Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn Win: Dukic Praises Team’s Efficiency & Fight
WOLKERSDORF, Austria – A clinical performance fueled by early goals and a resolute defensive effort saw SG Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn secure a 2-1 victory over SC Gerin Druck Wolkersdorf in a 2. Landesliga Ost contest on Saturday, . Despite conceding late through an own goal, the visitors demonstrated the efficiency and fighting spirit that coach Darko Dukic believes will be crucial as they push for a top-half finish.
Allan Reboredo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, swiftly followed by a second from Robin Maydl in the 24th, giving SG Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn a comfortable cushion. The match took a turn in the 42nd minute with a red card shown to Daniel Stojakovic, forcing the visitors to navigate a significant portion of the game with ten men.
The home side pressed for a response, but SG Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn remained largely untroubled, limiting Wolkersdorf’s opportunities. A late own goal by Antonio Romic in the 90th minute offered a glimmer of hope for the hosts, but it proved insufficient to overturn the deficit.
Speaking after the match, Dukic emphasized that his team’s effectiveness in front of goal was the defining factor. “The opponent had several chances, I have to be honest, but we were more effective. We took our chances,” he said. He acknowledged that Wolkersdorf enjoyed more possession, but it was the ability to capitalize on their opportunities that proved decisive. “No, the opponent had more possession, but we converted our opportunities, the opponent did not.”
Dukic highlighted a tactical adjustment made early in the game as pivotal to the positive result. Initially deploying a five-defender formation to counter Wolkersdorf’s individual quality, he swiftly switched to a 4-2-3-1 setup after approximately fifteen minutes. “We started with the five-man defense because the opponent is a better team individually. After about a quarter of an hour, we switched to a four-man defense, 4-2-3-1. The change worked.”
The SG Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn coach was particularly pleased with his team’s defensive solidity and physical commitment. He praised their performance at set pieces, noting their reliability in defending them, while acknowledging a lack of attacking threat from their own. “Hard. Extremely hard from our side. Definitely. Top fighting performance,” Dukic stated, underscoring the intensity his players brought to the contest.
Dukic dismissed any suggestion of controversial incidents, stating, “I don’t think there were any critical situations that could have been dangerous – for example, for penalties or things like that. No.”
Looking ahead, Dukic issued a clear challenge to his players: maintain the same level of intensity, desire, and unity demonstrated in Wolkersdorf. “I expect what they delivered today,” he said, signaling his belief that a consistent application of these qualities will yield positive results in the coming weeks. The victory represents a significant step for SG Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn as they aim to climb the 2. Landesliga Ost table and secure a place in the upper half of the standings. The team’s pre-season preparations, which included experimenting with tactical variations to enhance their flexibility, appear to be bearing fruit, as they strive to build on this momentum and establish themselves as a competitive force in the league.
According to a season preview, the club aimed to become more tactically versatile during the off-season, hoping to challenge for a position in the top half of the table. The win over Wolkersdorf suggests they are on track to achieve that goal.