RK Zagreb - THW Kiel 28:28. Marcus Ahlm missed two great opportunities alone with the goalkeeper in the last two minutes and with them the victory for his squad. Nikola couldn´t play in the last 10 minutes, because of a injury.
In a game domoinated by two strong defenses and two incredible goalkeepers, Kiel started better and was in lead with 3:1 after 7 minutes. A couple of missed shots and technical mistakes commited from the Kieler were enough to bring the hosts back into the match and in clear lead with 7:3 (13.). By making the pace very fast, the guests managed to equalise (9:9) within 9 minutes to go from the first half. Shorthly after, Zagreb was in lead of 1-2 goals. In the last minute, Titi Omeyer saved a 7 meter shot made by Dzomba and the score was 13:12 for Balic and his squad at the end of the first half.
Nikola and his teammates repeated the very good beginning in the second half as well and extended their lead to 3 goals (15:18/39., 16:19/41., 21:24/47.) THW was in complete control of the dispute, even Bruno Martini who came on at 21:23 for a 7 meter shot helped by, saving it in front of Lazarov.
Unfortunately for his team, Niko injured himself in the 50th minute, after he scored a goal like a pivot and couldn´t turn back on the field. Without him, the Champions League finalists from last season managed to stay into the match, with great chances to win it, but Marcus Ahlm, who until in the last 2 minutes, performed very well, missed twice alone with Skof. The home team had as consequence the possibility to draw and used it. Anyway, the Zebras have all the chances to reach for the third consecutive time in the last three season the semifinals on Saturday, when in Kiel will take place the second league of the 1/4 finals.
Statistics
RK Zagreb - THW Kiel 28:28 (13:12)
RK Zagreb: Sego (didn´t play), Skof (1.-60., 12 saves); Koloper (didn´t play), Duvnjak (2), Lazarov (3/2), Spoljaric, Vori (9), Dzomba (1/1), Kopljar (didn´t play), Horvat (3), Vukic (3), Valcic (6), Balic (1); Coach: Maglajlija
THW Kiel: Omeyer (1.-60., 17/2 saves), Martini (on for a 7 meter shot, 1/1 save); Lund (didn´t play), Andersson (2), Lundström (2), Kavticnik (6/3), Anic (didn´t play), Lövgren, Ahlm (6), Zeitz, Karabatic (4) Klein, Jicha (8); Coach: Gislason
Statistik source: www.thw-provinzial.de
The other results from the 1/4 finals
Wednesday, 25th March
SG Flensburg-Handewitt HSV Hamburg 25:28 (12:14)
Saturday, 28th March
Chehovskie Medvedi - Rhein-Neckar Löwen 33:31 (21:15)
Sunday, 29th March
BM Ciudad Real - MKB Veszprém KC 29:24 (15:12)
NK22.COM
