The SC DHfK Leipzig handball team missed out on a surprise in their last away game of this Bundesliga season. The team of coach Runar Sigtryggsson lost 28:37 (16:15) at German record champions THW Kiel on Wednesday evening after a convincing first half.
In front of 1,0201 spectators, Franz Semper was the best scorer for SC DHfK, which is now eighth in the table with 31:35 points. Niclas Ekberg scored eleven times for Kiel.
The Leipzig club, which had only lost twice away from home this calendar year, also started very confidently in Kiel and immediately found its rhythm in attack. A fast-paced game developed with the lead changing hands. SC DHfK suffered an almost seven-minute spell of weakness in attack midway through the first half, which Kiel exploited to take a 10:8 lead in the 18th minute.
However, Leipzig quickly recovered and struck back with four goals in succession to make it 12:10 (23').
The visitors maintained their high level at the start of the second half and scored reliably, in particular through their strong backcourt. It remained a duel of equals up to 22:22 in the 39th minute, before Leipzig completely lost its way.
First, it noticeably failed to capitalize on its chances against Kiel's substitute goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene, then it became increasingly careless in attack and increasingly conceded unnecessary turnovers, which allowed THW to score on the break.
The fourth-placed club in the table produced a 7:1 run to pull 29:23 ahead in the 50th minute. Even Sigtryggsson's second timeout in the space of eight minutes had no effect. Instead, Kiel pulled away to the end in its last home game.
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