After 120 minutes it was 2-2 between the two teams. In the penalty shoot-out, the prominent WSG entry Stefan Maierhofer was the only player to fail. The Vorarlbergers cheered for the furthest advance since 2011, when the club was defeated 0-2 in the SV Ried final.
Wattens with the guide shortly after the break
After many winter transfers, the strongly changed teams showed in the first spring game a game that was initially not very high with hardly any chance of scoring, which at least offered plenty of excitement in the finish. The Tyroleans, where Maierhofer and cup striker Kelvin Yeboah (four goals) came on later, had more of the game, but the experienced team (29 years on average) did not play out clear opportunities to fire.
Immediately after the restart, however, Wattens striker Zlatko Dedic struck with a volley after passing by Thanos Petsos (46.). Austria looked after by Roman Mählich hardly appeared offensive without her striker Ronivaldo, who was convalescent after a groin surgery, but then increased the number of strokes. Defender Sebastian Feyrer headed for a not deserved 1: 1 equalizer after a free kick (63.).
Lustenaus Mayer hits with a lot of feeling
Maierhofer made his debut in the 75th minute instead of Dedic. In this phase, both teams had a good chance of taking the lead thanks to Thomas Mayer (77th) or Yeboah (74th) and Lukas Grgic (77th). Wattens then provided almost exclusively with high balls on “tower” Maierhofer a taste of the relegation battle, but was hardly dangerous.
Lustenau was the more dangerous team afterwards. WSG goalie Ferdinand Oswald shot a shot from Alexander Ranacher on the bar (86.). In the ninth minute of stoppage time, however, the goalie was too far in front of his goal – and was surprised by Mayer’s soulful long-range shot.
Penalty in extra time
However, the guests equalized with a penalty saved by Benjamin Pranter (105th) and thus completely took the wind out of the sails of the Vorarlbergers. Goal scorer Feyrer had the ball unfortunate.
A little later there should be another penalty alert in the Lustenau penalty area, but now the referee’s whistle remained silent. Yeboah swung the right pole (117th) for the last excitement before the penalty shoot-out, in which Maierhofer was the fifth WSG shooter to shoot past the cross.
Possible: “Total victory deserves”
The “tragic hero” Stefan Maierhofer then spoke of a very soft ball. “He then climbed up a bit, that happens to the best footballers. The people in Lustenau have something to laugh about again, ”said the 37-year-old newcomer in an ORF interview.
Roman Mählich congratulated his team on the promotion. “In the end, we may have run out of air. But I think that the victory is well deserved. “
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