HC Linz AG missed the first entry into the final for the domestic handball championship title since 2003. Coach Milan Vunjak’s team had to admit defeat to defending champion Hard at home yesterday with 25:26 (13:14), which ended the “Best of 3” series with 0:2.
“Even though it’s bitter to lose by a goal, I’m incredibly proud of the team,” said captain Max Hermann. Not least because his team was the surprise of the season with fourth place.
It had set the first damper for Linz before kick-off: backcourt player Tobias Cvetko was out. The Slovenian had already complained in the first duel in Hard about pain in the knee operated on last autumn. He is now awaiting another intervention on the meniscus. Hermann was therefore set to build up on the left, while Lucijan Fizuleto and Moritz Bachmann shared the other backcourt positions. That worked fine at first. Before the eyes of Austria’s team boss Ales Pajovic, who saw a game in the modernized Linz hall for the first time, the home side came into the dressing room against Hard with 13:14. “We need a little more stability in defense and depth in attack,” Bachmann analyzed the change of sides.
Three goalkeeper goals
The Linz team struggled up front, also because league top scorer Fizuleto, who had practically carried the team through the season, only sunk seven of his 15 throws. A strong second half by goalkeeper Markus Bokesch with several saves and three empty net hits helped Linz keep the game open until the end.
The fact that it wasn’t enough in the end wasn’t due to the spectators either: They made the – in this case – blue wall for the team with their specially made shirts. The goal of being sold out for the first time since the reopening was just missed with around 900 spectators. A goal that has to be postponed to the coming season. With the surprising fourth place, the conclusion for the relegation candidates of the past seasons can only be positive this time. Club boss Bernhard Ditachmair had already confirmed the OÖN to apply for a European Cup starting place.
Source: Nachrichten
