Konstantin Schopp Secures Late Win for Hartberg Against Wolfsberg
TSV Hartberg secured a 1–0 victory against the Wolfsberger AC in the tenth round of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga on Saturday, as Konstantin Schopp scored a decisive header in the 85th minute at the Profertil Arena. The result spoiled the managerial debut of Manfred Schmid, who took over the WAC bench earlier in the week following the dismissal of Thomas Silberberger.
Schmid’s arrival failed to spark an immediate turnaround for the visiting side, which entered the match at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings after suffering five consecutive league defeats and failing to secure a victory since August 2. Seeking defensive stability, the new Wolfsberg coach deployed four new players in his starting lineup and implemented a cautious tactical approach that largely bypassed high pressing, allowing a youthful Hartberg side featuring seven players between the ages of 19 and 22 to dominate possession.
Tactical Stalemate Gives Way to Second-Half Pressure
Neither team managed to carve out high-quality scoring opportunities during a cagey first half in front of 2,559 spectators. Hartberg increased the tempo after the interval, creating several dangerous moments within the opening exchanges of the second period. Marco Hoffmann missed an open goal in the 50th minute after receiving a low cross from Angelo Gattermayer, while Magnus Dalpiaz saw a shot slip underneath WAC goalkeeper Lior Gliklich before Fabian Wohlmuth cleared the ball off the goal line in the 58th minute.
Wolfsberg struggled to mount sustained counterattacks as the match progressed, offering little relief to a pressured backline. Despite creating a few late openings following the breakthrough, the visitors ultimately succumbed in the closing stages when Tobias Kainz delivered a cross that allowed Konstantin Schopp—son of the coach—to rise highest and head home the game’s only goal.
Standings Implications and Ongoing Struggles on the Road
The narrow defeat extends a dismal away record for Wolfsberger AC, marking their tenth loss in 13 matches on the road across the calendar year. The club remains at the bottom of the table, sitting two points adrift of second-to-bottom Austria Wien after ten rounds of the regular season.
For Hartberg, the three points reinforce their standing on seventh place with 11 points, helping the team bounce back from an away defeat to SK Rapid on the previous matchday. The winning side played without Fabian Wilfinger, who watched from the stands due to a severe injury expected to keep him sidelined until June.
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