After a goalless and uneventful half, the two-time cup winner (1998, 2011) took the lead through Felix Seiwald after the break with a shot into the near corner (61st). Ten minutes later, Julian Wießmeier increased the penalty with a penalty (71st). Philipp Sturm makes it exciting again (76th), but Rieder brought the victory over time.
The opponent on May 1st in Klagenfurt will not be determined until March 16th and will be called either RZ Pellets WAC or the defending champion Red Bull Salzburg. The Vikings lost 3-0 in the 2012 final to the Bulls. In the semi-finals, Rieder also extended their home series, they are unbeaten in their stadium for 17 competitive games in a row.
2: 0 through Julian Wießmeier (71st minute)
The German increased the penalty for Rieder.
Disrupted game before the break
It was a chaotic first half in front of 3,700 spectators, characterized by many bad passes, so there were very few chances to score. Hartberger’s two best chances came from defensive mistakes by the home side, but Ried goalie Samuel Sahin-Radlinger successfully cleared twice outside the penalty area (5th and 20th). In the eighth minute it was Okan Aydin, whose shot from a good position went just wide of the goal.
Rieder hardly put themselves in a dangerous position on offense and only got stronger towards the end of the first 45 minutes. The only real opportunity to score in this phase was Dorgeles Nene, who was on loan from Salzburg. After Hartberg goalie Rene Swete, who was running out, missed a long ball, Michael Steinwender jumped in to save Nene’s goal in front of the line (33′).
Seiwald and Wießmeier shoot Ried into the final
It was also the fast Nene who missed a cross by just centimeters soon after the restart in the five-pointer (49th). Ried now set the tone, interrupted by a solo by Donis Avdijaj, who circled the ball next to the goal (58′). Three minutes later, however, the time had come: Seiwald was passed on the right flank, left Thomas Rotter in the penalty area and fired – the approaching Christian Klem deflected the ball into the near corner for Swete.
Goal by Philipp Sturm (78th minute)
Hartberg makes it exciting again.
Around ten minutes later, Tobias Kainz became unlucky. He fouled Stefan Nutz, who had been passed to Nene in the penalty area, Wießmeier didn’t give Swete a chance from the penalty spot. It was the preliminary decision in favor of the “Vikings”, who were stronger in the second half, and who also gained self-confidence for the fight for the championship group: In the last round of the regular season on Sunday, the table seventh hosts Sturm Graz.
Comments on the game:
Robert Ibertsberger (Ried coach): “I’m extremely proud of the team, especially after the tough game on Sunday (1-1 in Klagenfurt, note). It’s been a long time since the last final (2012, note), it was time again. Anything is possible in a final, we dare to do something. The win was important, the positive result allows you to regenerate easier and faster. It’s also a bit of a booster for Sunday.”
Kurt Russ (Hartberg coach): “We were good in the game, only small things were missing. We had to open up more after the goal, Ried switched well. We had our chances, the first goal was the decisive factor that put us on the losing path. The degrees are a construction site for us, even in training. In principle, we play good football, but we finally have to reward ourselves.”
Uniqa ÖFB Cup, semi-finals
Wednesday:
Ried – Hartberg 2: 1 (0: 0)
Ried, Josko Arena, 3,700 spectators, SR Gishamer
goal sequence:
1:0 Seiwald (61.)
2: 0 Wießmeier (71./Elfmeter)
2:1 Sturm (76.)
Ried: Sahin-Radlinger – Wießmeier, Meisl, Plavotic, F. Seiwald – Stosic, Ziegl – Bajic, Nutz, Pomer – Nene (78./Mikic)
Hartberg: Swete – Farkas, Steinwender (46th / Rotter), Sonnleitner, Klem – Kainz (86th / Diarra), Heil – Niemann (70th / storm), Aydin, Avdijaj – Tadic
Yellow cards: Nene or Kainz
The best: Nene, Bajic, Plavotic or Avdijaj, Aydin
