With 9 goals and 5 assists, Nikola was the one who pushed his team to a very important win in Spain, 29:27 (14:13) in the first leg of the final. His team has now the first chance to defend its title and to win the competition for the second time in a row.
The fact that Niko is very tired and didn´t train often in the last weeks because of his ankle injury couldn´t let him without motivation and appetite to win and only to win. His team begun excellent the match, 3:1 after 3 minutes, and maintained its lead until the 11th minute (8:6). Having in Arpad Sterbik a real wall in goal, Ciudad Real exploited his saves, made it even (8:8, 14.) and took the lead, but not for long. Nikola brought his squad back in advantage (12:11, 22.) and they went with one goal lead in the half time, 14:13.
The beginning of the second half was similar to the first 30 minutes, with the German champions in lead with 2 goals (17:15, 33.). Unfortunately for them, Nikola was forced to take a break in the 36th minute, after a collision with Pajovic. Even if Vid Kavticnik scored for 19:18, without Niko Kiel didn´t seemed so stable anymore, especially in the defence. It was the period when the hosts abused of breakthroughs, succeeded to equalise and then to extend their lead to three goals (23:20, 42.).
But Niko was back on the track and showed again that he is one of a kind. First, he reduced twice the difference (23:21, 24:23) and then equalised for 24:24 and 25:25. He was also the one who "served" Kavticnik, who scored for 26:25, and again the one who made the 27:25 with 4 minutes to go! With Nikola taking the responsibility in attack and with a great Omeyer in the second half, the visitors couldn´t be beatean anymore. With 3 minutes to go, Ahlm scored for 29:26 and even if Källman managed the 29:27, he couldn´t outplay Omeyer from the wing and the score remained the same.
Statistics
BM Ciudad Real - THW Kiel : 27:29 (13:14)
BM Ciudad Real : Hombrados (48.-54., no save), Sterbik (1.-48., 54.-60., 18/1 saves) ; Laen (4), Källman (2), Pajovic (3), Stefansson (6/3), Davis, Parrondo (1), Metlicic, Chema (didn´t play), Rutenka (4/1), Zorman (4), Entrerrios (2), Morros, Dinart (1) ; Coach : Dujshebaev
THW Kiel :Omeyer (1.-12., 38.-60. and for 4 7 metre throws, 12 saves), M. Andersson (12.-38., 4 saves) ; Lund (1), K. Andersson (1), Lundström, Kavticnik (6), Anic (didn´t play), Lövgren (1), Ahlm (5), Szilagyi (didn´t play), Zeitz (1), Karabatic (9), Klein (2), Jicha (3) ; Coach : Serdarusic
