Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
SV Waldhof Mannheim beat NK Triglav Kranj 4-1 in their final pre-season friendly of the Austrian training camp. Bierschenk, Boyd, Polte and Gregorio scored in Carinthia.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Waldhof started in a 4-3-3 shape and controlled possession from the opening whistle. Terrence Boyd had the first chance in the sixth minute, heading Jid Okeke's cross narrowly wide of the far post.
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute. Boyd drifted to the right flank and cut the ball back to Lovis Bierschenk, who smashed a first-time strike from the edge of the box into the top corner — a shot that RNZ described as "like a string."
Bierschenk turned provider in the 31st minute, releasing Boyd with a long ball over the top. The striker won the footrace and slotted home from a tight angle past the Triglav goalkeeper, who ought to have done better.
Triglav halved the deficit in the 41st minute with a goal out of nothing, giving Waldhof a 2-1 lead at the break. Kushtrim Asallari had a chance to restore the two-goal cushion in first-half stoppage time but shot too centrally after a mazy run.
Waldhof survived a scare early in the second half when a floated 30-yard free-kick from Triglav dipped onto the crossbar. The game then entered a lull until the 71st minute, when centre-back Moritz Polte produced a moment of individual brilliance. The 1.95m defender collected the ball in his own half, drove forward unchallenged and lashed a left-footed strike from 18 metres into the bottom corner — a goal that even drew a wry smile from the referee.
Goncalo Gregorio sealed the win from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after a foul in the box, scoring his first goal for the club since arriving as a summer signing.
The turning point
Polte's 71st-minute solo run and finish broke the game open. Until that moment, Triglav had held firm after their first-half goal and even hit the bar, but Polte's unexpected surge from deep — one of the most unlikely sources of a goal — effectively ended the contest.
Key performers
Lovis Bierschenk — scored a stunning opener from the edge of the box and turned provider for Boyd's goal with a perfectly weighted long ball. His ability to both create and finish from wide positions was a constant threat.
Terrence Boyd — the veteran striker was involved in both first-half goals, assisting Bierschenk's opener before scoring himself. He also hit the post with a header in the 39th minute. The target man's physical presence occupied the Triglav defence throughout.
Moritz Polte — the centre-back's goal of the match was a 65-yard solo run capped with a clinical finish, an extraordinary moment from a 1.95m defender. He also helped Waldhof manage the game defensively after the break.
Player of the match: Moritz Polte (Waldhof Mannheim)
By the numbers — interpreted
Waldhof's 4-1 scoreline reflects a dominant performance that was more controlled than the earlier 4-1 win over Liefering. The RNZ match report noted "a lot of dead time" between the 50th and 70th minutes, with few genuine chances before Polte's intervention. Waldhof's heavy rotation — coach made 10 substitutions across the game — disrupted rhythm but also gave every outfield player meaningful minutes. The 4-3-3 system remained the base shape throughout, suggesting continuity in the tactical setup ahead of the 3. Liga season.
What it means
Waldhof closed their Austrian training camp (19-26 July) with two wins from two friendlies, conceding only two goals across 180 minutes. The squad returned to Mannheim on Sunday. Their next competitive fixture is the Verbandspokal tie against FV Elztal (date TBC), followed by the 3. Liga season opener. Triglav, who finished third in the Slovenian Second League last season with the division's best attack, continue their own pre-season preparations.
Long-term absentees Jascha Brandt and Adama Diakhaby missed the match, along with Masca, Tim Sechelmann, Diego Michel and Kian Ramadani who were all nursing minor knocks. Julian Ulbricht was given a scheduled rest day.
Verdict
A professional pre-season workout that served its purpose: Waldhof gave minutes to a rotated squad, maintained their 4-3-3 structure and scored four goals, including a contender for goal of pre-season from a centre-back. The defensive concentration lapse that allowed Triglav's goal just before half-time will be a focus for the coaching staff, but the overall trajectory is positive for Bernhard Trares' side.
Waldhof Mannheim: Nijhuis (80. Zimmer) — Okeke (46. Mendes), Kammerknecht (60. Klünter), Polte (77. Richardson), Hör (73. Mitsche) — Rexhepi (60. Thill), Thalhammer (60. Heiligenstein), Rieckmann (46. Kryeziu) — Asallari (60. Muteba), Boyd (60. Gregorio), Bierschenk (46. Bazee)
Goals: 1-0 Bierschenk (13'), 2-0 Boyd (31'), 2-1 Triglav (41'), 3-1 Polte (71'), 4-1 Gregorio (74' pen)
Venue: Sportarena Bad Kleinkirchheim, Carinthia, Austria Attendance: ~80
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Aug 2026