3-2 against Oedt – Austria in the round of sixteen

It was hard work, but in the end Austria beat regional league side ASKÖ Oedt 3-2 in the 2nd round of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup. The hosts took the lead in the 2nd minute through Nenad Vidackovic, Nik Prelec and Muki Husković turned the game around a little later. The Violets failed to wrap things up after half-time and Oedt equalized shortly before the end through Jonathan Alukwu. However, just like against LASK, it was Manfred Fischer who scored the winner - this time from the penalty spot.

Stephan Helm made plenty of changes after the win against LASK, with eight fresh players in the starting eleven. As always in the Cup, Mirko Kos started in goal. Philipp Wiesinger made his debut for the Violets in defense alongside Tin Plavotić and Matteo Meisl, while Hakim Guenouche made his comeback on the left side of the back four. Abubakr Barry and Moritz Wels formed the center of midfield. Helm lined up Andreas Gruber, Nik Prelec and Cristiano around Muharem Husković in the attacking center.

Austria take the lead at the break

The game began with a cold shower for the Violets, with Nenad Vidackovic putting the hosts ahead in the 2nd minute. Austria did not allow themselves to be rattled and turned the game around within a few minutes. Nik Prelec volleyed home a cross from Hakim Guenouche to make it 1-1 (10'). Muharem Husković was on hand just a minute later after Cristiano won the ball high up the pitch - 2-1 for the Violets (11').

Bünyami̇n Karatas tested Mirko Kos with a free-kick, Tin Plavotić prevented a Valdir opportunity with an ambitious save (17', 19'). Sadin Hamzic in the ASKÖ Oedt goal saved a header from Prelec (27'), Moritz Wels was stopped at the last moment by captain Florian Fellinger (40'). Austria led 2-1 at the break in the intense heat.

Oedt equalized, Fischer scored the winner

Matteo Pérez Vinlöf came on for the second half in place of Hakim Guenouche, with Manfred Fischer and Maurice Malone replacing Barry and Cristiano. Mirko Kos had to summon all his skill to save a shot from Valdir, and our goalkeeper was also on hand to deal with a dangerous cross from substitute Adamson Sharafa (53', 54'). At the other end, Andreas Gruber narrowly missed the target with a header (58'). Nik Prelec also missed by a hair's breadth, both times the assist came from Matteo Pérez Vinlöf (58', 67').

Philipp Maybach replaced Moritz Wels on the hour mark, with Reinhold Ranftl coming on for Philipp Wiesinger shortly afterwards. Austria let the reins slip a little too much in the second half and Oedt came away with a not undeserved equalizer. Substitute Jonathan Alukwu gave coach Kurt Russ cause for celebration - 2-2 in the 79th minute. But the Violets struck back again immediately, Maurice Malone was fouled in the penalty area and Manfred Fischer converted the penalty (83').

After a 3-2 win at ASKÖ Oedt, Austria are through to the last 16 of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup.

ASKÖ Oedt - Austria Wien 2-3 (1-2)

Oedt: Hamzic; Breskic, Madlmayr, Fellinger, Rossdorfer; Paulik (46' Sharafa), Ammerer, Frühwirth (78' Radulovic), Karatas; Vidackovic (78' Koritnik), Valdir da Silva (59' Alukwu)

Austria: Kos; Wiesinger (73' Ranftl), Plavotić, Meisl, Guenouche (46' Pérez Vinlöf); Wels (64' Maybach), Barry (46' Fischer); Gruber, Husković, Cristiano (46' Malone); Prelec

Goals: Vidackovic (2'), Alukwu (79'); Prelec (10'), Husković (11'), Fischer (83', penalty)

Yellow cards: Sharafa (56'), Ammerer (65'); Kos (90+2')

Transdanubia Sportanlage Oedt, referee Philip Gadler, 1,100 spectators