Penalty shootout! GAK continues to tremble in Velden

GAK had to play extra time in their first competitive match of the season. After trailing 2-0, the newly promoted side saved themselves by drawing 2-2 in extra time in the first round of the Austrian Cup at ATUS Velden Stadium in Villach. The Red Jackets won 4-3 on penalties. Dominic Fraser scored the decisive try.

With Martin Kreuzrigler, Petar Filipovic and Dominik Fraser, GAK coach Gernot Meissner named three newcomers to the starting lineup and relied on a three-man series. The Carinthian League hosts were able to count on experienced Bundesliga veterans such as goalkeeper Alexander Koffler, Roland Bucci and Mario Kröpfl.

early shock

The match started with a classic “what if” situation. Had Daniel Maderner taken his chance after 55 seconds, the game might have been easier. But the home side showed quality and shocked GAK for the first time in the sixth minute. Mario Kropfl’s corner was cleared and Nicolas Modritz smashed the ball home with a long-range effort. The announcer wasn’t shy about telling everyone that the goal made him “go crazy”. GAK then tried to push for an equaliser, but for a long time they could barely create any concrete chances against the top-flight side.

After the break it was the same picture, with only Michael Chiokwa coming on for Maderner. Nico Krasnitzer replaced the injured Koffler in goal for Velden. The Carinthians also managed to shock GAK very early in the second half. Marlon Winter made his way down the left flank in the 56th minute and put the ball past goalkeeper Jakob Maierhofer at the near post.

Rosenberger and Fraser equalized.

Messner immediately sent three new players on the pitch: veteran Marco Berchtold and newcomers Theo Sibot and Jacob Italiano. Now the chances increased. Benjamin Rosenberger (68) crowned his period of pressure with a free kick from the right half that went straight past Krasnitzer. Fraser followed up in the 74th minute. Chikwa continued to joke with his head and the newcomer scored a dry goal to level the score at 2-2. No more goals were scored in regulation time.

Extra time started with good chances for GAK. First Krasnitzer hit Sibot's shot on to the crossbar, then Chikwa pushed the ball beyond the far post, and in the 111th minute the striker only hit the crossbar. It was Chikwa who also missed the match point from close range shortly before the end of extra time.

There was a happy ending to the shootout, although Chiokwa and Marco Jantschnig both fired over. But three of Velden's shooters missed and Fabian Copping lost his nerve on the decisive attempt.

“It was a classic cup game,” Fraser said. “It reflects the morale of the team after we came back from a 2-0 defeat. A month later no one will ask about it anymore. But we have to work on it, something was missing,” said coach Gernot Meissner. “That game cost us a lot of nerves. We were afraid of failure, but in the end the only thing that matters is moving forward.