Füchse Berlin survived an early scare in the first part of the match, clinching their second win in a row at the 2023 IHF Men’s Super Globe, 37:28, against Kuwait SC, while also earning a semi-finals berth in the process.

GROUP B
Kuwait SC (KUW) vs Füchse Berlin (GER) 28:37 (16:18)

For more than 35 minutes, Füchse Berlin had to fight and sweat against Kuwait SC, with the German side facing a sturdy challenge from the winners of the 2023 Arab Handball Championship of Champions, as the Asian side did take the fight to the German powerhouse.

But when a team has an in-form player like Mathias Gidsel, the only one to score in double digits in two games so far at the 2023 IHF Men’s Super Globe, any team can make the difference at one point in the match.

First, it was a 4:0 run in the first half, when Kuwait failed to get any meaningful traction in their attack, as Füchse turned the game on its head with that run, spurred by Gidsel. For three minutes and 38 seconds, the Bundesliga leaders scored four goals without conceding one, creating a 17:14 lead, the first three-goal lead in the match.

But it was not for Kuwait’s lack of trying. The Asian side really did deliver a fantastic performance, probably their best at the IHF Men’s Super Globe, in spite of the result, matching Füchse’s attacking output in surprising fashion.

However, when push came to shove, Füchse had too much firepower for Kuwait. The pivotal moment of the match came between the 36th and the 40th minute, as in only three minutes and 43 seconds, the German side had a 5:0 unanswered run, which created a 25:20 lead, prompting a Kuwait SC time-out.

Yet it was too little, too late for Kuwait, as Füchse goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev entered his groove. The Serbian shot stopper had an outstanding match, saving 18 shots for a 40% saving efficiency, including a triple save in one Kuwait attack, constantly frustrating the Asian side.

Adding Gidsel’s 13 goals, which took his overall tally at the 2023 IHF Men’s Super Globe to 26 goals, clearly the best scorer in the competition so far, Füchse cruised in the end to a 37:28 win, their second in a row here, which enabled the German powerhouse to clinch a place in the semi-finals.

There, Füchse will face either FC Barcelona or Al-Ahly, the winners of Group A, in a mouth-watering clash, which is likely to deliver an exciting match on Saturday. On the other hand, Kuwait finished second in the group and have ensured that they will secure their best-ever finish in the competition, after ending up in ninth place at the 2022 IHF Men’s Super Globe.

hummel Player of the Match: Dejan Milosavljev (Füchse Berlin)