THIRD TIME’S A CHARM FOR FLENSBURG!

Handball is the biggest winner after an amazing weekend in Cologne. SG Flensburg-Handewitt lift their first VELUX EHF Champions League trophy, in the aftermath of a seven-goal turnaround against forceful THW Kiel- with 30:28 (14:16) win in the final match of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Bundesliga outfit from the far north on the Danish border, wouldn’t allow being star-struck or intimidated by sheer concentration of talent in THW Kiel’s team. The final match was a big statement of Bundesliga teams dominance, in a match that could signal the shift of power in European club handball. THW Kiel leave Cologne empty-handed for the second time in a row, and it’s a worrying signal for Alfred Gislason’s team, that may be on decline, since enjoying the most successful season in club’s history in 2012.

Vranješ: I’m going to win this!

Seven-time finalists couldn’t match the enthusiasm and drive of Ljubo’s Jungs, lead by the tactical genius Ljubomir Vranješ, who believed in his team’s success every step of the way.

“I’m speechless. I am so proud, proud of my team. I told them before the match that I was proud just to be here today. Because we did something great yesterday,” said Vranješ, who previously stated he ‘will win’ the VELUX EHF Champion League trophy with SG Flensburg-Handewitt, who lost two EHF Champions League finals beforehand; including a 2007 final defeat to THW Kiel, with Vranješ a SG Flensburg-Handewitt player.

“And today, I do not know what we did today. It was incredible, I don’t wanna talk about tactics at all now. I just wanna thank everybody who supported us and I wanna thank my players for this season. Incredible,” boasted Vranješ who continued his team’s success upon their EHF Cup Winner’s Cup victory in 2012.

“I am there since 2006 I think, first as a player. So I know all the surroundings, all the people who are continuously supporting us. I am trying to keep continuity in our work,” added the legendary Swede, born to Serbian parents.

Flensburg take revenge

The first half saw THW Kiel on their natural high, as the awakened Marko Vujin, and Aron Palmarson- the VELUX EHF FINAL4 MVP barrage-fired from both left and right, to keep Flensburg on a comfortable distance at 8:3, and 10:5 later on.

“It’s a great award and a great honour for me. But in this moment I’m much more disappointed about the loss than happy about the award,” said Palmarson, the first winner of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 MVP prize, presented for the first time at the 2014 VELUX EHF FINAL4.

It was Mattias Andersson who took charge as the experienced Swede ‘closed the blinds’ mid-way to the first half to get Flensburg back into the game, with a two-goal deficit to catch up on 12:14.

“We never gave up, we went on fighting. And never were in panic – I’m sure that was the key to succeed today. The defence helped me a lot today,” said composed ex-Kiel man, who took a lion’s share of merits for winning SG Flensburg-Handewitt’s first, and his second EHF Champions League title.

It all went uphill for SG Flensburg-Handewitt from the moment Anders Eggert scored a beautifully placed kempa, worthy only of the top-echelon players, to take the first lead for his team, 20:19 seven minutes into the second half. Andersson put the lights out again, at 25:21, with Vranješ hasitant to take the time-out, to keep up with a high-tempo of SG Flensburg-Handewitt’s game. Anders Eggert and Lasse Svan-Hansen lead the efficient counter-attacks.

“In the last ten minutes of the first half and in the second half we nearly didn’t make any mistakes. I’m so happy that we have Andersson in our goal – he is the best goalkeeper,” said Svan, who scored 7 goals for his team.

Andersson summed up the frustration of Palamrson and Vujin, keeping the later from scoring what might have been a lifeline goal for THW Kiel at 29:28, with a little over a minute left in the game, but that is when the fatigue kicked in for the German powerhouse.

“I’m trying to laugh because the season is over. Congratulations from me to Flensburg, because they deserve to stand here as a winner. It was tough, because we were tired. We tried, but Flensburg was well prepared. As Alfred already said, we’re happy to be here and I’m happy that the season is over,” said seemingly relieved, but exhausted Filip Jicha. 

The SG Flensburg-Handewitt players gathered up center-court for a group hug, to celebrate a monumental victory. THW Kiel stars were barely standing in disbelief, some of them in tears, on the sidelines of the LANXESS Arena court tonight.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt players, and everyone associated with this win, still may be unaware the magnitude of their achievement.

“It is quite hard to understand at the moment. I even cannot say that I know ‘I have won the Champions League’ in that very moment. Maybe tomorrow, or the day after. At the moment I just feel empty. I want to celebrate with my team and my family now,” said Vranješ, who masterminded this monumental success.

TEXT: NEMANJA SAVIC