St. Pölten Stages Late Comeback to Secure Draw Against Amstetten Despite Red Card Drama

St. Pölten – Amstetten 1:1. In the SKN camp, the look ahead to the derby against Amstetten reveals a lot: after a poor start to the season, pressure is mounting. Striker Dario Tadic, last year’s top scorer in the 2nd league, was not included in the squad. According to sporting director Christoph Freitag, it was clearly communicated to Tadic at the beginning of the week that SKN no longer plans to work with him.

Short path between starting XI and bench

Also missing this time: Nicolas Wisak, who started as a right-back in the first two season games. New signing Lukas Buchegger, who was in the starting XI against FAC, has once again failed to make the matchday squad. Currently, some in the SKN squad are experiencing a barefoot or formal shoe situation.

However, regular right-back Julian Keiblinger was able to take a seat on the bench after his temporary exclusion. The reason he was not present against FAC and Lustenau? He reportedly asked if he could move the cup match against Leobendorf to attend his brother’s wedding. He was denied. And even asking the question earned him significant trouble. SKN coach Aleksandar Gitsov seems to have little interest in creating a feel-good oasis for now. Getting out of the comfort zone appears to be the motto.

Amstetten came with confidence

The situation in Amstetten was completely different. The two opening victories have done good for the tortured spirits of the Mostviertler. The confidence was certainly palpable. Amstetten approached the game energetically and tried to switch quickly after winning the ball. However, this was only successful to a limited extent.

Skogen heads against the crossbar

This, however, was still more than what SKN offensively managed for a long time. The offensive line with M’Buyi, Ritzmaier, and Harakate was expected to provide some tempo and creativity. Long-range shots from Ritzmaier and Harakate were the meager output for a long time. In the 40th minute, SKN was at least dangerous from a corner. Center-back Sondre Skogen hit the crossbar with a header after a Ritzmaier corner kick – the best chance of the game and so far the best chance of the ongoing SKN season!

SKN goalkeeper Hülsmann lays an egg

The first half was still set to feature a highlight: SKN goalkeeper Tom Hülsmann wanted to intercept a long ball meant for Amstetten’s Martin Grubhofer in added time but stumbled over his own legs as he did against Lustenau in such an awkward manner that Grubhofer was able to regain possession and likely would have scored. Hülsmann had something to say about it and took down the Amstetten striker and made a beeline for the locker room. The red card from referee Alain Sadikovski was something he barely saw in the corner of his eye.

Freestyle dive: Tom Hülsmann brought down Martin Grubhofer and saw red just before the break

Photo:
Wolfgang Wallner

Pirmin Strasser came on for offensive player Harakate. The obviously cold SKN substitute goalkeeper was quite lucky during the subsequent free-kick by Jannik Wanner. The ball rebounded from the post back onto the field.

M’Buyi has the lead at his feet while outnumbered

SKN kept the game open at the beginning of the second half despite being a player down. They even had the first big scoring chance. Marc Stendera fired a 20-meter shot, with Amstetten keeper Armin Gremsl letting the ball bounce forward, and SKN striker M’Buyi shot from close range but hit Gremsl, who spread himself skillfully.

Amstetten takes control in overwhelming numbers

However, Amstetten clearly took command from that point on. In the 58th minute, there was the first significant chance to take the lead: Substituted Charles Herrmann failed after a cross from Wanner with his volley attempt against Strasser. SKN’s goalkeeper also triumphed in the 64th minute against a shot from Wanner.

St. Pölten’s offensive strategy was virtually set: searching for depth over speedy M’Buyi. This looked promising twice around the middle of the second half, but Ritzmaier and Stendera each misplayed the final pass.

Wimmer heads Amstetten into the lead

So the Amstetten side wasn’t so overwhelming that St. Pölten couldn’t cope even while outnumbered. As so often, the Wolves handed out gifts. In the 73rd minute, Thesker was surprised by the aggressively approaching Herrmann; the ensuing shot was cleared by Neumayer, but to the cost of a corner. And that was successful: Wanner brought the ball into the center, Sebastian Wimmer headed to give Amstetten the lead.

SKN Coach Gitsov is sent off

Several minutes earlier, coach Aleksandar Gitsov had been sent off with a yellow-red card from the bench for repeated criticism. After the deficit and the excitement on the bench, a stir went through the ranks of the Wolves.

Skogen scores the equalizer

In the 79th minute, the equalizer finally came. Amoah brought the ball back into the middle after a poorly cleared corner, Thesker directed the ball to the far post with a header, and there, center-back colleague Sondre Skogen had no trouble finishing to equalize.

St. Pölten seemed to have more energy in the final phase. Although there were no more chances for a winning goal. The point was more than deserved for the Wolves. Amstetten played solidly, benefited from the course of the game but failed to seal the deal in the end.

Voices from the game

SKN coach Aleksandar Gitsov: “The first half was our best of the season so far. We had everything under control and I was certain that we would take the lead at some point and then win the match. Then came the red card, and that changed a lot. We discussed at halftime that we would still get our chances. That was indeed the case, but unfortunately, M’Buyi did not convert the chance. How we handled it afterwards was fine. I especially liked our reaction after going down. There was spirit and will. We still need some time, but we will steadily improve.”

SKN sporting director Christoph Freitag: “There was a noticeable difference compared to the first two games this season. The energy level was better, and the morale was there. The red card unfortunately changed quite a bit in the game. How we came back after going down 0:1 was good. In the end, I felt we were closer to making it 2:1 than Amstetten was. What is clear is that we need to find better solutions offensively.”

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Photo: Wolfgang Wallner

Photo: Wolfgang Wallner

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St. Pölten – Amstetten

SKN earns a point while down a player.

Sending off of goalkeeper Hülsmann, trailing – St. Pölten looked like certain losers against Amstetten but pulled their heads out of the noose in the final phase. Center-back Skogen secured the 1:1 equalizer.

Statistics

SKN ST. PÖLTEN – SKU AMSTETTEN 1:1 (0:0).

Scoring sequence: 0:1 (74.) Wimmer, 1:1 (79.) Skogen.

Yellow cards: Ritzmaier (43., foul), Stendera (52., criticism), Krasniqi (54., foul).

Red card: Hülsmann (45 +1., denying a goal-scoring opportunity).

Yellow-red card: Gitsov (73., criticism).

St. Pölten: Hülsmann; Skogen, Thesker, Carlson; Amoah (86. Paugain), Krasniqi, Stendera (69. Neumayer), Dombaxi; Harakate (45 +2. Strasser), Ritzmaier (69. Messerer); M’Buyi.

Amstetten: Gremsl; Gruber, Offenthaler, Oberleitner, Kurt; Würdinger (24. Leimhofer), Wimmer, Yilmaz (72. Hahn); Mayer (72. Unterbuchschachner), Grubhofer (56. Herrmann), Wanner.

NV Arena, 1,414 spectators, referee Sadikovski.