ÖFB Cup highlight

“Taking part is everything” has long been a thing of the past

Savo Pajic (left) and Wals-Grünau expected a tough game.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Bischofshofen wants to stand up to Bundesliga team Hartberg in the ÖFB Cup and celebrate a soccer festival. For Wals-Grünau, the Cup is the reward for their hard work. Julian Feiser wants to make it as difficult as possible for his buddy Domenik Schierl. There was a sensation in the regional cup on Thursday.

With Hartberg and Austria Lustenau, Bischofshofen and Wals-Grünau face tough opponents in the ÖFB Cup today (both 19). However, the Olympic idea of "taking part is everything" has long been a thing of the past for the Western League teams.

The Salzburg underdogs definitely have what it takes to scare the favorites. "We want to play with courage and conviction. We won't hide," says BSK coach Thomas Schnöll, clearly setting the tone against the team from Eastern Styria. His coaching team has analyzed several of the Bundesliga club's games in recent days and knows: "If we have a very good day and Hartberg don't have such a good one, something is certainly possible. We want to take the fun out of playing soccer." The anticipation among the Pongau team is naturally great, as BSK want to celebrate a big soccer festival in front of their own fans.

"You don't play that often"
The clash with the relegated Bundesliga side - who will face Lukas Buchegger in League Two, the defender is moving from Kuchl to St. Pölten - is also giving the Grünauers butterflies in their stomachs. "The anticipation is huge. You don't play in the ÖFB Cup that often. For us, it's also a reward for the last six months," says a delighted Julian Feiser. He is also looking forward to a reunion with Domenik Schierl in the Lustenau goal: "We know each other from before, we only met recently, so of course the banter started."

However, Lustenau should have nothing to laugh about during the 90 minutes. "We definitely want to make it as difficult as possible for them!"

Sensation in the national cup
One level below, in the SFV regional cup, Nußdorf caused a sensation. The team from the 1st class north eliminated Salzburgligist Grödig 5:4 in a penalty shoot-out. The outsiders took the lead after 20 minutes through Sebastian Götzinger. However, Grödig did not let that stand and Thomas Füreder equalized just two minutes later. However, no further goals were scored. In the later penalty shoot-out, the 1:1 scorer missed his penalty, which helped the home side to a much-acclaimed promotion.