Sexten's footballers are facing a special game. © David Laner

An underdog among the big boys: Sexten's cup fairytale

The quarter-finals of the South Tyrolean State Cup are scheduled for Wednesday. Also taking part is the 2nd amateur league club Sexten, the biggest surprise of the cup so far. We asked around at the club from Jannik-Sinner-Dorf.

16 April 2024

From: det

All teams from the Oberliga to the 3rd Amateur League took part in the South Tyrolean State Cup. Now there are only eight teams left. The biggest surprise is undoubtedly Sexten: The 2nd amateur league team has survived four rounds and will face Oberliga club Bozner FC in the quarter-finals in Niederdorf on Wednesday.

“It will be a tough game, every one of us is looking forward to it,” says midfielder Manuel Watschinger. “It's not every day that you come across players like Manuel Scavone - provided he's there tomorrow, of course. It will be a good opportunity for us and a great experience.”

Manuel Watschinger, midfielder from Sexten. © David Laner

Surviving four rounds in the state cup is an achievement for a 2nd amateur league club. “There was a bit of luck involved, and we also progressed twice on penalties. We did well against regional league team Ridnauntal, and it also played into our hands that they competed with a much younger team,” explains Watschinger, whose team has so far been able to eliminate Gossensass, Vipiteno, Tscherms and Selection Ridnauntal.

“Of course, very few people expect us to progress.” Manuel Watschinger

Sexten goes into the match on Wednesday as a blatant underdog, and the midfielder also knows that. “Of course, very few people expect us to progress against Bozner FC. From the quarter-finals onwards, the cup is also more interesting for the upper league teams. In any case, we are using this as a good experience and as a test for the championship game at the weekend,” says Watschinger, whose team is in fourth place in the 2nd Amateur League, Group C.

More explosive duels

The situation is more balanced in the other quarter-final duels. Natz, leader in the 1st Amateur League Group B, meets Landesliga club Ahrntal. Latsch, a top team in the regional league, asks St. Georgen to dance, while the two 1st amateur league teams Olimpia Meran and Haslach face each other in Meran. It is already clear that at least one semi-finalist will come from the 1st amateur league.

State Cup, Quarterfinals – Wednesday, 20 p.m

Sexten – Bozner FC
Olimpia Meran – Haslach
Latsch – St. Georgen
Natz – Ahrntal