Sensational 68 seconds seal comeback win in Hartberg | OneFootball

Great run against Styrian side continues

 Our trip to TSV Hartberg in the championship group was a real test, but one we came through thanks to a superb second-half comeback. Two goals on the hour mark from Karim Konate and Sota Kitano left us celebrating a vital win on Easter Sunday.

Match summary

With two new faces compared to the away game at SK Sturm Graz (Joane Gadou and Sota Kitano) and the intention of playing more efficiently than in the goalless draw at the beginning of March, our lads went determinedly into the rematch against Schmid's team. They offered real attacking intent, as Yorbe Vertessen's work rate clearly demonstrated. First, the side netting got in the way, then the hosts' goalkeeper Hülsmann, and finally their defender Coulibaly (5', 10', 23').

The home team's attacking prowess in the first half came primarily from counter-attacks, and one of these transitions ultimately led to their opening goal. After we lost possession while attacking, the hosts won a series of challenges and Havel gained the ball – in a duel with goalkeeper Alex Schlager, the striker then slotted it home (30'). Our efforts to equalise before half-time were thwarted: Karim Konate fired the ball over the bar from a promising position after a cross from Krätzig.

After the restart, not much changed, but some crucial aspects did. While our defence improved its handling of counter-attacks, Beichler's boys combined more effectively in attack – and 68 seconds would tip the scales in our favour. First, Konate seized on a deflected long-range shot from Lainer, and the Ivorian hammered the ball into the net off the woodwork (57'). Then, Sota Kitano turned away in jubilation after being set up by Edmund Baidoo (58').

   Our lads were playing their best football around the hour mark. Although an Alajbegovic goal was disallowed due to a VAR intervention (74'), we had more fortune with the next review – Spendlhofer was penalised for denying a goal-scoring opportunity after a foul on Konate, meaning Hartberg had to play the final stretch with ten men (83'). Although the hosts rallied in the final minutes, a diligent defensive performance allowed us to hold onto our lead until the final whistle. This puts our team back on the winning track just in time for the championship group's final stretch.

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Daniel Beichler

Mads Bidstrup

Match data

Line-ups & substitutions

TSV Hartberg: Hülsmann – Heil ©, Wilfinger, Spendlhofer, Coulibaly, Hennig (62. Pazourek) – Markus, Kainz (79. Diarra) – Fridrikas (62. Aziz), Drew (62. Hoffmann), Havel FC Red Bull Salzburg: Schlager – Drexler (46. Lainer), Gadou, Schuster, Terzic – Bidstrup ©, Krätzig (46. Alajbegovic), Baidoo (71. Kjaergaard), Kitano (90.+5 Diabate), Vertessen – Konate (89. Onisiwo)

Referee: Safak Barmaksiz Goals: Havel (30.) bzw. Konate (57.), Kitano (58.) Yellow cards: Schmid (59./Dissent), Hülsmann (74./Dissent) - Konate (36./Foul), Lainer (50./Foul), Terzic (70./Unsporting behaviour) Red card: Spendlhofer (83./Denying goalscoring opportunity) Attendance: 2.777

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