Innviertler Cup: Defending champion had to throw in the towel

With a comfortable 3-0 away win at Union Diersbach on Tuesday, USV Neuhofen became the first club to secure a place in the semi-finals of this year’s Innviertler Cup. The win was never in danger at any point in the game, but Neuhofen coach Thomas Reifeltshammer was not entirely satisfied. “After the early lead, we played too sloppily at times and made a lot of individual mistakes,” said Reifeltshammer.

Thanks to reaching the semi-finals, Neuhofen is now only two wins away from winning the cup. “Even before the cup started, we set the title as our goal. We are on the right track,” says Reifeltshammer.

Eggerding’s coach Gabriel Schustereder is also satisfied with the tournament so far. And rightly so, because after the 3:1 victory against Suben in the first round, Eggerding defeated the defending champion UFC Peterskirchen/Tumeltsham/Andrichsfurt (PTA) in the round of 16. “I have to give a lot of praise to my team. We were clearly better and could have won by a bigger margin due to the many scoring opportunities,” said Schustereder about the 4:2 victory against the defending champion.

In the quarter-finals, the regional league team Esternberg will come to Eggerding. A game of David against Goliath. Schustereder is speculating on a sensation: “We have nothing to lose and can play freely,” he says, adding: “In order to progress, it will be important not to show any fear of the opponent. If we want to get the most out of it, then we must not go into the game fearful. Respect yes, fear no,” says Eggerding’s coach.

No luck

“We just didn’t have any luck with the draw,” said Riedau’s sports director Udo Niemetz in an interview with the OÖN after the quarter-final draw. As in round two (away against Pischelsdorf), his team will have to take a long journey again in the quarter-final. The trip to the away game in Neukirchen/Enknach will take just under an hour for the Riedau team. “We would have preferred a derby. So we have to take a long journey again,” says Niemetz. He doesn’t know the opponents well enough personally to be able to say anything about their strengths. “As a higher-class club, we are the favorites and want to show that on the pitch. We are going to Neukirchen to reach the next round,” says Niemetz. The home team from the Braunau district wants to avoid this. “We are aware that we are going into the duel as underdogs. But anything is possible in the cup. We want to deliver a surprise. If we perform to our full potential, then our chances are pretty good,” says Peter Richter, coach of Neukirchen an der Enknach.

District league team Lambrechten also wants to advance to the semi-finals in a duel against Enzenkirchen. “We certainly won’t underestimate Enzenkirchen. However, anything other than a win would be a disappointment for us,” says Lambrechten’s coach Gerhard Obermair.