No goals at the Tivoli

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No goals in Innsbruck(Bild: GEPA pictures)

TSV Hartberg suffered a small setback in their fight for a place in the championship group. The Styrians were held to a 0-0 draw at WSG Tirol in the Bundesliga's spring opener on Sunday and are at least two points off the pace after the 17th round. The ninth-placed Tyroleans increased their lead over bottom-placed Altach to seven points. 

WSG had to withdraw several players for the first game of the year due to illness, with Matthäus Taferner and Florian Rieder among those unavailable. While the Tyroleans did not make any new signings during the winter break, Hartberg coach Manfred Schmid decided not to include any of the new signings in the starting eleven. Compared to the Cup quarter-final victory over Stripfing, he made three changes.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

In this form, the visitors had serious offensive and defensive problems with the Tyroleans in the first 25 minutes in front of 1,780 spectators, who were clearly ahead in terms of winning the ball. It was thanks to goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger that TSV did not go behind early on. He made saves against Stefan Skrbo, who was later substituted injured (38'), as well as against Lukas Sulzbacher (both 5'), Mahamadou Diarra (13') and Valentino Müller (14') - in between, the crossbar saved one of Müller's attempts (5').

Penalty not awarded to TSV
Hartberg made almost nothing of their clear possession advantage before the break and there was little change after the break. After an hour, Schmid brought on Donis Avdijaj as an additional attacking force. The 28-year-old provided an assist for Patrik Mijic after a counter-attack, with goalkeeper Adam Stejskal making a seemingly brilliant save in his first action. Looking at the pictures, however, a penalty would probably have been due.

Elias Havel and Muharem Huskovic were then brought on to revitalize TSV's attacking play, and the team did indeed start to look a little more dangerous. However, WSG had the best opportunity, which also relied on substitute striker Lukas Hinterseer in the final stages. Diarra missed miserably alone in front of Sallinger (77'), after which the game lurched towards its conclusion.

WSG Tirol - TSV Hartberg 0:0
Innsbruck, Tivoli Neu, refereed by Ristoskov
Yellow cards: Gugganig and Omoregie, Wilfinger

WSG: Stejskal - David (87. Jaunegg), Lawrence, D. Gugganig - Butler, Müller, Naschberger, Sulzbacher - Skrbo (38. Ranacher), M. Diarra, Vötter
Hartberg: Sallinger - Wilfinger (58. Avdijaj), Komposch, Karamatic - Heil, Markus (58. Kainz), Y. Diarra, Pfeifer - Omoregie, Mijic (66. Huskovic), Prokop (66. Havel)