Kielce has survived injuries throughout the season, and their match against Plock was no exception. After 60 minutes of intense handball, the reigning Super League champions secured their first victory against Plock without extra time since 2021.
The winner of the game would most likely win the league and secure the first seed in the playoffs. This was the premise before yesterday’s big game in the Polish Super League. Kielce entered the game with several key players injured, a trend that had plagued them throughout the year. Szymon Wiaderny, Dani Dujshebaev, and Nicolas Tournat were all sidelined, while Szymon Sićka might be out for the season. To make matters even worse, Andreas Wolff was also absent due to injury.
The game began evenly, with both teams matching each other in the first half. The derby has through out history not only showcased top European handball but also featured intense referee action. This trend continued, with Kielce’s Benoit Kounkoud receiving a red card in the 23rd minute, and Artsem Karalek receiving three two-minute suspensions.
With two pivots ejected from the game, Talant Dujshebaev had no choice but to deploy the versatile Dylan Nahi at pivot. Although this move had succeeded in the past, its effectiveness was once again proven today.
By the 42nd minute, Kielce had built a six-goal lead, which they maintained until the end of the match. Led by Nahi’s nine goals, the away team secured victory after 60 minutes.
This win propelled Kielce to the top of the league standings with two rounds remaining. If they can stay ahead of Plock, the first seed in the playoffs will be theirs. Which secures the last the at home in all the playoffs matches.
Wisla Plock 29 – VS Kielce 34