The THW Kiel has started with a draw in the group phase of the Champions League. Against the Polish club KS Vive Kielce there was only one 30:30 for the "Zebras" on Sunday evening (14:15). 30 seconds before the end, the North Germans had still led with 30:28.
The duel of the German against the Polish champions was at the same time a reunion with a prominent ex-Kieler: National goalkeeper Andreas Wolf, before the season changed to Kielce, showed some good saves. The best throwers were Nikola Bilyk with seven goals for Kiel and Uladzislau Kulesch and Alex Dujshebaev for Kielce (five goals each). Kiel's Ruhne Dahmke had seen a red card after fouling Dujshebaev 15 minutes from time.
The SG Flensburg-Handewitt had a more successful start - at least as far as the result was concerned: The German champions prevailed on Sunday at the Slovenian titleholder RK Celje with 25:24 (13:12). The Flensburgers gave their break within a few minutes from the hand (15:18). Only three minutes before the end, the guests conquered the lead back.
Circling Johannes Golla scored six goals for the SG, with Celje Josip Sarac was the most successful bowler with five goals. Veteran Holger Glandorf came to Flensburg for his first season and scored one goal. The 36-year-old backcourt had undergone an operation on his shoulder due to persistent pain in July.
