GROUP A REVIEW: 11 goals by Danish international Rasmus Lauge Schmidt pave the way for Flensburg in a thrilling 27:25 win over Plock.
Incredible Lauge extends Flensburg’s winning streak
SG Flensburg-Handewitt can only mathematically miss the last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League. The 2014 champions took their sixth straight win on Wednesday night.
But the 27:25 against Orlen Wisla Plock was a hard-earned victory in an absolute close game. Match winner was Danish international Rasmus Lauge Schmidt, who netted 11 times.
Group A:
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 27:25 (13:11)
It was an open race until the very end – but finally Flensburg kept their unbeaten record on home ground and extended their winning streak to six matches.
Having 14 points on their account now, they are equal with PSG and only mathematically one point is missing for the ticket to the last 16.
Plock remain on seven points, but are still five points ahead of the seventh position.
The first half was equal with a light advantage for the hosts until the final stages, when Flensburg extended the gap to three goals again after also leading 5:2 early in the match.
Both defence sides stood strong, as well as both goalkeepers.
Despite leading constantly, Flensburg could not cast off their opponent, which mostly was down by only one or two goals.
Even a 24:20 advance 10 minutes before the end was not decisive as Plock showed a great fighting spirit and reduced the number of mistakes in attack.
When Michal Daszek netted in for the 26:25 with less than a minute to go, Plock started their man-to-man defence, hoping to cause a turnover to have the chance to equalize.
But Holger Glandorf found the gap to score the decisive 27:25 to secure the sixth straight win for his team.
TEXT:
Björn Pazen / ew