Austria Wien beats NŠ Mura 2-1

Name: FK Austria Wien
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Austria Wien deservedly won the test match against the Slovenian club NŠ Mura 2-1. Both goals were scored by Marko Raguž, each after an assist from Moritz Wels.

©GEPA-pictures

Coach Stephan Helm fielded virtually the same starting line-up as in the previous Bundesliga matches in the first friendly of the year, with Matteo Meisl the only new addition to the back three alongside Aleksandar Dragović and Philipp Wiesinger. Matteo Pérez Vinlöf started on the left wing, hotly contested between the 19-year-old Bayern loanee and Hakim Guenouche.

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The Violets took command right from the start and tried to break down the deep block of the Slovenians, who sometimes had six men on the back line. Although the first attacks came quickly, the opposing keeper did not have to intervene at first. After around 20 minutes, the dangerous actions became more and more frequent and a goal was in the air.

It almost happened in the 27th minute when Austria's pressing won the ball in the opposing third and Maurice Malone tried to score after a pass from Abubakr Barry, but unfortunately failed to hit the bar. Around ten minutes later, Dominik Fitz struck the crossbar with a free-kick from the side (38') and the teams went into the break goalless.

Raguž's brace leaves the Violets celebrating

Only Meisl remained on the pitch for the second half, now in the center of the back three, but otherwise the Violet coaching team made a complete change. Philipp Maybach, for example, played as a defensive midfielder, Konstantin Aleksa with Marko Raguž up front. It only took a few seconds after the break before Austria shot for the first time, but Moritz Wels' attempt was too central (46').

After just over an hour, the time had finally come: Guenouche played the ball through ideally for the incoming Wels and Raguž converted his pass with ice-cold precision - a wonderful move to take a deserved lead (57'). After a powerful shot from Marvin Potzmann narrowly missed the target (70'), history repeated itself. Once again, the Violets won the ball wide up front, this time through Philipp Maybach, after which Wels again laid it off for Raguž, who completed his brace (74').

The Slovenians scored the final goal after a cross from the left (88'), but that did nothing to change the violet-white test match victory. Austria deservedly beat NŠ Mura 2-1.

Stephan Helm: “It was a good test for us today, it was a very concentrated performance and we were dominant. Our goal is always to bring our game to the pitch for 90 minutes. Marko is known for being extremely dangerous when he gets into position. On top of that, he coaches the players around him and uses his experience to great effect. In general, we have a team that takes the young players on very well and they in turn give this back through their professionalism. That's what makes our squad special.”

Marko Raguž: “It was a great feeling today. For me personally, it was also important to get 45 minutes at this level. The fact that I then managed to score two goals naturally makes me very happy. But I'm even happier about the win, it was a great start to the year.”

NŠ Mura - Austria Wien 1-2 (0-0)

Austria, 1st half: Şahin-Radlinger - Wiesinger, Dragović, Meisl - Ranftl, Fischer ©, Barry, Pérez Vinlöf - Fitz - Malone, Prelec

Austria goals: Raguž 57', 74'

Goalkeepers Lukas Wedl and Kenan Jusić as well as Lucas Galvão and Florian Wustinger were not in action, as was Luca Pazourek, who only arrived this morning and watched the game from the stands.