then 19:18, only for the hosts to pull away.

Jesper Jensen’s men trailed 22:19 with 15 minutes to play when their coach again gambled on a seventh outfield player, but once again the plan backfired.

Kielce keeper Marin Šego kept the visitors at bay with seven saves, as well as a cross-court goal, as his side rode out the rally.

Aalborg were not finished and pulled it back to 25:22 with 11 minutes to play before top scorer Sander Sagosen – who scored all seven of his goals in the first half – was sent off.

Kielce subsequently regained control of the match and later sealed the victory with a rally in the final minutes. Denis Buntic was the unlikely scoring hero for Kielce with eight goals while Karol Bielecki netted six.