Salzburg’s second division handball players made up for a 6-goal deficit in the home game against Lauterach, but lost 30:31 after a dramatic final.
The UHC almost rewarded its loud group of fans for the tireless cheering and drumming. In the last home game of the regular season of the HLA Challenge (2nd Bundesliga), Salzburg still had the chance to at least bring the draw over time after a strong race to catch up. But ten seconds before the end, the guests from Lauterach scored the goal to win 31:30.
Compensation came a little too early
“The fact that they won was certainly not undeserved,” admitted UHC coach Herbert Wagner. “We completed our last attack too early, although we had previously discussed it differently, and then conceded the goal too easily.” His team didn’t start the game badly at all and were ahead by two goals early on. Only after a quarter of an hour was Lauterach in front for the first time, extended his lead from 8:7 to up to six goals and went into the dressing room with 17:12.
Last break didn’t work
After the break, UHC at least didn’t let the guests pull away any further and gradually came closer to equalizing in the final quarter of an hour (also thanks to strong saves from goalie Hamidreza Sharifi). With only 30 seconds left on the clock, Coach Wagner took a break for the last tactical meeting at 29:30. And in fact, the acclaimed compensation by evergreen Stefan Pac was successful. But Lauterach struck back immediately and stopped Salzburg’s last desperate attempt to attack.
“Defense was a disaster”
“Even if we almost took a point in the end. We just played badly,” summarized coach Herbert Wagner. “Up front we relied too much on individual actions. And the defence, which has actually always been our strength, was a disaster.” Why his team got so out of step after a strong start to the season at the beginning of the year is a mystery to the entire coaching team. “It’s inexplicable for us. The first match of the year against Linz was still good. But since then the worm has somehow been in there,” says Wagner.
“We want to play better handball again”
Before the championship goes into the play-off, there is still an away match against leaders Tyrol, then it is important to get back on track. “Our goal for the season was to do better than last year when we finished penultimate. We should definitely succeed, but we just want to play better handball again,” emphasizes the coach.