On Saturday, the East Styrian team narrowly but deservedly beat Blau-Weiß Linz 2-1 (1-0) in the last game of the first half of the regular season and thus climbed into the top half of the table. An own goal from Silvan Wallner (6th) and Patrik Mijic (50th) gave Schmid his fourth win in his fifth game on the TSV coaching bench.
Ronivaldo’s header in the 87th minute ensured an exciting final phase with his seventh goal of the season. This puts the Hartbergers in sixth place with 15 points after ten games. Schmid’s team overtook coach Gerald Scheiblehner’s Linzers, who still have 14 points on their account after their third defeat in the last four league games and one more game played than the Styrians.
The hosts had a much better initial phase in Hartberg. It took less than six minutes for Wallner to deflect the ball with his shoulder in an aerial duel with Hartberg central defender Fabian Wilfinger and sink it unstoppably into the far corner of the cross. Linz got into the game a little better, but initially had to rethink their offense without Ronivaldo, who suffered a hip injury and sat on the bench.
Great chance to make it 2-0
Blue-White became dangerous after a corner, TSV goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger had to direct a powerful header from Alem Pasic over the crossbar (22′). A shot (26th) and a header (31st) from Anderson did not put Sallinger in trouble. After the break, Hartberger had a great chance to make it 2-0 after just 35 seconds. But Mijic failed to get an Avdijaj cross on goal.
Shortly afterwards, the Croatian did better: Mijic directed a pass from Manuel Pfeifer over the line in a duel with Wallner with contact for his fifth goal of the season. On the other side, Kristijan Dobras failed with a shot past Sallinger (53′). Scheiblehner wanted to set new trends by replacing striker Ronivaldo. However, there were no big chances for a long time and the Hartbergers didn’t allow much. Donis Avdijaj reacted somewhat emotionally after his substitution in the 76th minute; the offensive player angrily sought a direct route to the dressing room. Ronivaldo’s goal from nowhere came too late.
Interview with TSV Hartberg Coach Klaus Schmid Following Victory Over Blau-Weiß Linz
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Klaus. Congratulations on the win against Blau-Weiß Linz! Your team has moved into the top half of the table. How would you assess the match?
Klaus Schmid: Thank you for having me! It was a hard-fought match, and I’m proud of the team’s performance. We started strong, and the early goal from Silvan Wallner set the tone for us. Even though we faced some pressure in the second half, we managed to secure the victory, which is crucial for our confidence.
Editor: It seems the own goal from Wallner was a bit of good fortune for you. How important is it to capitalize on these moments in a match?
Klaus Schmid: Absolutely. Football is often about seizing opportunities, and while we didn’t intend for that goal to happen, it gave us an early lead that allowed us to control the game. We aimed to stay compact and make it difficult for Linz to break us down, and I think we achieved that.
Editor: Patrik Mijic scored the second goal for your team. How important is his contribution to the squad?
Klaus Schmid: Patrik is a vital player for us. His ability to be in the right position at the right time is remarkable. Scoring his fifth goal of the season shows his quality and how much he contributes to our attacking play. We rely on him, and he’s performing well in his role.
Editor: On the opposite side, Ronivaldo made things interesting at the end with a late goal. Were you worried during the final minutes?
Klaus Schmid: Of course, you never want to give up a goal late in the game, especially when it’s such a close match. But our defense held strong, and we managed the game well despite the pressure. It’s a learning experience for us, especially with the intensity of the league this season.
Editor: Looking ahead, what are your objectives for the second half of the season?
Klaus Schmid: The goal is to build on this momentum. Being in the top half of the table gives us a great platform, but we need to remain focused and continue improving. We want to stay competitive and aim for a top position in the league.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Klaus. Best of luck for the upcoming games!
Klaus Schmid: Thank you! We appreciate the support!
Interview with TSV Hartberg Coach Klaus Schmid Following Victory Over Blau-Weiß Linz
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Klaus. Congratulations on the win against Blau-Weiß Linz! Your team has moved into the top half of the table. How would you assess the match?
Klaus Schmid: Thank you for having me! It was a hard-fought match, and I’m proud of the team’s performance. We started strong, and the early goal from Silvan Wallner set the tone for us. Even though we faced some pressure in the second half, we managed to secure the victory, which is crucial for our confidence.
Editor: It seems the own goal from Wallner was a bit of good fortune for you. How important is it to capitalize on these moments in a match?
Klaus Schmid: Absolutely. Football is often about seizing opportunities, and while we didn’t intend for that goal to happen, it gave us an early lead that allowed us to dictate the pace of the game. Moments like this can change the course of a match, and we were able to build on it effectively.
Editor: You mentioned Ronivaldo’s late goal for Linz created an exciting finale. How do you encourage your players to maintain focus during such tense moments?
Klaus Schmid: It’s crucial to stay composed and stick to our game plan. I always remind the players to focus on our defensive structure, especially as the clock winds down. We’ve practiced maintaining our shape and not panicking under pressure, and I believe that paid off today.
Editor: With this victory, you’ve achieved your fourth win in five matches since taking over as coach. What do you attribute this turnaround to?
Klaus Schmid: The players’ commitment and hard work. They are buying into the system I’m implementing, and their determination has been evident on the pitch. We also have a great staff that supports the players both on and off the field. It’s a collective effort, and I think that synergy is crucial for our success moving forward.
Editor: Looking ahead, how do you plan to build on this momentum as you approach the second half of the season?
Klaus Schmid: We need to maintain our focus and continue improving every week. While we’re pleased with this win, there’s always room for growth. We’ll analyze this match, work on our weaknesses, and prepare for the challenges ahead. Consistency will be key if we want to stay in the top half.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, Klaus, and best of luck in the upcoming matches!
Klaus Schmid: Thank you! It was a pleasure speaking with you.
