05.12.2010 18:41

Barça Borges beat European Champs (32-29)

Llorenç Tarrés

Xavi Pascual’s team achieved a prestigious win over the current European Champions Kiel, winning 32-29 in front of a noisy Palau crowd on Sunday.

There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Palau as Barça fought their way to victory, suffering plenty of highs and lows, but never letting their determination drop. Kiel more or less controlled things in the first half with the lead changing hands frequently in the second half, before Barça finished with a thoroughly deserved win.

Visitors make strong start

The visitors began strongly and with Omeyer pulling off some great stops in front of his dominant defence and their counter attacking proving lethal, the German team were soon opening up a lead, forcing Xavi Pascual to call his first time out after his team had managed just two goals in the first 10 minutes.

Jicha

Barça Borges then hit back with three quick goals to cut the deficit to 6-7 before Filip Jicha, one of the best players in the world game and who had been doubtful to start, came on and scored in his first two attacks (he finally scored 4 in the first half). The Palau was right behind their team now though and even though Omeyer again showed what a class player he is with two great stops, a last second goal from Iker Romero kept the home team in touch, 13-15, at the break.

Lead changes hands

Barça soon got onto level terms with two quick strikes after the break and although Jicha was again on the mark for the visitors, an Ugalde goal took the scores to 19-19, before Barça first took the lead on 8 minutes of the second half thanks to Victor Tomàs’ first goal of the game.

Sjöstrand helps seal win

A penalty from Iker made it 5 goals without reply and Barça were 22-19 up before Zeitz and Ilic brought the Germans level again. Although Kiel’s wingers continued to cause damage, Noddesbo, Sjöstrand and a courageous attacking unit kept Barça in front. On 55 minutes Barça were three goals up(30-27), but against Kiel that’s no guarantee and the European Champions surged forward to try and turn the game round. Sjöstrand again stood firm and with the exclusion of Kubes, Barça held out with two late goals from Dani Sarmiento and Víctor Tomàs to take a prestigious European scalp.