Both still winless

Styrian derby! Hartberg vs GAK – LIVE from 5pm

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

There was no winner in the Styrian derby between Grazer AK and Hartberg in round five of the Austrian Bundesliga. An own goal by Graz made the final score 1:1.

Hartberg and GAK are still winless in the Austrian Bundesliga after the fifth round. The two teams drew 1-1 at the Profertil Arena on Saturday in the "little derby", as GAK coach Gernot Messner had described it in the run-up to the match. The hosts thus remain in possession of the "red lantern" with two points ahead of the international break, while the promoted team from Graz is still second last after the third draw, one point ahead of them.

Gernot Messner

(Bild: Pail Sepp)

The 25-year-old Japanese player Atsushi Zaizen (40') gave Graz the lead with his first Bundesliga goal. After the break, Hartberg, who have only played four games, were rewarded for their improved performance with an own goal from Jacob Italiano (58'). It was their second draw in a row after the 1-1 home draw against Vienna Austria. Another home game awaits on September 14 against WSG Tirol, with Graz also taking on Altach at home on the same day.

GAK goal disallowed
Hartberg had significantly more possession, but did not get a single shot on goal before the break. It was a different story for Graz, who had the more dangerous moments. After a Satin free-kick and a header from Milos Jovicic, a Zaizen header was rightly disallowed, according to TV pictures, as Jovicic had been slightly offside (14th). Ex-Hartberg player Dominik Frieser failed to beat TSV goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger from an acute angle (28').

In the 40th minute, Zaizen first had a bit of luck with the ball after a pass from Italiano and then finished consistently, Sallinger was powerless. This was the first time GAK had gone ahead this season. Dominik Prokop and Patrik Mijic (both 45.+2) missed the chance to equalize before the break.

Luck with the equalizer
TSV coach Markus Schopp tried to provide fresh impetus at the break by making four changes. Justin Omoregie, Nelson Amadin, Maximilian Fillafer and Benjamin Markus came into the game. There was plenty of momentum straight away, with the Hartberg side running the ball well and repeatedly combining well going forward. They also had the necessary luck to equalize.

Graz were briefly allowed to dream of three points.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Served by Fillafer, Avdijaj set up his attacking colleague Prokop. Before the latter could finish, however, Italiano made a save and headed past GAK goalkeeper Jakob Meierhofer into his own goal. It was GAK's second own goal of the season. In the final phase, the home side's winning goal was more in the air, but Avdijaj's best chance was too weak (87').