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For the first time in the club’s history, WAC is in the knockout phase of the Europa League football. The Carinthians won the duel with Feyenoord Rotterdam on Thursday night deservedly 1-0 and, with a five-point plus over the Dutch, they won the second ticket of the sixteenth final of Group K together with the leader of the table Dinamo Zagreb. Dejan Joveljic became the winner of the match with his goal in the 31st minute. A draw would have been enough for WAC.
Coach Ferdinand Feldhofer’s team overcame this hurdle for the first time in their second appearance in the EL group stage. Last season, despite partial successes, they couldn’t get past fourth place with five points. This time they added double the points at the end, after two wins against the Dutch (previously 4: 1) and a success (1: 0) and a draw (1: 1) against CSKA Moscow. Only against Zagreb it made no sense and also a goal.
A difficult draw awaits Carinthians in Monday’s draw in Nyon, as it will be against a group winner or a third party who has dropped out of the Champions League. “It is not in our DNA to go for a draw,” Feldhofer had announced beforehand. And consequently, the home team also got going when the field at the Wörthersee stadium was difficult and they were significantly overweight. A header from Joveljic passed him over (19th). The Dutch were completely harmless for a long time, but almost came forward out of nowhere, on a shot from Jens Toornstra (23) that Alexander Kofler brilliantly blocked in the outside net.
On the other hand, Dario Vizinger failed before Feyenoord goalkeeper Nick Marsman (27th). Four minutes later, the ball sank into the net. After a beautiful combination, Matthäus Taferner prevailed somewhat happily in the penalty area in a duel, spitting the ball at Joveljic, who only had to push it over the line from very close range. A double hit was in the air, but Vizinger’s shot from the penalty area was too weak (35th).
After the break, the hosts took it easy and were especially interested in closing their backs. Fourth place in the table in the honor division had significantly more ball possession, but he couldn’t capitalize on it at all and had no better chance. The WAC’s first home win in the Europa League on the sixth attempt was no longer in jeopardy. The Carinthians themselves were close to the second goal, but Michael Liendl passed the leather over the goal (84th). Feyenoord has now gone five competitive matches without a win.
