© Sportreport
Austria is still undefeated at the Flag Football World Cup! Team Austria’s men and women have played a total of seven games so far, but they have still not lost a single game!
After the second match day of the World Cup in Lahti, the men are already in the quarter-finals, while the women won their group in impressive fashion!
Three games were scheduled for Wednesday, two for the men and one for the women.
Group victory through victory over Switzerland
The men’s national team kicked things off with the final group match. Opponent Switzerland put up a great fight against Head Coach Michael Salamon’s team, but in the end Austria won comfortably with 24:12 and was thus confirmed as group winner.
Women defeat Spain in thriller
On paper, the women’s national team had a much more difficult task ahead of them: In the final group match and in the battle for group victory, they faced none other than European runners-up Spain. The expected heated exchange of blows with alternating scores developed. Thanks to a touchdown just 20 seconds before the end of the game and a successful extra point, Head Coach Robert Riedl’s team took the lead with 29:28 and also stopped the Spanish women’s last attack.
This means that after the men, the women also won their group, and the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals could take place on Thursday – all on the same day. The opponent in the round of 16 will be determined this evening.
Great success to end the day
At the end of the day, Austria’s men faced Australia in the round of 16. Although the team from Down Under took an early lead, QB Felix Wasshuber and Co. kept a cool head and, thanks to highlight plays in offense and defense, pulled ahead by two scores. Australia showed a very strong performance, especially in the second half, and came within nine points.
Austria’s men are now in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, where they will face the winner of the duel between Japan and Denmark! An early meeting with the big gold favorite USA was avoided thanks to winning the group, and a duel with them could only take place in the final.
Michael Salamon, Head Coach Men: “I am very happy with my team’s performance! We played a perfect game on both sides, exactly what we wanted to do. We know that if we perform to our potential, we will be very difficult to beat. Now we will rest and be ready for the quarter-finals tomorrow!”
Jürgen Hahn, Defensive Coordinator Women: “It was the expected difficult game against European Vice-Champions Spain. Everything was open until the last second, but in the end we were able to win the group with a great team performance!”
The results of the second tournament day
Herren
Austria vs. Switzerland: 24:12
Round of 16: Austria vs. Australia: 28:19
Damen
Austria vs. Spain: 29:28
Next Up:
Herren
Quarterfinals on Thursday (opponent and time not yet fixed)
Damen
Round of 16 on Thursday (opponent and time not yet fixed)
To all results and statistics (including play-by-play) of today >>>
Presseinfo
ABÖ
28.08.2024
