After the disappointing 0-0 in the home game last week, the Carinthians prevailed 4-0 (2-0) in Malta on Tuesday. The goals on artificial turf in Ta’Qali were scored by Tai Baribo (12′), Dominik Baumgartner (33′), Thorsten Röcher (59′) and Augustine Boakye (84′). In all probability, the Norwegian club Molde is waiting in the fight for the group stage.
The WAC was already under pressure after three league games without a win, including a 1: 5 on Saturday at LASK. With more than 30 degrees inland on the Mediterranean island, coach Robin Dutt relied on an additional offensive man with youngster Thierno Ballo – and was rewarded for it. Michael Novak and Adis Jasic, who replaced Jonathan Scherzer, who was injured during the warm-up, acted on the flanks.
Goalgetter Baribo made representations to Gzira goalkeeper Darijan Radelic-Zarkov after just 40 seconds, on whom WAC had lost his teeth in the first leg in Klagenfurt. Malta’s league fourth last season took the pace out of the game in front of around 500 spectators. After eleven minutes, however, Ballo penetrated the penalty area with dynamism. The ball got lucky to Baribo and the Israeli, who has already scored in the cup and league, shot in. A cross from Thorsten Röcher almost put Gzira’s Luke Tabone into his own goal (20′).
On the defensive, however, the WAC seemed anything but solid. Counter-attacking opportunities opened up again and again for the Maltese around attacker Jefferson. But Baumgartner made it 2-0. The central defender was just not offside when Ballo shot after a corner kick and hit the far corner from the turn. The 26-year-old, who was actually aiming for a summer transfer to Sturm Graz, celebrated his first European Cup goal.
The final decision came after the change of sides: After Gziras saw Zachary Scerri sent off (53′), Gabriel Mentz brought Baribo down in the penalty area. Röcher used the penalty safely in the right corner. Scottish referee Nicholas Walsh remained a protagonist. Because he had already drawn so many cards before the break, he also had to rule out Jefferson after a break (66′). Any resistance by the Maltese was then broken.
After Nikolaos Vergos hit the crossbar from a tight angle (80′), Augustine Boakye, who was also a substitute, made the final score with a well-considered shot from the penalty area. The 21-year-old from Ghana missed the big chance to score his second goal (88′).
The WAC managed to make amends. It was the eleventh victory of an ÖFB representative in the twelfth European Cup duel with a club from Malta. The 0:0 in Klagenfurt was the only loss of points so far. In the play-off, the Carinthians are likely to face Molde on August 18th. The Norwegians won the first leg against the Hungarian runners-up Kisvarda 3-0, the second leg follows on Thursday. The decision about the 3 million euro entry fee for entering the group phase of the Conference League will be made on August 25th.
Source: Nachrichten
