2-1 in Wolfsberg brings final showdown in Vienna

Unbelievable! Austria overtook WAC with a 2-1 away win and are now second in the table ahead of the final round of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga. Maurice Malone and captain Manfred Fischer scored shortly after the break, while Ervin Omić made things tense once again with the score at 1-2. However, the Violets remained solid in defence and deservedly prevailed in the end. The fans can look forward to a magnificent final in Vienna next Saturday.

Head coach Stephan Helm started Andreas Gruber in place of Nik Prelec, who was suspended with a yellow card. Otherwise, the line-up remained unchanged, which is not surprising as Helm is the coach with by far the fewest starting eleven changes in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga.

Didi Kühbauer also made just one change to his team for the Carinthian Cup winners, with Boris Matić starting on the right wing in place of Adis Jasic, who was unavailable with a thigh injury.

Austria dominated the game

In a packed Lavanttal Arena with over 1,000 Austria fans in attendance, the Violets took control of the game from the start. Dominik Fitz was brought down in the penalty area after a duel with Chibuike Nwaiwu, but referee Alexander Harkam's whistle remained silent (4'). A shot by Fitz after an assist from Maurice Malone was blocked by Dominik Baumgartner - who had to come off injured shortly afterwards - and Abubakr Barry collected the rebound. Fitz was able to finish again, but this time Nikolas Polster in the Carinthian goal prevented the violets from taking the lead (9').

Austria had more than two thirds of the ball in the first half, but a cross from Matteo Pérez Vinlöf after a fine combination down the left was blocked at the last moment (21). Samuel Şahin-Radlinger had to intervene for the first time in the 32nd minute after a counter-attack against Thierno Ballo, came out of his goal in time and remained the winner. Barry ran onto Polster after a quick counter-attack and pass from Malone, but failed to beat the Wolfsburg goalkeeper (40'). The score was 0-0 at the break.

Lightning start for the Violets, dramatic second half

The second half began like something out of a picture book: Gruber sent Maurice Malone on his way, the German remained ice-cold in front of goal and scored his 11th goal of the season to make it 1-0 for the Violets. Just a short time later, Manfred Fischer increased the lead to 2-0 with a powerful header from Fitz's corner - the Violets were celebrating.

Mamadou Diabaté had a header from a promising position after a corner kick, but put the ball next to the goal (58'). Malone had a great chance to make it 3-0 after a cross from Andreas Gruber, but Polster saved the Carinthians from the final decision. On the counter-attack, substitute Ervin Omić scored to make it 1-2 and the game became exciting again (62').

Diabaté hit the crossbar with a header (66'). Stephan Helm then made three changes: Tin Plavotić, Hakim Guenouche and Marvin Potzmann came on for Johannes Handl, Abubakr Barry and Matteo Pérez Vinlöf. Manfred Fischer shot across goal and a shot from Potzmann was saved by Polster (78‘, 80’).

Shortly before the end, Moritz Wels replaced the goalscorer Malone and had the chance to decide the game a few seconds later, but Polster once again kept the upper hand (87'). Dominik Fitz struck the ball against the bar (88'). Konstantin Aleksa for Andi Gruber was Stephan Helm's last change.

Wels almost capitalised on a mistake by Polster (90+4') and an incredibly exciting game came to an end without any further goals. Austria inflicted Wolfsberger AC's first defeat in the Champions Group and overtook the Carinthians in the table.

Wolfsberger AC - Austria Wien 1-2 (0-0)

WAC: Polster; Baumgartner (25. Diabaté), Nwaiwu, Wimmer; Matić, Piesinger (55. Gruber), Agyemang (46. Omić), Ullmann; Zukić (79. Atanga); Pink (55. Kojzek), Ballo

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl (67. Plavotić), Dragović, Wiesinger; Ranftl, Fischer, Pérez Vinlöf (67. Guenouche); Barry (67. Potzmann), Fitz; Malone (87. Wels), Gruber (90. Aleksa)

Goals: Omić (63.); Malone (46.), Fischer (50.)

Yellow card: Fischer (76.)

Lavanttal-Arena, referee Alexander Harkam, 7,775 spectators