After 2015 and 2021, coach Robin Dutt’s club reached the semi-finals for the third time, with possible dates for the games on March 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The FAC, third in the table in the Admiral 2nd league fighting for promotion, could at least speculate with the sensation after the lead by Joao Oliveira (20th) and the 2: 2 by Daniel Rechberger (90th + 6), had to dream but shelve from the first semi-final entry in 76 years.
After a winter break without a new signing, WAC acted in the same way as in the last league game in December, but had to do without first-goal Alexander Kofler, who was represented by Manuel Kuttin, due to the corona virus. This caused a moment of shock with a stumble in the second minute, including a direct free kick in the penalty area, but after a good quarter of an hour the WAC seemed to have found their role as favourites.
leadership for the underdog
Just then, however, another pass came to striker Marcel Monsberger. The central defender duo Dominik Baumgartner and Luka Lochoshvili let themselves be duped, Monsberger took the ball skillfully and served Oliveira, who shot in from the edge of the penalty area. That fueled the courage of the guests, who seemed more aggressive, always looking for the fast way forward and were the more dangerous team in this way. Just like Monsberger’s solo, but he failed at the end (27th).
Oliveira with the 1-0 for the FAC
The underdog surprisingly took the lead after 20 minutes with an Oliveira goal.
WAC, on the other hand, didn’t create any chances for a long time, FAC goalie Lukas Gütlbauer successfully stretched after a chance header from Eliel Peretz (29′). It wasn’t until six minutes later: the Carinthians leveraged the FAC defense with a cross, captain Michael Liendl served Baribo, who easily shot in. The equalizer was only perfect after a VAR consultation due to offside.
Lightning start of WAC after page change
WAC had the upper hand again, so Gütlbauer had to clear after a corner (28′) as well as just ahead of Dario Vizinger (38′), just before the break Baribo headed over the goal from a penalty spot (43′). The hosts carried the newly gained momentum into the second half. Almost exactly one minute had been played there when Vizinger increased to 2:1 after a one-two and a save by Matthäus Taferner.
Vizinger puts WAC ahead
Just one minute after the break, Vizinger gave the Bundesliga team a 2-1 lead.
With that, the preliminary decision seemed to have been made. The Viennese tried hard, but did not come up with any significant opportunities. The Carinthians, on the other hand, missed a Liendl shot from around 40 meters (54′), a header from Lochoshvilis (65′) and a shot from the crossbar by Christopher Wernitznig (84′) to close the sack. This took revenge in the overtime, which was generously measured due to a longer treatment break: As a result of a badly cleared corner, “Joker” Rechberger got the ball and poked it over the line from a short distance.
FAC equalizer at the very last minute
FAC saved themselves from a stab in extra time by Rechberger in the sixth minute of added time.
The FAC mobilized new forces in the extra time and mostly kept the opponent away from their own goal in the extra time. Jasic headed dangerously over the FAC goal, but the guests also had a chance to take the lead again with an Oliveira shot on the turn (109th). Only in the finish, after FAC defender Christian Bubalovic saw yellow-red (109th), did Röcher and Jasic save their team from trembling in the penalty shoot-out.
Comments on the game:
Robin Dutt (WAC coach): “We got into the game with difficulty, the opponent did really well and took the lead. This is actually deadly against such an opponent who gets few hits. But then we did really well, exerted a lot of pressure and also scored the goals. But if you don’t close the sack and the opponent throws everything forward, of course it can happen that you get the equaliser.”
Mitja Mörec (FAC coach): “We were convinced that we could at least make it to the penalty shoot-out. I do think that yellow-red was the sticking point for Bubalovic. He’s very important for our team, but unfortunately he was missing at the back. But we can be very proud of the team.”
Uniqa ÖFB Cup, quarterfinals
Friday:
WAC – FAC 4: 2 nV (2: 2, 1: 1)
Wolfsberg, Lavanttal Arena, 512 spectators, SR Harkam
goal sequence:
0:1 (20.) Oliveira
1:1 (35.) Baribo
2: 1 (46.) Vizinger
2:2 (90.+6) Rechberger
3: 2 (118th) Röcher
4:2 (120.) Jasic
WAC: Kuttin – Jasic, Lochoshvili, Baumgartner, Dedic – Peretz (119./Stratznig), Leitgeb, Liendl, Taferner (75./Wernitznig) – Vizinger (80./Dieng), Baribo (75./Röcher)
DO: Gütlbauer – Becirovic (73./Flavio), Bubalovic, Puchegger (80./Rechberger), Gassmann (80./Ungar) – Maier, Krainz, Rasner, Komornyik (53./Schmid) – Oliveira, Monsberger (53./Felber )
Yellow-Red: Bubalovic (109th)
Yellow cards: Röcher or Krainz, Maier, Rechberger, Felber
The best: Liendl, Taferner, Baribo or Oliveira, Krainz
