Austria win 3-1 on Dragović's debut

WAC took the lead in the first half through Dejan Zukić, but the Viennese, who dominated the entire game, turned the result around after the break. Andreas Gruber equalized and Muki Husković and Dominik Fitz scored in stoppage time to make the final score 3-1.

Coach Stephan Helm had to do without Marvin Potzmann (back problems) and Luca Pazourek with a groin injury. Potzmann had a prominent substitute, Aleksandar Dragović celebrated his long-awaited homecoming to Favoriten. Helm opted for Manfred Fischer in midfield, with Dominik Fitz taking his place on the bench for the time being. The 17-year-old Academies-Eleven player Konstantin Aleksa was in the Bundesliga squad for the first time.

WAC coach Dietmar Kühbauer saw no reason to change his starting eleven after the convincing 4-1 opening win in the Carinthian derby.

WAC took the lead through Zukić

Austria started with a lot of pressure and commitment, but it was the Carinthians who took the first - albeit harmless - shot on goal through Simon Wiesinger. The ball went over Samuel Şahin-Radlinger's goal (7'). Reinhold Ranftl won the ball in the opponent's half and Abubakr Barry provided Andreas Gruber with an ideal pass. Lukas Gütlbauer in the Lavanttaler goal was only able to stop his shot with difficulty (11'). A cross from Gruber ended up with Nik Prelec, whose shot landed on the bar (18').

Wolfsberger AC took the lead against the run of play, a free-kick from Dejan Zukić went past friend and foe into the far corner - 0-1 (26'). The Violets then pressed again, but Wolfsburg were repeatedly able to block the Viennese's shots. Despite two thirds of possession for the home side, the game went into the half-time break with the visitors in the lead.

Violets turned the game around after the break

Matteo Pérez Vinlöf opened the second half with a shot that went over the goal (47'). Austria continued to dominate the game, but struggled to create chances. Stephan Helm made a change after an hour: Dominik Fitz and Muharem Husković came on for Tin Plavotić and Maurice Malone. The Violets switched to a back four.

After a beautifully played counter-attack, Prelec served the ball to Fitz, but the Carinthian goalkeeper prevented the equalizer with a great save (65'). At the other end, Şahin-Radlinger was on hand to save a chance from Thierno Ballo, who also made a great save (67'). A rebound from a shot by Manfred Fischer landed in the hands of Andreas Gruber, who hammered the ball into the net to make it 1-1 (69').

Husković had the chance to make it 2-1 after a mistake by Gütlbauer, but was offside (74'). Marvin Martins came on for the much-celebrated Aleksandar Dragović in the 76th minute. Nicolas Wimmer committed a handball in a duel with Prelec, referee Stefan Ebner decided on red for the central defender after an on-field review (80').

Helm then made another change, with Konstantin Aleksa making his debut. Moritz Wels also came into the game, while Nik Prelec and Abubakr Barry left the pitch. In stoppage time, Dominik Fitz delivered a cross to Muki Husković, who flicked the ball over Gütlbauer and into the goal - the Violets had turned the game around (90+3')! As a bonus, Dominik Fitz scored himself in the 6th minute of stoppage time to make it 3-1, with the assist coming from Konstantin Aleksa!

Austria won their first home game of the Bundesliga season 3-1 against RZ Pellets WAC.

Austria Wien - Wolfsberger AC 3-1 (0-1)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Dragović (77' Martins), Plavotić (58' Fitz), Galvão; Ranftl, Fischer, Barry (84' Aleksa), Pérez Vinlöf; Gruber, Prelec (84' Wels), Malone (58' Husković)

WAC: Gütlbauer; Matić, Baumgartner, Wimmer, Scherzer; Jasic (46' Omić), Piesinger (73' Agyemang); Gattermayer (58' Atanga), Zukić, Ballo (83' Diabate); Sabitzer (58' Kojzek)

Goals: Gruber (69'), Husković (90+3'), Fitz (90+6'); Zukić (26')

Yellow cards: Galvão (31'), Ranftl (35'), Dragović (38'); Piesinger (29'), Kojzek (90+5')

Red card: Wimmer (80')

Generali-Arena, referee Stefan Ebner, 10,666 spectators