VAR check and penalty

LIVE from 5pm: WSG Tirol must face WAC

The goalscorers: Hinterseer and Schöpf(Bild: GEPA)

Wolfsberg's high-flying run in the Bundesliga took a dent in Innsbruck on Saturday. Coach Dietmar Kühbauer's team came away with a lucky 3:3 (1:1) draw at WSG Tirol. A penalty by Alessandro Schöpf in the 99th minute saved the Carinthians a point. 

Third-placed WAC, however, missed out on early qualification for the championship group. WSG slipped to tenth place in the relegation battle.

Adis Jasic had put the Lavanttaler in the lead twice (9th, 65th). Jamie Lawrence (24') and a brace from joker Lukas Hinterseer (84', 91') supposedly turned the game around completely. But Schöpf was on hand with his second joker goal in his second game for the WAC. Both teams are still unbeaten this spring, although Carinthia's six-game winning streak came to an end.

(Bild: GEPA)

Both coaches opted for continuity in terms of personnel and had little reason to rotate after a defeat-free start to the spring: For WSG, the fit Matthäus Taferner returned to the starting eleven, while for WAC it was the recovered captain Dominik Baumgartner and Emmanuel Agyemang. In spring-like temperatures, Watten were initially more active, but the visitors responded with efficiency. Jasic slammed a free-kick from more than 20 m directly into the Tyrolean net. The "Wolves" once again proved their ability to score from set-pieces.

Jasic at the center of attention
A quarter of an hour later, coach Philipp Semlic's team showed that WSG also have this in their portfolio. After a corner kick via Taferner and Bror Blume, Lawrence headed in the equalizer. There was a moment of shock for the Tyroleans after 30 minutes: Lukas Sulzbacher twisted his ankle, but initially continued to play. The midfielder had to be replaced by David Jaunegg shortly afterwards (36'). The new man immediately prevented Dejan Zukic, who was ready to shoot, from scoring (38').

(Bild: GEPA)

The flawed WAC failed to put much together in the build-up play, which only changed after the break. Angelo Gattermayer twice gave the visitors the lead again: First, the striker failed to beat Adam Stejskal (53'), then he shot narrowly wide of the goal from a good position after Ballo's assist (56'). This phase of pressure was finally rewarded. Agyemang set up Gattermayer, who set up Zukic. While the Serbian failed to score from close range against Stejskal, right-back Jasic scored a brace with a tap-in.

Hinterseer's brace was not enough for victory
Watten then pressed for an equalizer and caused some chaotic scenes in front of the Carinthian goal. Substitute Hinterseer scored first after Jonas David's pass via the inside of the bar to make it 2:2, and the veteran followed up in stoppage time to put the Tyroleans in front. But the game did not end there, as referee Alexander Harkam pointed to the spot after an unfortunate handball by David. The decision stood even after a VAR review. Substitute Schöpf did not miss the chance and secured a point for the visitors.

WSG now face two away games in Linz, first against Blau-Weiß (March 2) and then against LASK (March 9). Vienna Austria will visit Innsbruck at the end of the basic round. Wolfsberg travel to Hartberg next week, before Blau-Weiß visit Lavanttal and finally the away game at runners-up Salzburg.

WSG Tirol - Wolfsberger AC Final score 3:3 (1:1)
Innsbruck, Tivoli Stadium Tirol
1,670 spectators, refereed by Harkam

Goals:
0:1 (9.) Jasic

1:1 (24.) Lawrence

1:2 (65.) Jasic

2:2 (84') Hinterseer

3:2 (91') Hinterseer

3:3 (99.) Schöpf (hand penalty)

WSG: Stejskal - David, Lawrence, D. Gugganig - Butler, Müller, Naschberger (79. Vötter), Sulzbacher (36. Jaunegg) - Taferner, M. Diarra (55. Anselm), Blume (79. Hinterseer)

WAC: Polster - Baumgartner, Nwaiwu, Wimmer - Jasic, Piesinger (92. Diabate), Agyemang (80. Omic), Ullmann - Zukic (69. Schöpf) - Gattermayer (69. Pink), Ballo (92. Sabitzer)

Yellow cards: M. Diarra, Müller, David and none respectively

Comments on the match: 

Philipp Semlic (WSG coach): "We started the game well, the first half was even. In the second half, you could see why the WAC are where they are. It was only logical that they scored the 2:1. Then I have to compliment my team on the morale they showed, the fighting spirit and the unity they showed to turn this result into a lead. That speaks volumes for our lads. It's bitter at the end when you get the equalizer. But we have to be humble enough to accept that it's okay."

Dietmar Kühbauer (WAC coach): "We took a quick 1-0 lead and then did little for the game. We were punished and the score was 1:1. There was little energy on either side. I said at the break that we had to be more active and play our game and then we did really well. We were really well in the game up to 2:1. But that doesn't change the fact that we have to finish the game and we missed that today. So we have to be satisfied with the 3:3 at the end. We should and could have made it easier for ourselves beforehand."