Kiel overturns early deficit to claim second straight Bundesliga win

THW Kiel turned a difficult start into a comfortable 36-28 victory at promoted SG BBM Bietigheim, earning its second win of the Handball-Bundesliga season.

Bietigheim began boldly against the record champions. Former Kiel player Lukas Wucherpfennig scored during a two-player advantage to put the hosts 8-5 ahead in the 13th minute, and Jonathan Fischer soon extended the lead to 9-5. Kiel went nearly eight minutes without scoring.

The visitors recovered before halftime, converting the deficit into a 19-16 lead. That advantage did not immediately settle the match. Bietigheim goalkeeper Martin Tomovski made several strong saves, and the hosts closed to 23-21 in the 40th minute.

As the match progressed, however, Bietigheim’s energy faded. Kiel began to impose its quality and pulled away for an ultimately untroubled win. Lukas Zerbe finished as Kiel’s leading scorer with seven goals, while Wucherpfennig also scored seven for the hosts.

Kiel played without ill playmaker Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu. Previously injured pivot Hendrik Pekeler returned to the squad, while coach Börge Lund initially selected Spanish goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas instead of Germany international Andreas Wolff.