19.10.2008 19:45
First loss of the season (26-31)
Verònica Díez
Barça Borges have lost to THW Kiel by 26-31. Thierry Omeyer and Filip Jicha turned the game around in the second half and inflicted the first defeat of the season on the Catalans.
The first half by contrast was evenly matched. Kiel took an early lead but the difference on the
scoreboard was only ever a goal at most. Juanín García and Laszlo Nagy then put Barça ahead by
three at 11-8. Yet the home fans had little time to enjoy the lead as after Magnus Jernemyr was sin
binned the Germans came back to even things up and go into the break at 15 all.
Even stevens
The opening exchanges in the game were evenly balanced. Kiel stayed one goal ahead during the
first nine minutes and were especially effective out wide. FC Barcelona Borges got more out of
their first line of attack, but the Germans defended solidly and pulled back quickly to stifle any
counterattacks. However, as the game wore on the Catalans looked more comfortable on court.
Juanín puts Barça in front
Juanín García finally put Barça Borges in front after a shot by
Kavticnik was blocked, and the Barça player took advantage of the opportunity to make it 6-5. Then
Kavticnik made up for his previous error to put THW ahead (6-7). Ahlm was sin binned to give Barça
the upper hand and Nagy and Juanín made it 9-7 in the 14th minute. Two minutes later Ben Amor
netted to leave the scoreboard reading 11-8, the biggest lead of the first half.
Back to square one
The Catalans didn’t enjoy their lead for long. Magnus Jernemyr was sent to
the bin leaving Barça without one of their defensive bulwarks in the 20th minute. FC Barcelona
Borges held on, though, and although they lost their lead they didn’t let THW Kiel get ahead,
reaching half-time at 15-15.
Omeyer and Jicha do the business
Mikkel Hansen found the net right at the start of the second half and the Catalan outfit was
ahead again. The same player made it 18-16, and it looked as though Barça were on a roll. But it
was the Germans who took the game by the scruff of the neck with a 0-6 run to leave the scoreboard
reading 18-22. Thierry Omeyer played a blinder and Filip Jicha showed once again that he can score
at the Palau as the two players put Barça on the rack.
Out of luck
In the 16th minute of the second half Jesper Noddesbo made it 22-22 to
raise Barça’s hopes once more, but then Jicha and Omeyer came back with a run of 0-5 to leave
the Germans up at 22-27. Barça kept trying but just couldn’t get back into the game with
Omeyer always in the right place at the right time. The Catalans never threw in the towel but they
just ran out of luck.
Alhm, Karabatic and Kavticnik played superbly and made a major contribution to their
team’s victory.
MATCH STATS
FC BARCELONA BORGES, 27
THW KIEL, 31
FC Barcelona Borges (15+12): Hvidt, Noddesbo (6), Juanín (5), Nagy (7), Rocas (-),
Jermenyr (-), Boldsen (3), siete inicial, Tomás (1), Garabaya (-), Lozano (2), Ugalde (-), Ben Amor
(1) and Hansen (2).
THW Kiel (15+16): Omeyer, Karabatic (7), Klein (4), Alhm (6), Lövgren (2),
Andersson (-), Kavticnik (6), siete inicial, Lund (-), Zeitz (1), Lundström (-) and Jicha (5).
Referees: Nenad Krstic and Peter Ljublic (SLO).
Parciales: 3-4, 6-5, 9-8, 11-9, 13-12, 15-15; 17-16, 18-19, 20-22, 22-26, 23-28 y 27-31.