Austria eliminated against Ilves on penalties

Austria won 4-3 after extra time against Ilves Tampere, but were beaten on penalties in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Maurice Malone, Andreas Gruber, Abubakr Barry and Nik Prelec scored for the Violets, but the Finnish cup winners fought back time and again to reach the penalty shoot-out. There Dominik Fitz failed to score with the last penalty against Otso Virtanen, unfortunately ending our European Cup journey.

Coach Stephan Helm only made one change to the starting line-up compared to the first leg, with Andreas Gruber starting in place of Muharem Husković. New signing Aleksandar Dragović was not yet eligible to play.

Ilves Tampere were not in action at the weekend. Coach Joonas Rantanen was still without goalkeeper Otso Virtanen, who was injured in the first leg. Ville Seppä was in goal for Finland, and Lauri Ala-Myllymäki replaced Maksim Stjopin at forward.

Malone and Gruber gave the Violets the lead, Tampere equalizes

Tampere started with motivation, Samuel Şahin-Radlinger had to hold a header from Santeri Haarala in the first minute, but had little trouble doing so. Stephan Helm unfortunately had to be called into action very early on, while Hakim Guenouche was unable to continue with a thigh injury in the 6th minute. Matteo Pérez Vinlöf came on for the Frenchman. Austria went ahead with a header from Maurice Malone, but it was too central. Andreas Gruber had another chance in the same minute after an assist from Dominik Fitz, but Ville Seppä fished the dangerous ball out of the near corner (7'). Şahin-Radlinger was on hand to save a shot from Haarala (19'), after which the home fans were allowed to cheer for the first time. Marvin Potzmann shifted play to Pérez Vinlöf, who crossed the ball into the middle. Malone picked up the ball and coolly slotted home to make it 1-0 (21').

Joona Veteli had a good chance to equalize but shot the ball over the bar (25'). On the counter-attack, Malone made a strong challenge on Aapo Mäenpää and his cross reached Andi Gruber, who nodded in to make it 2-0 (27'). Austria were ahead on aggregate for the first time - but unfortunately not for long. Ilves Tampere made it 2-1 through a Lauri Ala-Myllymäki clearance - making the aggregate score 3-3 (30').

Tampere had another chance through Haarala, but Şahin-Radlinger parried the shot to the short corner (35'). Manfred Fischer ideally served Reinhold Ranftl with a long pass, the winger was past the goalkeeper, but Tatu Miettunen was able to clear the situation (39'). The score remained 2-1 going into the half-time break.

Barry made it 3-1, Tampere scored shortly before the end to make it 3-2

The start of the second half was much more sedate and it took until the 60th minute before a chance was created. Maurice Malone was unable to deal with a cross from Dominik Fitz well enough. Malone then left the field for Nik Prelec, Luca Pazourek came on for Marvin Potzmann. Reini Ranftl, Marvin Martins and Lucas Galvão formed the back three from then on. After a perfect assist from Andi Gruber, Abubakr Barry scored his first competitive goal for Violet - 3-1 (68')!

Barry used the momentum from the goal to leave 4 Finns standing in the following action, but in the end Dominik Fitz failed to beat Seppä (70'). Substitute Roope Riski put a header over the goal, Haarala missed - the Finns did not give up yet (72., 75.). Manfred Fischer also missed the target with a header (77'), after which Helm made another double change: Muharem Husković and Matteo Meisl replaced Andi Gruber and Marvin Martins

Husković introduced himself with a shot from 20 meters, but missed the target (83'). Reinhold Ranftl saved a deflected shot from Doni Arifi on the line, but shortly afterwards the Finnish Cup winners made it 3-2. Aapo Mäenpää scored from a corner kick - the game went into extra time.

Prelec scored, but so did Söderbäck – penalty shoot-out was lost

At the start of extra time, Tampere had a chance through Ulundu, while the Violets had a shot blocked by Nik Prelec (91st, 96th). Shortly afterwards, Nik Prelec made the 8,555 spectators at Viola Park cheer again - the Slovenian headed home Dominik Fitz's cross to make it 4-2 and Austria were through again (97').

Muki Husković suffered a head injury at the start of the 2nd half of extra time, but was able to continue playing with a turban. Marius Söderbäck scored over Şahin-Radlinger in the 112th minute and the Finns equalized again. Tin Plavotić replaced Reinhold Ranftl for the final minutes, Tampere changed goalkeepers in the 120th minute. A penalty shoot-out had to decide the duel.

The first nine shooters scored from the spot, with Otso Virtanen saving the decisive penalty from Dominik Fitz. Austria was eliminated by Ilves Tampere.

Austria Wien - Ilves Tampere 8:8 i.E. (2:1, 3:2, 4:3 n.V.)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Potzmann (61. Pazourek), Martins (80. Meisl), Galvão; Ranftl (116. Plavotić), Barry, Fischer, Guenouche (6. Pérez Vinlöf); Malone (61. Prelec), Fitz, Gruber (80. Husković)

Ilves: Seppä (120. Virtanen); Mäenpää (106. Akpudje), Miettunen, Pikkarainen; Jorginho (78. Ulundu); Arifi, Popovitch, Veteli; Jukkola (78. Söderbäck), Haarala, Ala-Myllymäki (58. Riski)

Goals: Malone (21st), Gruber (27th), Barry (68th), Prelec (97th); Ala-Myllymäki (30th), Mäenpää (89th), Söderbäck (112th)

Penalty shootout:
0-1 Arifi
1-1 Fischer
1-2 Popovitch
2-2 Galvão
2-3 Haarala
3-3 Pérez Vinlöf
3-4 Pikkarainen
4-4 Meisl
4-5 Riski
4-5 Fitz held

Yellow cards: Ranftl (58th), Husković (93rd), Fitz (100th); Pikkarainen (95th), Arifi (100th), Popovitch (101st), Ulundu (107th).

Viola Park, referee Ian McNabb (Northern Ireland), 8,555 spectators