Taferner & Co. win

WSG Tirol against TSV Hartberg LIVE from 5pm

Matthew Taferner

(Bild: GEPA)

Bundesliga club WSG Tirol have scored for the first time in their fourth attempt in 2024. The team of Thomas Silberberger, who returned to the bench after his suspension, deservedly won 1-0 against TSV Hartberg in the penultimate round of the basic round on Sunday. The Styrians suffered another defeat after picking up four points in the previous round and still have to fear for their place in the championship group as they remain in fifth place. 

Matthäus Taferner redeemed the hosts at the Tivoli Stadion Tirol with his goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. The Styrians were already short-handed after a not uncontroversial red card against Dominik Frieser (35').

Bumpy surface at the Tivoli Stadium
The 11th-placed Tyroleans were able to extend the gap on bottom-placed Austria Lustenau to seven points, as the Vorarlberg side only drew 1-1 at Rapid. Hartberg still have the best chance of reaching the "upper play-off" ahead of the 22nd round, as they have three points more than seventh-placed Austria Vienna. TSV will face Sturm Graz next Sunday.

(Bild: GEPA)

The Tyroleans got off to a very brave start with captain Felix Bacher, who was recently suspended, in difficult conditions due to the bumpy surface. An Ogrinec shot was blocked (2'), Manuel Pfeifer cleared a Taferner corner past goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger (13') and a Prelec header went over the bar (15'). Without the injured Maximilian Entrup, TSV had nothing to show offensively before the break, with one exception. WSG goalkeeper Adam Stejskal was able to save from Donis Avdijaj after a long Komposch ball (19').

Red for Frieser and off for Geris
There was plenty of discussion in the 35th minute. Frieser unfortunately hit Tyrolean debutant Thomas Geris in the face with a high foot. However, the 21-year-old's head also came down slightly. A cut on his eyelid was the result and the game ended prematurely for the WSG kicker.

The home side quickly capitalized on their superior numbers, albeit somewhat out of nowhere in a scrappy phase. Substitute Kofi Schulz headed a long Sulzbach throw-in to Taferner, who scored his first goal of the season from around 14 meters out. Silberberger's team almost scored another brace, but Prelec's shot failed to beat Sallinger and the follow-up shot missed the target (45.+4).

(Bild: GEPA)

Sulzbacher took center stage a few times in the second half. First, the ex-Rapidler could have gone in alone on goal after a failed backpass from Pfeifer, but shot prematurely and failed to put Sallinger in trouble (51'). After that, two cross attempts on goal (54', 57') were very dangerous, the second landing on the crossbar. The TSV goalkeeper was also on hand to save a Taferner shot (59').

It remained exciting right to the end, however, as a Schulz goal was rightly disallowed in the 90th minute due to a Prelec offside. Hartberg remained without a top chance in half 2. It was only the fourth win of the season for the Tyroleans.

The result:
WSG Tirol - TSV Hartberg 1:0 (1:0)
Innsbruck, Tivoli Stadion Tirol, SR Ebner

Goal: 1:0 (45.+2) Taferner Red card: Frieser (35./Foul)

Red card: Frieser (35th/foul)

Yellow cards: Stumberger, Naschberger, Taferner and Gratzei (goalkeeper coach)

Tirol: Stejskal - Sulzbacher, Bacher, Okungbowa, Stumberger, Geris (38. Schulz) - Taferner, Naschberger (75. Üstündag), Ogrinec (87. Vötter) - Prelec, Buksa (75. Kronberger)
Hartberg: Sallinger - Heil, Komposch (46. Steinwender), Bowat, Pfeifer (83. Brückner) - Diakite (76. Halwachs) - Frieser, Kainz (83. Fillafer), Sangare, Providence - Avdijaj