Drama in the Schwalbe Arena: THW Kiel saves a draw against Gummersbach!

Drama in the Schwalbe Arena: THW Kiel saves a draw against Gummersbach!

In a thrilling duel between THW Kiel and VfL Gummersbach, the score ended at 25:25. The exciting encounter, in which the spectators in the sold-out Schwalbe Arena with 4,132 fans didn't miss a single goal, offered everything a handball heart could desire. The Kiel team had to do without several key players, including the long-term injured Hendrik Pekeler, Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, Emil Madsen and Petter Øverby, which didn't necessarily make the task any easier. Nevertheless, the team was ready to give everything and played anything but badly.

The first minutes of the game belonged to the Gummersbachers, who were already in the lead with 9:5 in the 14th minute. Milos Vujovic was the star of the evening for the hosts and caused a lot of excitement. But THW Kiel didn't let themselves be shaken off and fought their way back to a deficit of just two goals (15:13) until the break.

Change of tactics and exciting final phase

After the break, the game continued with full intensity. THW Kiel switched to a more offensive defense, which began to bear fruit in the 42nd minute: Lukas Zerbe scored from seven meters to make it 17:17, and a little later Rune Dahmke also scored Kiel's first goal in the lead (17:18). This phase of the game was characterized by thrills and several lead changes. During this time, Gummersbach was without a goal for six minutes, which gave the Kiel team numerous opportunities to pull away.

But Gummersbach didn't let himself be defeated. Mathis Häseler equalized, followed by another goal that made the home fans celebrate. In the 57th minute, things suddenly looked bleak for Kiel: Gummersbach led 25:23, and so the match seemed already decided in favor of the hosts. But Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu from Kiel, who scored the decisive equalizer, made the final score 25:25 with his goal five seconds before the end. It was a truly nerve-wracking finish!

Statistics and referees

The game was also a reflection of the discipline of both teams: Kiel received twelve penalty minutes compared to just six for Gummersbach. The referees Bona and Frank ensured fair dealings, which was one of the cornerstones of the flow of the game. Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff also shone with impressive saves and was therefore an important building block in the game ending with the same number of points.

With this draw, THW Kiel brings a closer rivalry to the league and shows everyone that there is a lot of potential on the field even with a decimated squad. The next meeting between the two teams, which is already eagerly awaited, will take place on February 26, 2026, but until then fans can look forward to many more exciting games.

For more detailed information about the game, visit Kn-online, WDR and Kicker.