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Kiel's Patrik Wiencek and Harald Reinkind had reason to celebrate in the second leg against PSG
Photo: FRANK MOLTER / AFP
THW Kiel has made it into the final tournament of the Handball Champions League, the SG Flensburg-Handewitt only remains a spectator after being eliminated in the quarter-finals.
While the "Zebras" celebrated a close but deserved 33:32 (17:19) home win over Paris Saint-Germain after 30:30 in the first leg on Thursday, Flensburg also lost the second game after 29:33 in their own hall against defending champions FC Barcelona.
In the end, Barça scored 27:24 at the Palau Blaugrana.
"We believed in making the impossible possible," said Flensburg coach Maik Machulla after the final whistle.
And SG keeper Kevin Möller added: "We showed our hearts and faces." Even before kick-off there was more bad news for the already battered SG.
Left winger Emil Jakobsen had to stay at the team hotel because of a flu infection.
This was joined by throwing bad luck in the initial phase.
In the second half of the game, the Bundesliga club stayed level with the Catalans.
However, the strength waned as the game went on, and so the four-goal defeat from the first game proved to be too great a burden for Flensburg.
Kiel turns the game late
The guest from France got off to a very good start in Kiel.
Only after the change of sides did the tide turn: Magnus Landin scored 19:19 (34th), Sander Sagosen provided the first THW lead of the game with 21:20 (37th).
Since goalkeeper Niklas Landin found his way into the game better and better, the momentum tipped over to Kiel.
But the THW was only sure after the final Landin parade against Luc Steins.
Nevertheless, there was also a drop of bitterness for the North Germans: Circle player and defense specialist Hendrik Pekeler was eliminated in the first half with a suspected Achilles tendon injury.
On Sunday (2 p.m. / Sky) the SG and the THW then go to the Flensburg Arena in the 106th Schleswig-Holstein derby.
cev/dpa
