1st National League

Leap to the top with first win of the spring

Neumarkt's Brandl (left) secured the 3:0 final score against Bergheim.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

No, things haven't really gone well for the relegated Bergheim and Neumarkt teams so far. However, as the competition is also constantly making mistakes, the match between the decimated top teams turned into the hit of the round for first place in the 1st regional league. The team from Wallersee came out on top.

Until Saturday, relegated Neumarkt had bad luck at their feet. Luck returned just in the key match against Bergheim - 3:0! "Apart from in the cup against Kuchl, we were really in the box," said sporting director Hans Hajek with relief. "We even had to change the defense." Bergheim coach Alex Pilaj was no different: "We're on our last legs."

Striker has 50 percent quota
Remarkable: When Brandl, who has scored 17 of his 34 goals this season, scores, the Wallerseer also score. Reward: With the first win of the new year, the former West League team climbed to first place in the table. "If we manage to get promoted again, Brandl has already agreed to stay," revealed Hajek. However, the legendary coach does not want to talk about promotion itself. "There's just too much happening in the league every week!"

One example of this is that the last four teams all finished in the top four this time, bringing the standings closer together. Altenmarkt, meanwhile, heroically salvaged a 1-1 draw against Berndorf after the shock loss of goalkeeper Morawitz. The goalkeeper tore all the ligaments in his shoulder during the 0:1 draw and has already undergone surgery - season over. "That was the best fighting performance since I've been here," marveled Altenmarkt's Styrian section manager Christopher Kiedl. Berndorf counterpart Werner Baier was satisfied: "I think we can live with the point. The long injury break of 45 minutes affected both teams, but that shouldn't be an excuse."

1st Landesliga, 18th round: Schwarzach - Kaprun 1:2 (1:1), Hallwang - Pfarrwerfen 0:5 (0:2), Bad Hofgastein - Tamsweg 3:2 (1:1), ASV Salzburg - Mühlbach/Pzg. 4:1 (2:1), Anthering - ATSV Salzburg 2:4 (1:1), Altenmarkt - Berndorf 1:1 (1:1), Neumarkt - Bergheim 3:0 (1:0).