Salzburg – VSV 3:1: The Villacher Adler made champions Salzburg falter
Just in time for New Year’s Day, the Villach Adler were able to announce a slight relaxation in the player sector. With Nick Mattinen, John Hughes, Blaz Tomazevic and Chris Collins, at least four players who were recently ill reported fit again and were able to start the journey to champions Salzburg. The fact that the four were not yet 100 percent fit and had only completed the short final training session after their flu illness was also noticeable during the game.
Especially in the first third, the Mozartstadters dictated that happened quickly at will, could constrict the VSV again and again in their zone. After almost five minutes, the Bulls were already celebrating Tim Harnisch’s opening goal. Alexander Schmidt, who was preferred to JP Lamoureux this time, had a blocked view. Despite Salzburg’s superiority, the blue and whites got through the first third without conceding another goal and kept the game open to come back stronger after the break.
Even though the Eagles were numerically outnumbered and had to accept the second loss by Peter Hochkofler right after the restart, he went about his work more actively and with more intensity and thus had more offensive moments and a few good chances. Salzburg goalie Atte Tolvanen demonstrated his class when Anthony Luciani (23rd) and Alexander Rauchenwald (32nd) went it alone and saved in Extremis. Kevin Moderer was also unlucky, he only hit the pole from a short distance.
In the final section, the people from Draustadt took another step in the right direction, showed a high willingness to run and were rewarded for it. Derek Joslin surprised Tolvanen with a pawn trick from the near corner twelve minutes from time and ensured a deservedly heated final phase. When Goalie Schmidt had already left his job, Mattinen only hit the bar. Eleven seconds before the end, Benjamin Nissner sealed the bitter 3-1 defeat for the Villachers with his empty-net goal.