Tai Baribo (16th) and Dario Vizinger (20th) gave the Carinthians an early lead, the eighth win in the last nine rounds seemed to have been set up for Robin Dutt’s team. Donis Avdijaj (35th) brought Hartberg back into the game before the break. After the WAC missed a preliminary decision in the second half, Sonnleitner (92nd) was there after a corner kick with his head.
In front of the “ghost backdrop” in Hartberg, both teams arrived without any major personal surprises. The playing field was in good shape after the day before they were busily shoveling snow. The home side got off to a better start, but Dario Tadic, after preliminary work by Avdijaj, moved too centrally to WAC keeper Alexander Kofler (10th).
Hartberg catches up against WAC 0-2
Hartberg wrested a draw from the WAC at the end of the Bundesliga. The Wolfsbergers were 2-0 ahead in Eastern Styria early on, but the Hartbergers made it 2-2 after a goal from Mario Sonnleitner in stoppage time.
WAC hits ice cold
Instead of 1-0 for Hartberg, ten minutes later it was 2-0 for the WAC. The guests acted in the style of a self-confident and well-rehearsed team. Eliel Peretz failed from the spin to Rene Swete, before a quickly played combination via Michael Liendl, Vizinger and Peretz paved the lead for goal scorer Baribo (8th goal of the season). The Hartbergers were just extras in the scene.
Four minutes later, Peretz was quicker to try to clarify the Styrian, the Israeli found Vizinger, who brought the ball past Swete. The goalie tried his best, but only caught the ball behind the line. Baribo would probably have used the extractor anyway.
Follow-up hit by Avdijaj
At Hartberg, the strongest in the home team’s jersey braced himself against the defeat. Avdijaj, deployed in the central offensive midfield, invested a lot. The German, once considered highly talented, initially failed due to Kofler (23rd), then he just missed the case (33rd).
In the 35th minute, the 25-year-old finally rewarded himself. Avdijaj pulled from over 20 meters worth seeing, Kofler had no chance. The WAC tried to find an answer, but Hartberg was back in the game.
Happy ending for Hartberg
Kurt Russ’s team wanted to add more after changing sides. Again it was Kofler who could not be beaten with a double chance by Noel Niemann (53rd). The WAC withstood the first onslaught. After an hour, Dutt took his Israeli duo Peretz and Baribo off the field. Shortly afterwards, Liendl had the possible preliminary decision on his feet, but failed due to Swete, who was strong like his counterpart.
Thanks to early pressing, the Wolfsbergers managed to curb Hartberg’s forward thrust. Substitute Röcher and Liendl missed two more chances to make it 3-1. So Hartberg still had one chance in stoppage time: Tadic kicked the corner, Sonnleitner successfully held his head out.
Voices for the game:
Kurt Russ (Hartberg trainer): “Against a top team like the WAC we showed a lot of morale and were able to catch up. That speaks for our mentality and the solidarity in the team. After the 2-0 draw, I didn’t think we’d come back like this. The decisive factor was the connection goal before the break, that was incredibly important. After Wolfsberg didn’t make the decision, my team was rewarded. It was then also deserved. “
Robin Dutt (WAC coach): “My team played a good game against strong opponents who made our lives very difficult. But we scored two goals quickly and had the game under control. Unfortunately, we had to take the next goal before the break. It was then annoying that we would have had the opportunity to close the sack. Unfortunately, that didn’t work. Hartberg then did not manage to equalize undeservedly, they displayed a good mentality. “
Bundesliga, 18th round
Saturday:
Hartberg – WAC 2:2 (1:2)
Profertil Arena, SR Lechner
Goal sequence:
0:1 Baribo (16.)
0: 2 Vizinger (20.)
1: 2 Obadiah (35th)
2:2 Sonnleitner (92.)
Hartberg: Swete – Steinwender (76./Erhardt), Sonnleitner, Rotter, Klem (88./Gollner) – Kainz, Horvat (65./Sturm) – Niemann (76./Paintsil), Avdijaj, Heil – Tadic
WAC: Kofler – Jasic, Baumgartner (84./Gugganig), Lochoshvili, Dedic – Peretz (60./Wernitznig), Leitgeb, Liendl, Taferner (74./Sprangler) – Vizinger (74./Dieng), Baribo (60./Röcher)
Yellow cards: none
The best: Avdijaj, Heil or Kofler, Taferner
