German team wins international friendly match against Austria

The German prevailed 7: 5 in the international friendly match against Austria in the TV studio of the ORF in Vienna on Thursday evening. The victories on the German side were achieved by Helena Grau (up to 48 kg), Theresa Stoll (up to 57 kg), Emil-Johann Hennebach (up to 81 kg), Nadja Bazynski (up to 63 kg), Karl-Richard Frey (up to 100 kg), Luise Malzahn (up to 78 kg) and Johannes Frey (over 100 kg).

Daniel Leutgeb (-60), Lukas Reiter (-73), Lisa Grabner (-57), Johannes Pacher (-90) and Michaela Polleres (-70) provided the Austrian points.

The first competition after more than five months of the Corona break took place under strict hygiene regulations. More than 25 people were not allowed to enter the studio. "The event gives hope to the judo world," stated men's national coach Richard Trautmann, convinced that this comparison match with the subsequent training camp was a good test for his athletes. As expected, he called the result: "We knew it would be a close game. The performances were very mixed. The Austrian team was well prepared." The women's national coach Claudiu Pusa said: "There were wonderful ippons on both sides. The result was very close."

In the first round, Helena Grau put the German team in the lead in the up to 48 kg class in an even fight against Jacqueline Springer. In the golden score extension, the Wuerttemberg woman won after almost eight minutes of fighting time due to the third Shido punishment for the Austrian. Moritz Plafky could not cope with the grip of his opponent Daniel Leutgeb in the class up to 60 kg and was also subject to the Golden Score after punishments. Theresa Stoll (up to 57 kg) didn’t miss anything against the three-time Olympic participant Sabrina Filzmoser and ended her fight prematurely with an O-uchi-gari and a second wazari. Sabrina Filzmoser was devastated, who had to admit defeat to the German world number nine Theresa Stoll once again, suffered an injury to her right knee and had to give up.

In the class up to 73 kg, Alexander Gabler had no chance against Austrian Lukas Reiter. "I can beat anyone", Lukas Reiter was optimistic about his fight in the up to 73 kg category against Alexander Gabler and he kept his word. The 24-year-old from Lower Austria was able to convince with a strong grip and high level of aggressiveness. "I am really satisfied with my performance!"

After the defeat of Jana Ziegler (U57kg) against Lisa Grabner, the Germans were 2: 3 behind. Before the break, Emil-Johann Hennebach equalized against Christopher Wagner in the 81kg class. After almost six minutes of fighting, Hennebach countered his opponent's uchi-mata approach.

Round two started with a wonderful Ippon for Uchi-Mata by Nadja Bazynski in the 63 kg class against the favored Magdalena Krssakova. Eduard Trippel could not catch up with Johannes Pacher's Wazari lead in the category up to 90kg. In the class U70kg, Michaela Polleres clearly prevailed against Mina Ricken and brought the Austrians 5: 4 ahead. The fight in the class up to 100 kg between Karl-Richard Frey and Marko Bubanja ended in the golden score extension after the third Shido punishment for Bubanja in favor of Frey. Luise Malzahn dominated the fight in the class up to 78 kg against Marlene Hunger. After just one minute, Sode-tsuri-komi-goshi finished third in the 2015 World Cup and brought the German team back 6: 5. Johannes Frey safely increased the over 100 kg class against Austria top man Stephan Hegyi to the 7: 5 final score.

"We are clearly underdogs, a draw would be like a win for us," said Austrian national coach Patrick Rusch before the prestigious duel against Germany. But the first location determination after the almost six-month break from the COVID-19 competition was quite positive. Austria was able to score consistently against the favored guests. At halftime it was 3: 3 and the national coach's face brightened noticeably. There was no longer any question of a clear defeat.