Pancakes on the captain

Werder's Austrian trio all on the scoresheet

Captain Zlatko Junuzovic put on a stunning display against RB Leipzig. (photo: nordphoto).
First Team
Sunday, 19.03.2017 / 17:08

A 34th minute thunderbolt had everyone on their feet in the Weserstadion on Saturday afternoon. After a cross from Robert Bauer, Leipzig clearance attempt ended up at the feet of Zlatko Junuzovic and the skipper didn’t hesitate to hammer home a lovely strike with the outside of his foot. It wouldn’t be the last goal from an Austrian that afternoon. “That three Austrian’s score the goals in a 3-0 Bundesliga victory is of course a highlight. We’ll have to think of something to celebrate this. We probably won’t be able to serve Kaiserschmarrn [an Austrian pancake-like dessert] to everyone,” joked Junuzovic after the game. 

But Junuzovic, who covered the most distance of any player on the pitch, not only convinced with his opener. It was an all-around impressive performance from the Austrian. “Zlatko has been in good form for weeks now. It’s getting more and more important for us that he rediscovers his best form, especially in his capacity as our captain,” said sporting director Frank Baumann, who also had praise for the performances of Florian Grillitsch and Florian Kainz. And experience has show him: “Austrian’s have a tradition with us and today we once again witnessed that we can truly rely on them.”

Junuzovic: "That's what happens when you have confidence."

It felt like a feast day for Austrian’s at the Weser. The free-kick trick that led to the second goal was also a combination between Junuzovic and Grillitsch. “We had studied this move. We had wanted to try it against Leverkusen, but a player was standing directly in the path where the pass was meant to go,” said Junuzovic and added: “There’s always some risk involved but today it worked out. That happens when you have confidence.” Head coach Alexander Nouri also added in some words of praise for the risks his team were willing to take: “Compliments to the boys for having the courage to attempt and pull that move off.”

‘Grillo’ admitted he wasn't 100% free of nerves as Zlatko stepped up to take the set piece. “I went to ‘Zladdi’ and asked him if we should try to play it like we had practiced in training. Pulling it off in a game is definitely different than in training, but it worked,” said Grillitsch.

Just two minutes after being introduced to the game, Florian Kainz bagged his first Bundesliga goal to complete a comfortable 3-0 win for Werder. “Today worked out very well for our Austrians,” said the 24-year-old, who appears to have finally arrived in the Bundesliga. “Flo is not going through an easy time, as he’s recently only played a few minutes in our games. Last week he came close to scoring his first goal and today he finally managed it, which makes everyone very happy for him,” said Baumann.

All in all it was a good day for the boys from the Alpine republic. Or to simply put it into the words of Florian Griliitsch: “Today, Austrian’s were simply the better football players.”

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