USK Anif 3-3 (2-1) FC Pinzgau Saalfelden. Goals: Leitz (12, 52), Golser (36); Rathgeb (42), Tandari (pen. 56, 90+4)
Tamas Tandari scored in stoppage time as FC Pinzgau Saalfelden rescued a 3-3 draw away to USK Anif in their final game of the season on Saturday afternoon.
It was end-to-end to begin with, as both teams made an ambitious start to the final fixture of the season. The home side launched a quick counter-attack in the 12th minute and although Denis Kahrimanovic made a clean tackle, there was little the Mountainous Pine Blues could do to stop Daniel Leitz from opening the scoring at the second attempt. Despite going a goal down early on, Ziege’s charges tried to work their way back into the game – though chances were initially few and far between. Anif had the upper hand and created two good opportunities which were both kept out by outstanding saves from Kilian Schröcker in between the sticks for the visitors. But as the game entered the 36th minute, the Pinzgau goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Manuel Golser from doubling the lead following a defensive lapse from his team-mates. Fortunately, David Rathgeb managed to pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time, driving home an effort from range that went in off the inside of the post to make it 2-1 at the break.
The second half of the match did not start according to plan either. Leitz reacted the quickest in the penalty area and made it 3-1 courtesy of his second goal of the game. FC Pinzgau Saalfelden subsequently grew stronger, dominated proceedings and brought the deficit back to one goal thanks to a confidently dispatched penalty from Tamas Tandari. The home side increasingly retreated and only ventured forward on rare occasions. The Ziege Crew repeatedly caused the Anif back line problems with their pacey attacks – though they were unable to convert them into goals. The best chance fell to Raphael Streitwieser, whose long-range effort from 25 metres out was thwarted by Christian Sekanina. Schröcker was again in the thick of the action moments later as he clawed a Leitz shot away from the corner, and he continued his top form between the sticks by keeping out a penalty kick and denying Leitz a hat-trick a short while later. Pinzgau were then rewarded for their immense effort when Tandari scored with the last kick of the game, heading home in stoppage time to complete his brace, take his season goal tally to 31 and rescue his side a point.
LINE-UP
Schröcker; Schwaighofer, Kahrimanovic, Ziege (Nupaya, 85), Adjei; Rathgeb (Mühlbacher, 71), Moosmann (Fürstaller, 46), Streitwieser; Benedek, Tandari, Vadze