Hartberg booked their place in the next round with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over SK Vorwärts Steyr in the Round of 32 of the Cup. And here's the thing about this tie: the visitors made the difference early, establishing dominance before Steyr could find any rhythm. It was a process that finished with the hosts firmly eliminated.
The floodgates opened quickly for Hartberg. T. Kainz struck first at the 15-minute mark, sending the home side into a dip. He was followed almost immediately by A. Gattermayer, who doubled the advantage just two minutes later. Steyr looked rattled, unable to clear their lines or regain composure.
M. Hoffmann extended the lead at 29 minutes, making it three before the break. The hosts attempted to respond, bringing on K. Schopp at 33 minutes to shake things up, but the deficit was too steep. M. Dalpiaz finished the job at 41 minutes, ensuring the result was never in doubt.
Hartberg began to rotate their squad as the game settled. J. Rama and J. Tischler came on at 60 minutes, followed by T. Kainz and P. Komposch shortly after. Steyr grew frustrated, picking up a yellow card through M. Martic at 73 minutes. N. Feldhofer also went into the book for the visitors later in the contest.
The numbers told the story of a one-sided affair. Hartberg registered 16 shots on target compared to Steyr’s zero, despite both sides holding 50 per cent of possession. The hosts managed 67 attacks and just 2 corners, but failed to test the goalkeeper, while the visitors converted their efficiency into goals. It was a performance where Hartberg took what they had.
This result ends Steyr’s cup campaign after a difficult period for the club. They have struggled for consistency, losing three of their last five league games before this exit. Hartberg, meanwhile, continue to build momentum, moving forward in the competition with confidence.