Austria lost 0-2 to SC Braga

Despite a spirited performance, Austria fell to a 0-2 defeat against top Portuguese side Sporting Braga in the Conference League playoff. A penalty kick by Pau Víctor gave the Portuguese team the lead in the first half, before Diego Rodrigues sealed the victory late in the game. Samuel Şahin-Radlinger stopped another penalty kick, and Manfred Fischer was unlucky to hit the crossbar.

Compared to the game against Hartberg, Stephan Helm made five changes to his starting lineup. In the back three, Aleksandar Dragović returned to the starting lineup and took over the central defensive role. As a result, Reinhold Ranftl—who had been part of the defense in Hartberg—moved up a line to the right wing. In central midfield, Daniel Nnodim, Kang Hee Lee, and Florian Wustinger were rotated out of the lineup—Philipp Maybach and Vasilije Marković started in their place. 

Compared to the game against Hartberg, Stephan Helm made five changes to his starting lineup. In the back three, Manfred Fischer returned to the lineup, and Johannes Eggestein—now back from injury—was selected over Kelvin Boateng and Sanel Šaljić.

Sporting Braga had to contend with a viral infection over the weekend. Compared to the match against Dinamo Minsk, Braga coach Carlos Vicens made four changes to the starting lineup: In defense, Vítor Carvalho replaced Sergio Barcia at center back, while in midfield, Denis Huseinbašić started in place of Mario Dorgeles. Up front, Diogo Travassos and Ricardo Horta took the places of Fran Navarro and Gabriel Silva.

Austria started the game with courage and determination, but a mistake in their build-up play led to Braga’s first chance. Samuel Şahin-Radlinger had no trouble stopping Huseinbašić’s shot (2nd minute). Johannes Eggestein took a shot from 18 meters after a nice combination play but narrowly missed the goal. Ibrahim Buhari blocked a shot by Pau Víctor (17th minute), but shortly afterward conceded a penalty after fouling Huseinbašić. Pau Víctor fired a sharp shot down the middle, making it 1–0 for Braga in the 25th minute.

Goalkeeper Bernardo Fontes tipped a cross from Eggestein—which was dipping dangerously toward the goal—over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick, Buhari got a header off, but it didn’t produce the desired result (27th minute). João Moutinho shot over the goal, and the Violets were lucky on a chance by Fran Navarro—the ball went wide by millimeters (31st, 32nd minutes).

There were no substitutions at halftime, and Austria came out of the locker room strong. Ranftl set up Julian Hettwer perfectly; the German took a shot, and goalkeeper Fontes managed to deflect it for a corner (48'). The corner kick nearly led to the equalizer for the Veilchen: Eggestein sent the ball into the middle, Fischer got a shot off and hit the crossbar. Philipp Maybach’s follow-up header sailed over the goal (49').

During the game, the two teams canceled each other out, with Austria lying in wait for quick counterattacks. Matteo Schablas came on for Marković. In the 82nd minute, Maltese referee Ishmael Barbara pointed to the penalty spot once again. Victor Gómez fell dramatically to the ground after a header duel with Fischer—an extremely harsh call. Pau Víctor stepped up again, but this time Şahin-Radlinger was there to make the save. The penalty-killer fished the ball out of the left corner (84th minute).

Die Freude währte leider nur kurz, den Portugiesen gelang in der 88. Minute nach einem Bilderbuchkonter das 2:0. Der eingewechselte Diego Rodrigues traf nach Vorlage von Mario Dorgeles. Schon in der Nachspielzeit schlenzte Sanel Šaljić den Ball nach einer Ecke von Taeseok Lee knapp am Tor vorbei - die Austria musste sich Sporting Braga mit 0:2 geschlagen geben.

SC Braga - Austria Wien 2:0 (1:0)

Braga: Fontes; Victor Gómez, Lagerbielke, Vítor Carvalho (90+2. Barcia), A. Bajrami; João Moutinho, Demir Ege Tıknaz (75. Dorgeles), Huseinbašić; Pau Víctor (90. Travassos), Fran Navarro (68. Rodrigues), Gabriel Silva (75. Martínez)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl (59. Nnodim), Dragović, Buhari; Ranftl, Maybach (72. Wustinger), Marković, Taeseok Lee; Fischer, Eggestein (72. Boateng), Hettwer (59. Šaljić)