Descat delivers for play-off hopefuls Dinamo

Despite the absence of top scorer Amine Bannour for the second consecutive match, Dinamo Bucuresti moved back into the play-off places with a victory over Cocks on Wednesday.

• Dinamo make it a perfect five victories from five home matches
• Hugo Descat top scores for the home side with seven goals
• Romanian side back level on top of Group D alongside Plock
• Nico Rönnberg scores eight for Cocks to lead top scorer chart with 63 goals

GROUP D

Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) vs Riihimäen Cocks (FIN) 24:22 (13:12)

The home side took their time to settle into the must-win match, but eventually they did and a three-goal lead followed shortly after the quarter-hour mark.

But if there is one thing we have come to learn from Cocks this season, is that they will never shy away from a challenge and they proved that once again this evening.

The Finnish side cut the gap and could have had more, were it not for the fine saves from Iranian keeper Saeid Heidarirad, who kept Bucharest 13:12 ahead at the break.

Cocks continued the chase in the second half, with Nico Rönnberg, supported by Vitalie Nenita and Andrei Novoselov, keeping their guests within reach, before finally drawing level at 21:21 with just over eight minutes left.

Dinamo have enjoyed a perfect record at home this season and they showed why, displaying their ability to rise to the occasion once again as Kamel Alouini took control with two momentum-shifting goals.

Another Dinamo goalkeeper, Makrem Missaoui, played his part with saves from Rönnberg in the final minutes as his side held on to victory, much to the delight and relief of the typically vociferous home crowd.