In the home game against Riessersee, Peiting has to deliver - coach Saal dares to make a prediction

Created: 03/04/2022, 07:30

By: Stefan üpfer

Between helplessness and disappointment: After the 0: 3 at SC Riessersee, coach Anton Saal's protégés fell out of the top six in the Oberliga Süd.

©Andreas Mayr

After the defeat against Riessersee, EC Peiting's fight for sixth place is getting tighter and tighter.

Coach Anton Saal gives crucial importance to the home game against Werdenfels this Friday.

Peiting

– If the main round in the Oberliga Süd had ended now, EC Peiting would have missed out on qualifying for the play-offs.

After the 0:3 defeat at SC Riessersee last Tuesday, Peitingen had to let Höchstadter EC, who won 6:3 the next day in Landsberg, pass them in the table.

Coach Anton Saal's team is now in seventh place.

I can do without that.

Peiting's coach Anton Saal on the pre-play-offs

That would mean: pre-play-offs.

Saal believes that not everyone in the club would object to this - the treasurer, for example.

In a season in which the people of Peiting often had to play in front of a sparse crowd or in an empty stadium because of Corona, the pre-play-offs, which are held in “best of three” mode, would mean additional income.

According to the current status, EV Füssen would be the opponent.

In the best-case scenario, that could mean two home games in front of a respectable backdrop.

Even if the prospects are tempting, "I'm happy to do without it," as Saal assures.

In the remaining three games, EC Peiting still has to score points

His team still has their fate in their own hands.

But she wants to regain sixth place and the associated direct participation in the play-offs, she has to deliver in the remaining three games of the main round.

The home game this Friday against SC Riessersee (7:30 p.m.) is of crucial importance.

The opponent from Werdenfelser Land was not a serious candidate for sixth place until a few weeks ago, the gap seemed too big.

But then the team around celebrity trainer Pat Cortina really got going.

The 3-0 win against Peitinger last Tuesday was the fourth win in a row for the SCR.

"It's a six-point game, even if there are only three points to win.

Anton Saal on the importance of the duel against Riessersee

The Garmisch-Partenkirchen team drew level with the ECP on points (both 49).

However, since the Peitingen have played one game less, they have a slightly better point quotient.

But that could soon be obsolete if today's home game against Riessersee is lost.

Peiting's coach is fully aware of this: "It's a six-point game, even if there are only three points to be won," said Saal.

Peiting's coach demands more consistency from his team in the neutral zone

Even though his team had to admit defeat against Werdenfels for the first time, Saal praised his protégés: "Looking at the game as a whole, we did relatively well." The goal was successful, "the chances were there," said Saal.

The defense did a good job too.

However, he also had to admit that “Garmisch wanted victory more than we did”.

If there isn't going to be another defeat against Werdenfels this evening, "we have to be a bit more consistent in the neutral zone," said the ECP trainer.

Anton Saal dares to make a prognosis

As far as forecasts are concerned, the latter is generally very cautious.

This time he is leaning comparatively far out of the window: "If we win against Riessersee, I'm 99 percent sure that we can do it." Sunday against HC Landsberg (6 p.m.) and on Tuesday against EHF Passau (8 p.m.) will not be naked.

Peiting's captain Andreas Feuerecker is back on board

First of all, however, all focus is on the last main round home game tonight against Riessersee.

Compared to the game on Tuesday, Saal can fall back on his captain Andreas Feuerecker.

"That gives us a boost," Saal is convinced.

Thomas Heger may also return after surviving the corona infection.

Naturalization of Nardo Nagtzaam delayed

Nardo Nagtzaam's naturalization process, on the other hand, is dragging on.

"The German authorities threw a spanner in the works for us," said Saal.

The Dutchman thus continues to occupy a position for foreigners.

This means that tonight either Czech defender Lukas Motloch or Canadian striker Shane Heffernan will have to stand in the stands.

Coach Saal has already made his decision, but does not want to reveal it yet.

It doesn't matter who ends up playing: the Peitinger coach is not afraid of SC Riessersee despite the Werdenfelser's winning streak.

“The people of Garmisch will certainly not come to us with shaking knees.

But our knees don't tremble either."

info

EC Peiting grants all students under the age of 18 free entry to the home game against SC Riessersee (on presentation of their student ID).