KIF and Barcelona draw after breathtaking final
KIF Kolding København - FC Barcelona 27:27 (14:16)
KIF Kolding Kobenhavn are still leading Group B thanks to a better goal difference than their opponents in the Match of the Week Sunday, after the two teams drew 27:27 in the top match of the group in Brøndbyhallen. More than 5,000 spectators did not only get a great handball match, but also a breathtaking thriller, in which Barcelona seemed to be heading for the win most of the game, but in which KIF refused to give in a managed to snatch a point at the end. KIF got the better start and a 4:2 lead, but Barcelona soon took over the initiative.
The hosts had large problems against Barcelona's enormous physical strength, and furthermore, the home team tended to concentrate their attacking play too much towards the middle of the court instead of using their wings. At the other end of the court, the KIF defence had particular problems with Nikola Karabatic, and when they managed to more or less neutralise the elegant Frenchman, Kiril Lazarov took over from the opposite back position. It helped KIF a little, when Marcus Cleverly replaced former Barcelona keeper Kasper Hvidt in goal, and the hosts managed to reduce the distance from four goals, which it had been for most of the first half, to two at half-time. In the second half, Barcelona continued to be in control, but an on-going great effort from goalkeeper Cleverly and a world class performance from Bo Spellerberg in the attack contributed to keeping KIF in the game. In the last two minutes, the home managed to catch up completely, as left wing Martin Dolk sent a penalty shot past the otherwise brilliant Daniel Saric in the Barcelona goal to make it 27:27. "In the first half we felt as if we were five or six goals behind, but we never gave up. However, there is no doubt that we were lucky to get a point today," said KIF Kolding København´s defence specialist Lars Jørgensen. After the draw, Kolding Kobenhavn and Barcelona both have seven points after four matches and lie top of the group.
