2:0 win against WSG Tirol was not enough

Austria Wien won 2-0 against WSG Tirol thanks to two penalty goals from Dominik Fitz, finishing the first round of the season in seventh place two points behind third place due to the results in the other places and thus continuing to play in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga qualifying group.

Reinhold Ranftl returned to the team after his yellow card suspension in the win against Blau Weiß Linz, Frans Krätzig moved from the right flank to the center of midfield. Hakim Guenouche took over his position. In attack, coach Michael Wimmer relied on the trio of Andreas Gruber, Dominik Fitz and Romeo Vučić. Young Violets winger David Ewemade was in the professional squad for the first time.

Thomas Silberberger made just one change to his starting eleven for the visitors from Tyrol, with the recovered Bror Blume replacing the yellow card suspended Matthäus Taferner in right midfield. Otherwise, the team remained unchanged after the surprising win against Hartberg.

Früchtl saves penalty, Fitz scores penalty

Lucas Galvão blocked the first minor chance from Nik Prelec (3'), while at the other end our Brazilian central defender appeared in front of the Wattener goal after a corner kick, but shot over. Shortly before that, Prelec cleared a shot from Vučić with his head (7'). After that, a few mistakes crept in on both sides and there were no scoring chances. In the 29th minute, referee Jakob Semler awarded WSG a penalty after an on-field review. Prelec shot Galvão, who was already on the ground, on the hand from close range. Prelec stepped up to take the penalty, Christian Früchtl saved the ball and the sold-out Generali-Arena shook for the first time.

Dominik Fitz took a free-kick from long range, but Adam Stejskal was able to keep the ball out (33'). A long ball from Johannes Handl reached Hakim Guenouche, Lukas Sulzbacher's hand was hit by the ball - a penalty for Austria! Dominik Fitz stepped up and converted with ice-cold precision to make it 1-0 (41').

A header from Handl after a corner from Fitz hit the bar (45'+1) and the Violets held on to their narrow lead at half-time.

Fitz scored again, Moritz Wels makes his debut

There were no changes at the break and the game began rather cautiously. A shot from Sandi Ogrinec did not pose too many problems for Christian Früchtl (54'). At the other end, Romeo Vučić missed the target with a header (57'). Vučić then had to leave the pitch and Muharem Husković came into the game. After a long throw-in from Sulzbacher, Dominik Stumberger hit the crossbar with a header - luck for Austria (69'). Ten minutes before the end, Alexander Schmidt replaced Andreas Gruber.

A handball by Osarenren Okungbowa led to a second penalty for the Violets after a four-minute review. Dominik Fitz first failed to beat Stejskal, but the penalty was retaken as the Tyrolean keeper moved off his line too early. Our number 36 scored at the second attempt and made it 2-0 in the 88th minute.

Moritz Wels celebrated his debut for Austria Wien in stoppage time, setting up a goal by Reinhold Ranftl, which was disallowed due to a previous handball. Austria won 2-0, but remained in 7th place in the table.

Austria Wien - WSG Tirol 2-0 (1-0)

Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Plavotić, Galvão; Ranftl, Fischer, Krätzig, Guenouche; Gruber (80. Schmidt), Fitz (90'+3 Wels), Vučić (65' Husković)

Tirol: Stejskal; Sulzbacher, Bacher, Okungbowa, Stumberger, Geris (78' Kronberger); Blume (90'+4 Vötter), Naschberger (67' Müller), Ogrinec; Prelec, Buksa (67' Forst)

Goals: Fitz (41', penalty, 88', penalty)

Yellow cards: Galvão (36'), Krätzig (54'), Fitz (64'); Ogrinec (80')

Generali-Arena, referee Jakob Semler, 15,009 spectators