WAC advances to ÖFB Cup round of 16 after penalty shootout

Silberberger praises fighting spirit

With the WAC's progression, it is now confirmed that for the first time since 2003, all Bundesliga clubs are represented in the round of 16 of the Austrian cup competition. Alongside the WAC, Red Bull Salzburg, TSV Hartberg, and GAK also advanced to the next round on Sunday.

At the WAC, it was above all the young players who were in the spotlight, including Luca Hassler and Nicolas Wimmer, who took responsibility in the decisive phase. Dominik Schmidt also contributed to the team's stability with his performances in midfield. The trio delivered a focused performance over long stretches, even though the Wolfsberg game lacked ease in this match.

Parndorf as cup surprise

For Regionalliga side SV Parndorf, the encounter was the sporting highlight of the season so far. In front of a home crowd, the club from Burgenland put up a great fight against the Bundesliga side and proved that in the cup, lower-division teams can also cause upsets. Spectators at the Panatrain Stadium saw an intense cup match that was only decided in the penalty shootout.

The draw for the round of 16 will take place in the coming days. The WAC will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent from the remaining field of participants at their home stadium or away. The match is expected to be played at the end of October.

Outlook on the round of 16

Looking ahead to the upcoming tasks in the Bundesliga and the cup, coach Silberberger must carefully monitor the personnel situation. Injuries and suspensions from the match against Parndorf could have an impact on squad planning for the coming weeks.

The qualification for the round of 16 nevertheless gives the WAC confidence for the upcoming tasks after the nerve-wracking evening. Reaching the round of the last 16 is the declared minimum goal in the cup competition, but with the now-confirmed lineup of all Bundesliga clubs, the probability of a high-caliber duel in the next round increases.

For the fans in Wolfsberg and the region, the progression means that they can look forward to at least one more home cup game this season, provided the draw allows it. The team has rewarded itself for its effort with the narrow victory against Parndorf and laid the foundation for a possible cup surprise.

Overall, the matchday in the ÖFB Cup shows that despite the dominance of the Bundesliga clubs, the competition can continue to provide excitement. Even lower-division clubs like Parndorf showed that they are capable of demanding everything from the favorites and keeping the outcome of the match open until the penalty shootout.