Hartberg took advantage of the moment with a 2-1 win against bottom leader FC Flyeralarm Admira and pushed past WSG Swarovski Tirol (1-1 at home against Puntigamer Sturm Graz) to sixth place. The Styrians are now two points ahead of the Wadden Islands. Austria is eighth after the 0-0 derby, three points behind the last ticket for the championship group. One counter is missing on the WSG and five on the fifth WAC. The Carinthians are still a direct opponent.
For the violets it will be difficult for a place in the top six after 22 laps, as Peter Stöger said. “If we are not among the top six, it will not have to do with the fact that we only scored two points against Rapid,” said the Austria coach. He was looking forward to “two finals”. The program remains difficult with the away game at Sturm Graz and the home game against RZ Pellets WAC.
The form curve in the fight for the last place in the championship group speaks clearly for Hartberg. The team of coach Markus Schopp scored 13 points in the last five games, compared to Austria only seven. “To be at the top, you have to deliver continuously in 22 laps. We have succeeded very often. The fact that we are where we are is confirmation that a lot is no coincidence, ”said Schopp, who made it into the top six with Hartberg last season.
Stöger prefers to manage
With the knowledge of the standings, however, Austria coach Stöger became the calculator in the derby. In the end, Austria, who lost in the second half, did not risk everything to force the three. With Thomas Ebner instead of Christoph Monschein, Stöger strengthened midfield headquarters after an hour. Of course it was the plan to seek salvation through attacking football, he noted. “But we didn’t manage to do it like that in the second half. Then you have to be satisfied with the point, ”said Stöger.
At the same time as the crucial weeks on the pitch, Austria is also pending an important decision on the management floor. The future of Stöger as a sporting guide should be decided by the end of March. The 54-year-old stated once again on Sunday that he was interested in the basics. “It’s not about an insanely bloated budget to be able to do something. But what are the next realistic steps? How does the implementation look? It is important to discuss this very intensively in the club over the next two or three weeks, ”said Stöger. It is also about the feeling that he is enjoying this task. “And if so, in which position.”
Rapid coach struggles with exploiting opportunities
Rapid trainer Dietmar Kühbauer didn’t like his team’s exploitation of chances in a playful derby. 35 Rapid shots towards Austria housing in the first duel of the season – a 1: 1 – followed in the second comparison 22. The yield remained manageable. “We have shown that we are better. But we left her alive again. That annoys me, ”said Kühbauer after the final whistle. Basically, it is a good sign when his players come up with opportunities. “But if I say that week after week, it is not enough. The ball has to get behind the line, no matter how. “
Kühbauer therefore also spoke of two lost points and was amazed at the Austria play facility. “We showed that we wanted to win. And we’re in a much better position than Austria, ”he noted with a little swipe at the city rivals. Rapid could now provide support for this. The green-whites heading for second place will play in the remaining rounds until the point is split at home against the up-and-coming Hartbergers and in Innsbruck at WSG Tirol.
Salzburg marches away
Thanks to the zero number in Vienna and a simultaneous 4: 1 victory over St. Pölten, leaders Salzburg extended their lead over Rapid to five points. Against the Lower Austrians, the “Bulls” initially had problems with the courageous guests on Sunday, but thanks to their class they finally secured a sovereign victory. “If we had been sharper in front of the goal, we should have scored more goals,” said coach Jesse Marsch.
The 19-year-old Bayern loan from Taylor Booth gave St. Pölten the lead in the twelfth minute after a courageous opening phase. Salzburg was challenged by the intense game of the guests, struggled to create consistent actions and scoring chances, and had to work their way into the game in the truest sense of the word. “The response from my team was very strong. We then got stronger and stronger. That is our goal and our ambition when we are behind. After very intense weeks, the boys are tired, ”said Marsch after the game.
The American was able to see with satisfaction how his team had turned the game after a good half an hour thanks to goal getter Patson Daka (17th / 18th goal of the season) and Enock Mwepu (33rd) and continued to be more and more dominant. He particularly liked the fact that the kickers switched from 4-2-2-2 to 4-2-3-1 on their own, as he emphasized. “You did it yourself. They have a feel for tactics and they have the freedom to do so. I want to give the guys so much personality. My goal is that they don’t need a coach in such a phase, ”said the 47-year-old.
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