20.09.2018, 10:40
Draw denies Thun and Cocks historic first win

GROUP D REVIEW: Cocks see a four-goal lead disappear for the second week in a row as a much-improved second half performance gives Wacker a point

Draw denies Thun and Cocks historic first win

Coming into Thursday evening’s VELUX EHF Champions League Group D clash, the major talking point was that one of either Wacker Thun or Riihimäen Cocks could earn their first victory at this level, but neither did after 60 minutes of battle.

• Cocks allow a four-goal second half lead to slip for the second week in a row
• Thun pick up their first point on home court, but have now gone 12 matches without a win
• Nico Rönnberg was Riihimäki’s outstanding performer again with seven goals

GROUP D
Wacker Thun (SUI) vs Riihimäen Cocks (FIN) 26:26 (11:15)

“Honestly, I am a bit disappointed. We wanted to get our first win in the Champions League, but we just got a draw. However, that is sport,” admitted Cocks’ Teemu Tamminen.

With history on the line for both clubs, neither appeared keen to be the first to make a mistake in a cagey opening, where the sides traded goals until the 19-minute mark.

Nico Rönnberg then took charge for the visitors with a quickfire pair of goals and it sparked Cocks into life.

The Finnish side’s extended their lead to five, thanks to a Teemu Tamminen counter attack and they took a healthy 15:11 lead into the dressing rooms at half-time.

Thun were the brighter of the two teams at the start of the second half, narrowing the deficit to just two goals on several occasions.

Riihimäki kept the scoreboard ticking over, spreading the goals among 10 players, but they could not get out of their host’s sight, who kept in touch with strong goalkeeping and the resulting fast breaks.

Nicolas Suter brought Thun level at 24:24 with his sixth goal of the match, before a nervy final seven minutes ensued.

Cocks held possession for the final attack, but Wacker’s defence held firm and Nico Rönnberg could not add to his seven-goal haul with the last shot of the match and the spoils were shared.

“Somehow we could not get into the game in the first half, but thanks to our fast breaks and our goalkeeper we got at least a point,” said Thun right back Marco Giovanelli.

The draw is Thun’s second at this level, having drawn 24:24 away to HC Metalurg in 2013, while Cocks’ second consecutive draw sees them go temporarily level at the top of Group D.

TEXT: Chris O'Reilly