Mrkva's heroics pave the way to Kiel’s historical miracle

For the ninth time, Kiel have booked the ticket to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4; for the first time since 2014 (when Kiel and Flensburg were in the final), two German teams are part of the final tournament of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, after SC Magdeburg beat Kielce in a penalty shootout on Wednesday.

Montpellier made too many mistakes in the last 15 minutes, lost their pace, while Mrkva rose like a phoenix. Eric Johansson (eight goals), Harald Reinkind (seven) and Nikola Bilyk (six) scored 21 of Kiel’s 31 goals. The elimination means, that after 30 years as coach of Montpellier, Patrice Canayer had his last international match.

Kiel, who have never turned such a big deficit into a qualification for the next knockout stage, will take part in the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 draw on 7 May (17:00 CEST).

QUARTER-FINAL, LEG 2

THW Kiel (GER) vs Montpellier HB (FRA) 31:21 (17:12)
Kiel win 61:60 on aggregate

• at the break, five of the nine goals were caught up by THW. Backed by the “white wall” of fans on the stands and three extraordinary back court shooters: Eric Johansson netted six times in 30 minutes, Harald Reinkind and Nikola Bilyk four times each. Even an early red card in minute 10 against Petter Øverby after a foul against Valentin Porte did not stop the hosts
• the change of goalkeepers from Frenchman Samir Bellahcene to Tomas Mrkva had an impact on Kiel’s match, while on Montpellier’s side the powerful line player Arthur Lenne caused big problems to the Kiel defence
• in minute 35, at the score of 20:14, only four goals were missing, but then Kiel’s motor got stuck; Montpellier defended stronger and kept calm with long attacks, experienced Valentin Porte took the responsibility
• however, as Montpellier missed three penalties and got nervous, Kiel got back on track despite some problems, when having one player more on court, pulled ahead to 27:20, causing a second timeout by Patrice Canayer
• after missing several chances, finally Bilyk broke the spell, netting for the 30:21 lead in minute 56 – for the first time, the nine-goal deficit was levelled, and Eric Johansson made the Wunderino-Arena explode, when virtually sending his side to Cologne with the 31:21 finishing a 7:1 run after the 24:20
• in the last three minutes, Mrkva saved three shots and finished the match on 12 saves (41.38 per cent saved shots)
  
  

The second biggest catch-up in history

There had always been huge comebacks in the quarter-finals of the Men’s EHF Champions League – and since Thursday night, THW Kiel’s 31:21 against Montpellier belongs to this list of sensations. One goal less, and a penalty shoot-out would have needed to decide, like on Wednesday at Magdeburg.

But this win was not the biggest catch-up: in the 2011/12 season, Füchse Berlin turned a 23:34 defeat at Ademar Leon to the ticket to Cologne winning 29:18 at home. The same old away goal rule was the reason for Barcelona’s berth to Cologne in the 2013/14 season: after a 31:38 loss at Rhein-Neckar Löwen, they won 31:24 at home.

And Montpellier were involved in the biggest “almost-through”: in the 2004/05 quarter-final, they had won 36:22 at home against Flensburg; the Germans levelled the result, scoring the 32:18, but Gregory Anquetil secured Montpellier’s with a direct free-throw with the final buzzer for the 32:19. Now, MHB was taught the painful lesson by Flensburg’s neighbours.