Pure drama

Klagenfurt vs TSV Hartberg – LIVE from 5pm

Klagenfurt and Hartberg shared the points.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Austria Klagenfurt salvaged a draw on Saturday with a penalty in stoppage time. The Carinthians drew 2-2 with Hartberg.

TSV Hartberg gave away their first win of the season at the very last second on Saturday in the first game after the Markus Schopp era. The team from Eastern Styria, coached by interim coach Markus Karner, led in the 7th round of the Bundesliga away at Austria Klagenfurt until deep into stoppage time, before double winger Ben Bobzien scored a penalty for the decimated Klagenfurt side in the 96th minute to make the final score 2:2 (0:1).

Bottom of the table
After goals from Maximilian Fillafer (5th) and Patrik Mijic (78th / foul penalty), Hartberg already looked like certain winners. Bobzien also equalized for Klagenfurt in the meantime (69.) The still winless Styrians thus retained the red lantern, with Klagenfurt in eighth place.

Maximilian Fillafer scored to make it 1:0.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Karner was on the bench for the first and probably last time as head coach of the visitors from Hartberg; according to TSV managing director Erich Korherr, a new head coach will be presented in the coming week. In comparison to Schopp, Karner opted for a double-header and changed the starting eleven in three positions.

Debut for Spari
Simon Spari was in goal for the first time for Klagenfurt. Peter Pacult preferred the Bundesliga debutant to Marco Knaller. In addition, captain Thorsten Mahrer returned to the first eleven after a red card suspension and subsequent adductor problems. A minute's silence was held for the recently deceased Klagenfurt president Herbert Matschek before the start of the match.

It was the first competitive match in three weeks for both teams due to the weather-related cancellations on the previous matchday. The visitors from Hartberg got off to the better start, with Karner's changes taking effect immediately. Justin Omoregie set up Fillafer, whose deflected shot ended up in the net. Both players involved in the early lead were new to the starting eleven.

From then on, it was a lively game between two committed teams. Hartberg by no means retreated after taking the lead, but the repeated pinpricks were too harmless. Klagenfurt also lacked determination in attack for a long time, only becoming dangerous in the 33rd minute when Dikeni Salifou powered his way through the penalty area but was denied by TSV goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger. At the other end, Hartberg's Donis Avdijaj missed from an acute angle (45.+1).

Klagenfurt come out of the locker room better
As was the case towards the end of the first half, Klagenfurt were the more active team in the second half. The result was a deserved equalizer. An unsuccessful finish from Christopher Cvetko ended up with Ben Bobzien, who beat Sallinger from close range (69'). But the joy did not last long. Kosmas Gkezos, who had already been cautioned, pulled Avdijaj off his feet in the penalty area and was sent off with a yellow card. Substitute Patrik Mijic confidently converted the penalty (78').

Hartberg already looked like certain winners.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Hartberg looked like certain winners until deep into stoppage time, when TSV goalkeeper Sallinger hit Klagenfurt attacker Nicolas Binder in the face with his fists, resulting in a penalty. Bobzien scored from the spot to equalize late on.