63-year-old sets Austrian Cup record in Altach rout

Walter Weiss became the oldest player in Austrian Cup history when he came on for Bischofshofen in a 7-0 defeat by Bundesliga club Altach, ORF reported.

Weiss, a 63-year-old from Vorarlberg, entered the match in the 80th minute. He returned to football for the game more than 34 years after ending his career at SC Tisis in January 1992, when he was 28.

Bischofshofen also fielded 57-year-old Stefan Prähauser. The Salzburg club used three players registered only this week and arrived with a makeshift squad after its playing operations were suspended.

The club lost its regional league licence after being unable to secure a home ground. It had qualified for the national cup through its sporting performance in the regional league last season, but the match in Altach was expected to be the final game in its history.

The largely home crowd applauded Weiss when he came on and cheered every time he touched the ball. Altach captain Lukas Jäger described the match as unique, saying it was difficult to know what to expect but calling the appearances by the two older players a “really cool story”.

Altach settled the match in the first half. Yann Massombo scored in the eighth minute, followed by Jäger in the 25th, Ousmane Diawara in the 27th and Benjamin Böckle in the 30th. Diawara added a second goal before the interval, while Srdjan Hrstic and new signing Rodney Elongo-Yombo scored after the break.

Massombo was booed by some Altach supporters despite scoring. The Frenchman had previously refused to play and expressed a desire to leave the club.

Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz also reached the last 16, beating FAC 5-4 on penalties. Lustenau was scheduled to play at Lafnitz at 2.30 p.m.