28.11.2018, 08:04
Buzzer-beater from Rönnberg secures sensational Cocks win

GROUP D REVIEW: Cocks bowed out of the VELUX EHF Champions League with a stunning comeback against Plock, securing the points with a last-gasp winner.

Buzzer-beater from Rönnberg secures sensational Cocks win

A last second goal from Nico Rönnberg secured Riihimën Cocks a shocking 27:26 win against Orlen Wisla Plock who were leading by nine goals but were not able to hold on.

GROUP D

Riihimäen Cocks (FIN) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 27:26 (10:15)

• Nico Rönnberg scored the winning goal with one second left
• Despite the defeat, Plock are on to the playoffs, but cannot guarantee to win the group.
• Plock were leading 12:3 before Cocks caught up
• Nico Rönnberg scored eight goals for Cocks, Michal Daszek nine for Plock

The Finnish triumph was particularly impressive, as they were trailing by nine goals before starting their comeback.

It took Cocks nine and a half minutes and a timeout to score their first goal of the match.

Plock had already scored six times before Davor Basaric put the home team´s first goal in the net, and the visitors went on to a 12:3 lead, before five Cocks goals in a row gave the Finnish champions a little bit of hope.

Plock went seven goals up at 17:10 at the beginning of the second half, but Cocks refused to give in.

As the second half progressed, the home team moved closer and closer, and with one minute and 14 seconds left, Basaric equalised to 26:26.

Then, with one second left, Rönnberg stole the win for Cocks.

While Plock had already qualified for the playoffs before the match, Cocks finish their first Champions League campaign in fifth position with six points.

Cocks head coach Gintaras Savukynas was proud of his teams' comeback and their debut Champions League season, "We were not ready for the game at the beginning and underpresented in the first half. I am happy we found our fighting mode in the second half and finally managed to win. Our aim was to be competitive in each game, these were all like small finals for us as we played in Champions League for the first time. I think we succeeded in that and also managed to gain some points. For a first season I think it was a good one."

Nico Rönnberg is still coming to terms with the fact he is this season's top scorer at the moment, "I would not have believed five months ago – or two or three months ago – I could be the best goalscorer. A huge credit to my team mates, they have helped me a lot. These kind of things can not be achieved alone."

TEXT: Peter Bruun / at