Away win in Linz to kick off the championship group

Early goals from Dominik Fitz and Reinhold Ranftl gave Austria a perfect start to the decisive phase of the championship. Samuel Şahin-Radlinger kept a clean sheet for the eighth time as the Violets took the lead in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga table for the first time with a 2-0 win in the 23rd round. 

As usual, head coach Stephan Helm only made minor changes to his squad for the start of the championship group. Manfred Fischer and Reinhold Ranftl returned to the team, while Johannes Handl started in defence in place of Philipp Wiesinger. Abubakr Barry was given a break after two appearances for Gambia in the World Cup qualifiers, with Andreas Gruber taking his place. Hakim Guenouche was unavailable due to a bruised heel.  

Blau-Weiß Linz coach Gerald Scheiblehner made one change to the starting eleven after the team's successful run to the Champions League, with Simon Seidl starting in place of the injured Paul Mensah.

Dream start for the Veilchen - Fitz and Ranftl scored

The game got off to a perfect start for the Violets, with Dominik Fitz putting Austria ahead after just a few seconds. Andreas Gruber provided the assist, Radek Vítek in the Linz goal was on the end of a lob but could not prevent the goal (2nd). Goal number ten for the violet playmaker!

Blau-Weiß Linz made their first appearance in front of Samuel Şahin-Radlinger's goal in the 6th minute, but our goalkeeper was able to defuse Anderson's shot. The score was almost 2-0 in the 8th minute, but Maurice Malone's shot after Ranftl's pinpoint pass only hit the outside of the net. Only a short time later, Ranftl did it himself, after preparation by Malone and Fischer, the long-time runner shot from 20 metres and the ball landed unstoppably in the left corner - 0-2 in the 17th minute.

Andi Gruber then finished off a fine one-two with Ranftl, but this time Vítek prevented the Viennese from scoring again (21'). Şahin-Radlinger was alert to a cross from Alexander Briedl that was too long (30'), Dominik Fitz saw his ninth yellow card and is therefore suspended against the WAC.

After a free-kick from Fitz, Handl dangerously headed the ball towards the centre, but Vítek prevented anything worse for Linz (43'). A shot from Thomas Goiginger went over the goal and Austria went into the half-time break with a commanding 2-0 lead.

Austria managed the win

The Viennese started the second half of the match in a wait-and-see mode, with Blau-Weiß Linz having more possession and the first opportunity. After a nice combination, Goiginger was on target again, but his shot went wide of the goal (53'). After an hour, Abubakr Barry came on as the strong Andreas Gruber left the pitch with a slight injury.

A long-range shot and a free-kick from Briedl posed no threat to Şahin-Radlinger (65‘, 66’). Helm then made two changes: Philipp Wiesinger and Marvin Potzmann came on for Tin Plavotić and Maurice Malone. Ronivaldo missed, a shot from Dobras was saved by Şahin-Radlinger (77‘, 80’).

Lucas Galvão and Marko Raguž replaced Matteo Pérez Vinlöf and Dominik Fitz for the final minutes, Austria had everything under control despite a lack of scoring chances in the second half and deservedly won 2-0 in the end.

FC Blau-Weiß Linz - Austria Wien 0-2 (0-2)

Blau-Weiß Linz: Vítek; Pašić, Maranda, Bakatukanda; Anderson, Diabaté (84' Wähling), Briedl, Pirkl; Seidl (46' Dobras), Ronivaldo, Goiginger

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl, Dragović, Plavotić (69' Wiesinger); Ranftl, Fischer, Pérez Vinlöf (83' Galvão); Gruber (58' Barry), Fitz (84' Raguž); Prelec, Malone (69' Potzmann)

Goals: Fitz (2'), Ranftl (17').

Yellow cards: Briedl (41'); Fitz (33'), Potzmann (71')

Hofmann Personal Stadion, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca, 5,500 spectators