FCBARCELONA.CAT

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.