Bundesliga: Altach brings Hartberg back in reality

Manuel Thurnwald in the 16th minute and Sandi Krizman (29th) brought Altach, who had lost 1-0 at home to LASK in the first round, in front of 2,132 spectators in the Profertil Arena before the break on the road to victory. Hartberg only managed the connection goal through Dario Tadic in the final phase of the game (81st).

The striker’s third goal of the season, who has scored all goals for Kurt Russ’s team so far, was not enough in the end. Hartberg holds three points after the 2-0 win at Rapid. For Altach it was the first sense of achievement of the young season. Damir Canadi’s team had not only lost to LASK, but also lost the cup in the first round against Kalsdorf.

Altach efficiency and VAR in focus

The Vorarlberg team came in slightly changed in terms of personnel with a back four and Krizman in front of the hanging tip Atdhe Nuhiu. Hardly surprisingly, Hartberg trusted the team that won 2-0 in Vienna-Hütteldorf. It was clear from the start that the game would be different for the Styrians. Hartberg was forced to make the game, Altach relied on counterattacks.

for a quarter of an hour little happened before a cross from Krizman ended the stalemate. Nuhiu was on with his shoulder, Thurnwald, who was charging from the ambush, hammered the ball into the mesh, free-standing. 66 percent of possession did not help Hartberg, The chance of equalization would have arisen after a counterattack. After a corner from Altach, Jürgen Heil and Sascha Horvath went to Dario Tadic, who, however, failed to goalkeeper Tino Casali (21st). Tadic, who was twice successful against Rapid, still had a chance to volley, and Casali was again on the post (26th).

So it got even worse for the home side: Krizman took his measure after a free kick, Rene Swete was surprised by the Croatian acquisition’s header. There was also the VAR premiere afterwards in the Profertil Arena. Referee Gerhard Grobelnik initially pointed to the penalty spot after Altach captain Emanuel Schreiner had blocked the ball in the penalty area with his upper arm (37th). The referee reversed his decision after examining the scene on the monitor.

Follow-up hit comes too late

The second half of the game started as the first had ended: with hard-working, but hapless Hartberger hosts. A shot by substitute Seth Paintsil hissed past the far corner (51st), Horvath missed from 16 meters (63rd). Canadi touched more concrete and brought in defender Philipp Netzer for Krizman. Hartberg’s power play remained unrewarded for the time being. Marco Meilinger even missed the 3-0 counterattack when he acted too hesitantly in front of Swete.

This took revenge a minute later, when Tadic headed a close-range throw-in including overtime. But nothing more was possible for the Styrians. After six unsuccessful attempts against Hartberg, the Altach team cheered once again in the end.

Voices for the game:

Kurt Russ (Hartberg trainer): “It was the difficult game we feared. Unfortunately, we didn’t defend well in three situations in the first half and we conceded two goals in the process. We made mistakes on our own. We then had three or four great chances. The first half needs improvement, I’m very satisfied with the second, we were very present until the end, we had many chances and unfortunately we didn’t use them enough. We must take note of the VAR’s decision. I think you may or may not give penalties. It hurts that we lose that, we deserved the point today. “

Damir Canadi (Altach coach): “We did really well in the first half, in the second it was clear that Hartberg would risk more. We didn’t want to give the opponent so much possession of the ball, we wanted to fix the 3-0 from a counterattack. That didn’t quite work out. We could have closed the sack through Meilinger. So the opponent still hits the next goal, then it always gets hot. But my team defended it extremely passionately, Casali was outstanding in goal. As a coach, that makes me very proud that we got into this red area and gave everything. “

Admiral Bundesliga, second round

Saturday:

Hartberg – Altach 1: 2 (0: 2)

Profertil Arena, 2.132 spectators, SR Grobelnik

Tore:

0:1 Thurnwald (16.)
0:2 Krizman (29.)
1:2 Tadic (81.)

Hartberg: Swete – Stec (74th Erhardt), Sonnleitner, Luckeneder (76th Rotter), Gollner (46th Kofler) – Kainz, Heil – Schmerböck, Horvath, Sturm (46th Paintsil) – Tadic

Altach: Casali – Thurnwald, Dabanli, Zwischenbrugger, Schreiner (88th Bishop) – Strauss, Haudum – Reiter (63rd Meilinger), Nuhiu (88th Aigner), Nussbaumer (76th Prokop) – Krizman (63rd Netzer)

Yellow cards: Swete or Dabanli, Haudum, Zwischenbrugger, Nuhiu, Meilinger

The best: Kainz, Horvath or Dabanli, Thurnwald, Casali