PSG fall (again) at the gates of the Champions League final

2023-06-17 21:03:00

They dreamed of returning to the final of the Handball Champions League, after that of 2017. But Paris-SG will have to settle for a match for third place.

By NJ with AFP

The Paris-SG hand falls against Kielce in the semi-final of the Champions League.
© ROBERTO PFEIL / afp / AFP

Published on 06/17/2023 at 9:03 p.m.

C’is still missed for the PSG hand. Saturday June 17 in Cologne, the players of the capital again failed at the gates of the Champions League final against the Poles of Kielce (25-24). They will therefore have to wait at least a year before claiming a first victory in the most prestigious of European competitions.

In addition to qualifying for the final in 2017, this is the fifth time that the Parisians have stumbled in the semi-finals, after 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021. This Saturday, however, they had chances: twice, they had the equalizer ball. By Luc Steins, first, who saw his shot stopped by Andreas Wolff, the goalkeeper of the German selection and one of the men of the match (12 saves on 35 shots); and then by Elohim Prandi, when the siren sounded.

New disillusionment

Before this outcome, the players of the capital returned to the game in the middle of the second period, carried in particular by Prandi (4 goals), victim of a fracture of the left hand two weeks ago (he shoots from the right) and entered just before the break replacing Petar Nenadic, in difficulty (1/5 in the first period).

READ ALSOHandball World Cup: France beaten in the final by DenmarkKielce had the ball 21-17, dropped by pivot Artsem Karalek when he had it almost in hand in front of goal. Then, Steins profited from a stoppage by Jannick Green on a penalty from Alex Dujshebaev and put Paris back in the lead for the first time since the middle of the first period (21-20, 50^e).

PSG, which could not find its pivots throughout the match, especially Kamil Syprzak, well muzzled by the Polish defense, may also regret this missed ball to go back in front four minutes from the end (24-24). He will have to be satisfied this year, like the previous ones, with the title of champion of France, his ninth in a row.

Kielce, with its French (Nahi, Tournat, Kounkoud) will run for its second C1 on Sunday against Magdeburg after 2016. PSG will face FC Barcelona to get on the podium.