Most Anticipated Fixture of the Season Does Not Disappoint

Match Report: Vienna vs Zagreb MD9

By: Drew Peacock

This season, Zagreb and Vienna have both performed admirably, with 7-0-1 and 6-2-0, respectively, and holding the top two spots in the league table. Star captains Scooter McGavin and Mungo Scruyazelv will be facing off for the eighth time overall. This time, one could argue that the star power of Zagreb was outshining that of Vienna. During the off-season, Zagreb brought in the Season 1 player of the season, Jethro (from Athens) and Vienna lost the great goalscorer Loørd Bendtner (to Deportivo Madrid). Zagreb is looking to continue their seven game win streak, and a win over "die Unbesiegbaren" would see them cement themselves as title favorites, while Vienna would be out to keep their unbeaten streak alive.

The only noteworthy change to either team's lineups was that controversial Bebe Barry would start the match in attack instead of defense, as he had most of this season. The game started off with Zagreb applying significant pressure on Vienna's defense, with chances aplenty. Zagreb would create a massive seven chances in the first half, compared to one by Vienna. The first chance came to Bebe Barry, who held off three Vienna defenders to get a shot on target in just the fourth minute of play. Vienna's keeper, Do-Yun Kang was able to stop the effort. Zagreb would have their next six chances go off target, as multiple crosses and headed efforts failed to challenge the keeper. Moritz Hoffmann would join the missed chance party as well, sending a headed effort of his own wide of the Zagreb goal. Going into halftime, the hosts would have just one shot and 40% of possession, while Zagreb did just about everything right, holding 60% of possession and creating nine shots.

Coming out of halftime, both teams made adjustments to try and get the win. Vienna pushed their wide players Dos Reis and Rahman into more advanced positions, while Zagreb brought Marcus Neagu on for Roman Alvarez and moved Barry back into defense. The first chance of the half came in the 54th minute, as Bradley Keetch passed to Hoffmann in the box. He sent a rocket towards goal but was denied by Lucca Rizzo, and Zagreb were able to clear.

Calamity at the back as Emerson McRoyale sent in a very long, high cross into the box, looking for Moritz Hoffmann. Zagreb goalkeeper Owen Majmunovic called for it but did not make the catch, and the ball went right into the net. Aki PawPaw attempted to clear it, but the ball had already gone over the line and in. The hosts take the lead, 1-0. Vienna had two chances to double their lead in the 71st and 75th minutes through Hoffmann, with his first chance going wide and his second being saved by Majmunovic.

The substitute, Kain, would get a shot with his first touch of the game in the 83rd minute, but he was not able to get enough behind the shot to beat Majmunovic, and the clearance initiated a quick counter for Zagreb. Just as the Vienna midfield was retreating, Scooter played it wide to Alex Alpha. After a 1-2-buckle my shoe with Leo Sanic, Alpha sent in a wicked cross that found Henry Kamel. The striker's header beat Kang easily but went off the crossbar and back into play, where Mauricio Magicano was able to clear it.

After the ensuing throw-in, Zagreb attacked down the left flank again, with Alpha's cross to Jethro blocked by McRoyale and out for a corner. Jethro would take the corner quickly and short to Marcus Neagu who would play it back to Jethro. Magicano would move out of the box to mark Neagu while Agonis would do the same for Jethro. Before Agonis arrived, Kamel was able to get enough space between Jaxon and McRoyale to shoot, and Jethro found him. Kamel's effort was unstoppable and on target, helping Zagreb level the score 1-1. That would be the last kick of the game, as the referee blew the whistle just after the kickoff was taken.