Stuttgart pulled off a stunning upset Thursday, defeating handball powerhouse THW Kiel 32-27 in the Daikin Handball-Bundesliga. It marked the first-ever league victory for TVB Stuttgart against Kiel in 22 attempts.
The historic match similarly saw Kai Häfner, of Stuttgart, score his 2,000th field goal in the HBL, joining an exclusive club of just three other players to reach the milestone: Kyung-Shin Yoon, Holger Glandorf, and Christian “Blacky” Schwarzer. Commentators noted the significance of the achievement, with one stating, “That are very big names, and he definitely belongs there!”
Despite a strong start by Kiel, who led 11-7 in the 20th minute, Stuttgart battled back, fueled by a determined performance from Häfner. He finished the game with 10 goals, becoming the league’s second-highest scorer behind Mathias Gidsel.
The win comes as a much-needed boost for Stuttgart, especially after a heavy 34-26 home defeat to Gummersbach last weekend – their largest home loss in 47 years. Kiel, meanwhile, was coming off a European League quarterfinal victory against Irun (Spain) on Tuesday, but couldn’t maintain that momentum.
Kiel was without Eric Johansson and Lukas Laube due to illness. However, even with a full squad, they struggled to contain Stuttgart’s attack, particularly in the second half. Simone Mengon’s goal in the 49th minute extended Stuttgart’s lead to 27-21, and they never looked back.
The defeat is Kiel’s second consecutive Bundesliga loss, following their setback against VfL Gummersbach, and raises concerns about their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Hendrik Pekeler led Kiel with five goals, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Stuttgart’s relentless pressure.
The victory allows TVB Stuttgart to climb the Bundesliga standings, while THW Kiel will need to regroup quickly to address their recent struggles. The result underscores the increasing competitiveness of the league and the challenges facing even the most established teams.
