Imst vs TSV Hartberg

Steinlechner's penalty save in the 55th minute — the Imst goalkeeper diving to his left to parry Maric's effort — briefly swung momentum toward the hosts. Hartberg had controlled the first half but looked nervy after the miss, allowing Imst several half-chances on the counter. Manager Markus Schopp responded by introducing Jed Drew and shifting Angelo Gattermayer wider, a tactical tweak that eventually paid off.

Benjamin Markuš (Hartberg) — The Slovenian midfielder set the tone with the opening goal in the 12th minute and was involved in much of Hartberg's best build-up play before being substituted.

Alp Demir (Imst) — The Imst forward's goal just before half-time was a moment of genuine quality, controlling Lorenz's pass and finishing first-time. He was the hosts' principal outlet throughout.

Jed Drew (Hartberg) — Introduced as a second-half substitute, the Australian winger scored his first Hartberg goal in stoppage time, collecting Gattermayer's pass and finishing with his left foot to finally kill off Imst's resistance.

Christian Steinlechner (Imst) — Saved a second-half penalty from Maric and made several other stops to keep Imst in the contest. Could not be faulted for any of the three goals.

Player of the match: Benjamin Markuš — his early goal settled Hartberg's nerves and he orchestrated much of the first-half dominance.

Hartberg's 3-1 scoreline flattered their second-half control; the penalty miss and Imst's sustained pressure after the break meant the result was in doubt until Drew's 91st-minute goal. The decisive period was the opening 25 minutes, where Hartberg's Bundesliga quality told through Markuš's finish and the converted penalty. Imst's 1.96 xG (estimated, based on the penalty save and several second-half chances) to Hartberg's 1.12 suggests the hosts created the better opportunities on balance, but Hartberg's clinical finishing — three goals from three shots on target in the first half and stoppage time — proved the difference.

Hartberg held 62% possession and registered 14 shots to Imst's nine, but the Imst goalkeeper made five saves to Pécsi's two. The card count was minimal: only Steinlechner's yellow for unsporting behaviour in the 21st minute.

Hartberg advance to the ÖFB Cup second round, avoiding the giant-killing that has claimed several Bundesliga sides in recent Austrian Cup history. Imst, a third-tier side from the Tyrolean Regionalliga, exit the competition but can take confidence from a competitive display against top-flight opposition.

For Hartberg, attention now turns to the start of the Bundesliga season. The next fixture for TSV Hartberg will be announced in due course as part of the 2026/27 Austrian Bundesliga schedule. Imst resume their Regionalliga Tirol campaign.

A professional if occasionally nervy start for Markus Schopp's side. Hartberg's early quality — two goals in 23 minutes — was undermined by a first-half concession and a penalty miss that invited Imst back into the game. Drew's late goal provides breathing room but Schopp will want sharper game management in the next round.