Thrilling Finish

Last-minute goal saves a point for Altach against Ried

There was no winner in the match between SCR Altach and SV Ried …(Bild: GEPA)

A winner? Not a chance! SCR Altach and SV Ried split the points in the Austrian Bundesliga! The two teams played to a 1-1 draw (0-0) on Saturday at Schnabelholz, a result that reflected the flow of the game.

Two substitutes scored the goals: Isaac Kiese Thelin put the visitors ahead (77'), and Srdjan Hrstic secured a point for Altach (91'). Ried has remained unbeaten in the league since late August—a streak of six games—and sits in sixth place with 16 points. Altach has 10 points after 11 rounds.

SCRA coach Ognjen Zaric and Ried coach Mario Despotovic rotated their lineups compared to the cup matches—in some cases out of necessity. Altach’s defensive leader Benedikt Zech and attacking force Patrick Greil were sidelined due to illness and were replaced by Rassa Rahmani and starting lineup debutant Yanis Eisschill. With single-digit temperatures, the first half offered little to warm the spectators. For the visiting Ried team, Pape Sissoko fired a warning shot that narrowly missed the goal (5th minute). Evan Eghosa Aisowieren was denied by SCRA goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic (14th min.). For the hosts, Rodney Elongo-Yombo (20th min.) and Ousmane Diawara (45+1 min.) both failed to find the target with their headers.

The Jokers Score
In the second half, Yann Massombo provided Vorarlberg’s first highlight when the 26-year-old curled the ball onto the crossbar. Eisschill picked up the rebound, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Andreas Leitner (53rd minute). At the other end, Fabian Rossdorfer failed to capitalize on a Malicsek cross that would have put the visitors ahead; Stojanovic prevented the goal (54'). SVR defender Samuel Chukwudi was lucky to get away with just a yellow card shortly afterward for a rough tackle on Mike Bähre (61').

The Innviertel side took the lead during a period of Altach pressure: Rossdorfer crossed to substitute Kiese Thelin, who was on hand to head it in. But the hosts struck back late: Following an assist from Massombo, Hrstic—who had also come on as a substitute—pulled off a spectacular save to secure a point for Altach. Massombo missed the “lucky punch” when his shot was blocked by Chukwudi (94'). Altach will travel to Hartberg next Sunday for the season’s first away game of the second half. The day before, Ried will host champions LASK in the Upper Austrian derby and are looking for revenge for their dramatic Cup loss (4–5 in extra time).

The result:
SCR Altach – SV Ried 1–1 (0–0)
Altach, Schnabelholz Stadium, 4,200 spectators, Referee Dr. Julian Schnur

Goals: 0–1 Thelin (77'), 1–1 (91') Hrstić

Yellow cards: Böckle and Chukwudi

Altach: Stojanovic – Jäger, Milojevic, Rahmani – Niehoff (66' Naschberger), Massombo, Bähre, Eisschill (83' Helbock), Böckle (83' Yalcin) – Elongo-Yombo (66' Hrstić), Diawara
Ried: Leitner – Radonjic, Chukwudi, Capan (83' Pomer), Steurer – Malicsek, Schwab (57' Rasner) – Rossdorfer, Nasrawe (72. Maart), Aisowieren (83. Boguo) – Sissoko (72. Kiese Thelin)