HC Erlangen loses to SG Flensburg-Handewitt

HC Erlangen lost its away game against SG Flensburg-Handewitt by 21:29 (12:14) this evening. The team of Head Coach Robert Andersson can draw a lot of morale in particular from the first half of the game against last year’s league runners-up, and can go into its home game against newly promoted Hüttenberg in a week’s time brimming with confidence.

Robert Andersson had warned about the backcourt of one of Europe’s top teams – and the stable defense organized by Andreas Schröder had two of Flensburg’s key players in that department well under control, especially in the first half. However, the HC was not able to get a grip on Holger Glandorf, who had an evening when everything went right for him in the FLENSArena. The SG’s right half ended up adding twelve goals to his tally. HC Erlangen got off to a good start and carved out chances confidently in attack, with the result that it took the lead after 22 minutes in front of an agitated home crowd. Gorazd Skof between the Franconian club’s posts was again in good form and helped put his side in a very good position at half-time, trailing by just two goals.

After the break, last season’s runners-up stepped up the intensity. Like in the counter against Rhine-Neckar Lions, the club from Schleswig-Holstein now unfurled its high-paced play and erected a solid wall of concrete around its own crease. The central block with Tobias Karlsson and Hendrik Toft Hansen and a Mattias Andersson in very fine fettle ensured that the home side pulled away goal by goal. HC Erlangen had to work hard for every goal in the second half and finally went down 21:29 in Flensburg.

HC Erlangen has the opportunity to take both points away with it in its next game at home in a week’s time, when newly promoted TV Hüttenberg come to the ARENA NÜRNBERGER Versicherung.

Robert Andersson commented: “Flensburg overcame us in the second half with the individual class of its players and a very strong defense. We can take a lot of good things away with us from the game.”