Lower house gala

“My toughest opponent at the Rapid Stadium”

This is what winners look like! As the overall winner, Muckendorf can look forward to 22 tracksuits.(Bild: Groh Klemens)

Muckendorf/Zeiselmauer and ex-Austrian Tomas Simkovic were crowned overall winners of the Lower House Football Gala at the Allianz Stadium. In the end, however, the celebrated hero was someone else...

"You're dressed like at the graduation ceremony!" This is how presenter Andy Marek welcomed 21 clubs from Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland to the traditional Unterhaus Gala organized by Krone, Austrian Lotteries and Erima in the VIP rooms of the Allianz Stadium in Hütteldorf. During the course of the evening, the atmosphere was elevated from high school graduation party to international match atmosphere. "A super event," said Herzogenburg's Marco Cimen, who ended up being the crowd's favorite. But first things first.

Presenter Andy Marek hosted the evening.(Bild: Groh Klemens)

First, the clubs had to compete with a football in a game of "Gaberln". Kleinneusiedl stood out from Lower Austria with nine touches. And then came the pub quiz, collecting an incredible 24 points. This was followed by the estimation game and the beer mug stemming competition. Autumn champions Muckendorf/Zeiselmauer once again made it to the final. Where they faced Herzogenburg at the goal wall.

The kickers pushed themselves to their limits in the beer mug lifting competition.(Bild: Holl Reinhard)

"Surprised me"
Or against Marco Cimen, who demanded everything from ex-Austrian Tomas Simkovic as the big outsider. Both of them put the ball in the top corner twice. In the end, however, Simkovic went one better and crowned Muckendorf/Zeiselmauer the overall winners. "That was my toughest opponent in the Rapid Stadium so far," laughed "Simko", "he surprised me."

Herzogenburg's Cimen shone on the goalscoring wall.(Bild: Holl Reinhard)

So did the crowd, who celebrated the Herzogenburg player exuberantly. Marek brought the winner of hearts onto the stage once again. His request: "Sink it again for us!" Cimen fulfilled his wish and received the match ball from Erima as a gift.

Cimen and Simkovic (right)(Bild: Holl Reinhard)

"Maybe some people underestimate me. But I've always had good technique," winked the shot-stopper, who coaches the reserves at the 2nd division club. By the way: The fan-at fan vote went to the Marswiese footballers. The Viennese can look forward to a professional live broadcast of a home match.