Frustration for Cocks as Dinamo snatch late win

Frustration for Cocks as Dinamo snatch late win

In the second VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase match on Finnish soil, Riihimäen Cocks once again saw a match-winning situation disappear, but unlike their draw with Leon, this result will taste extra bitter.

• Dinamo’s third win in four matches is their best start to a top flight campaign
• Cocks let a four-goal second half lead slip for the third time this season
• A combined 21 goals from Rönnberg and Tamminen not enough for the home side, still in search of their first victory

GROUP D
Riihimäen Cocks (FIN) vs Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) 31:32 (17:15)

The Finnish side could never be criticised for lack of motivation as they began the game - like every encounter this season - with purpose and energy.

But that would not be enough to shake off a Dinamo side full of confidence and the teams were neck-and-neck through the opening 20 minutes.

While Dinamo spread their scoring evenly throughout the team, the majority of Riihimäcki’s goals were coming from Finnish internationals Teemu Tamminen and Nico Rönnberg down the left side and it was two quick goals from Tamminen which opened up a two-goal lead for the home side, which they held on to until half-time.

Cocks came out of the break in flying form and earned a four-goal lead, the same lead they had held against Leon and Thun in their opening two matches.

Bucharest slowly chipped away at the lead, before drawing level with 10 minutes to play and Amine Bannour’s fifth goal of the contest gave the visitors a 30:29 lead.

Rönnberg scored his 11th of the match to bring his team level one final time, but there was one final twist in the tale as Andras Szasz popped up with the winning goal. As the final buzzer sounded, there was silence in Vantaa Energia areena as once again a healthy lead could not be converted into victory for the Finnish debutants.

Gintaras Savukynas, head coach of Cocks, noted the importance of not switching off during Champions League matches "There is no room for relaxing, no room for mistakes. The opponent will take their chances immediately as Dinamo did today."

Dinamo head coach Constantin Stefan was proud of how his team fought back, "We knew Cocks have a good first half, but they have stuggled more in the second. Today even the first 15 minutes in the second half were difficult for us, but coming back from five goals down to win is a credit to my team. We need to give credit also to Cocks, who gave us a really tough night here."