Žvaigždės and Cocks Battle to a 31:31 Draw

November 30, 2025

Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės and Finnish side HC Cocks delivered a dramatic and fiercely contested encounter on Sunday afternoon, ending in a 31:31 (15:17) draw in the Baltic Handball League. The match, played in Pasvalys, showcased impressive offensive displays, momentum swings, and a standout individual performance from home star Titas Janušonis, whose 14-goal effort nearly carried Pasvalys to victory.

A Slow Start and Strong Finnish Pressure

The opening minutes were marked by missed opportunities on both sides, with neither team scoring until the third minute. Pasvalys opened the scoring through Eimantas Špokavičius, but Cocks responded quickly, establishing early control.

Between the 7th and 12th minutes, HC Cocks produced an impressive run. Goals from Joona Tamminen, Roope Ahlgren, and Miika Kaukoranta pushed the visitors ahead 2:6, later extending to 5:10 after strikes from Calle Almander and Roni Syrjälä. Cocks’ clinical shooting and fast transitions kept Pasvalys under pressure throughout the half.

Despite the deficit, Pasvalys fought back with key goals from Oleksandr Kasai and Ighor Odinokov, followed by a 7-meter conversion from Kasai that narrowed the gap. Still, Cocks maintained a two-goal halftime lead at 15:17.

Second Half: Momentum Swings and a Scoring Duel

The second half became a showcase for 23-year-old Pasvalys left back Titas Janušonis, who consistently punished the Cocks defense from the backcourt and the 7-meter line. He tallied multiple goals in quick succession between minutes 34 and 45, keeping Pasvalys within striking distance.

HC Cocks responded through their own leaders:

• Joona Tamminen (6 goals) continued to excel from the right side,
• Calle Almander (6 goals) converted key chances including a penalty,
• Roni Syrjälä (3 goals) and Santeri Vainionpää (4 goals) delivered in crucial moments despite receiving several 2-minute suspensions.

As suspensions piled up for both teams—especially a double suspension sequence for Pasvalys in the 23rd minute—the match’s rhythm shifted constantly. Yet Pasvalys managed to stay within reach, thanks in part to defensive resilience and Odinokov’s reliable scoring.

Final Minutes: High Drama and a Missed Opportunity

The closing stretch delivered full drama. Pasvalys equalized multiple times, with goals from Špokavičius, Odinokov, and a sharp finish from Modestas Štarolis putting the home team ahead 31:30 with just over a minute remaining.

HC Cocks struck back immediately—Vainionpää leveling at 31:31.

In the final seconds, Pasvalys created one last opportunity, but Štarolis’ shot from distance missed the target, sealing the draw after a gripping 60 minutes of handball.

Top Performers

Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės

• Titas Janušonis — 14 goals (3/4 from 7m)
  Dominant offensive force, kept his team alive throughout.
• Ighor Odinokov — 5 goals
  Reliable scoring from the left side.
• Oleksandr Kasai — 5 goals
  Including a key 7-meter goal and several momentum-changing strikes.
• Eimantas Špokavičius & Modestas Štarolis — 2 goals each

HC Cocks

• Calle Almander — 6 goals (1 from 7m)
• Joona Tamminen — 6 goals
• Roope Ahlgren — 4 goals
• Santeri Vainionpää — 4 goals
• Soma Lukacs — 2 goals (notable bench contribution)