In the first leg of the third qualifying round in Klagenfurt, coach Robin Dutt’s team, largely without ideas, missed out on a better starting position for the second leg on Tuesday (6:00 p.m.) in Malta.
If they progressed, either Molde FK from Norway or Kisvarda FC from Hungary would be waiting for the Carinthians as the last hurdle to the group phase and the associated European Cup millions. In the eleventh duel with a Maltese representative, an Austrian club failed to win for the first time.
Carinthian game-determining
Dominik Baumgartner celebrated his debut of the season against the Maltese. Most recently, the central defender was not in Dutt’s squad three times, and runners-up Sturm Graz have been trying hard to sign the 26-year-old in recent weeks. In front of 2,114 spectators in Klagenfurt, where the WAC traditionally plays its European Cup games, the Lavanttalers dominated the game from the start.
The necessary precision is missing
The Dutt-Elf lacked the necessary precision in front of goal for a long time to take the lead against the outsider peppered with numerous legionnaires. Imperative chances were scarce in the first round, the attempts by Baumgartner (10th), Thierno Ballo (14th), Konstantin Kerschbaumer (30th, 34th) and Adis Jasic (43rd) were not crowned with success.
Even after the change of sides, the Carinthians initially failed to create compelling opportunities. While the WAC ran unsuccessfully against the Maltese wall, the robust defending Gzira emanated from counterattacks now and then a little danger. After an hour, the Brazilian Maxuell Samurai started to sprint halfway across the pitch and tested WAC goalie Hendrik Bonmann. In the 76th minute, Tai Baribo had the best chance to open the scoring with a header, but Gzira goalie Darijan Radelic-Zarkov made a strong save.
In the Bundesliga, the WAC also started the new season with two draws (1-1 against Sturm, 2-2 in Altach), in Malta the league will only start in two and a half weeks. Gzira United still had four competitive games underway before Wednesday, and in the first two qualifying rounds Atletic Escaldes from Andorra (after extra time) and, somewhat surprisingly, Radnicki Nis from Serbia (on penalties) were successfully cleared.
Europa Conference League
3rd qualifying round, Wednesday first leg:
WAC – Gzira United FC 0:0
Klagenfurt, Wörthersee Stadium, 2,114 spectators, SR Urs Schnyder (SUI)
WAC: Bonmann – Baumgartner, Piesinger (73rd / Veratschnig), Lochoshvili – Jasic, Kerschbaumer (83rd Boakye), Ballo (46th / Taferner), Leitgeb, Anzolin (46th / Scherzer) – Röcher (77th / Vizinger), Baribo
Island: Radelic-Zarkov – Cosic, Tabone, Gabriel Mentz, Marcelo Dias – Riascos, Muscat, Scerri (90./Gauci) – Jefferson (83./Kolega), Correa, Maxuell (69./Mendoza)
Yellow cards: Baumgartner, Piesinger and Correa, Marcelo Dias
The best: Kerschbaumer and Zarkov
