Clear 5-0 away win at Spaeri FC

Austria Wien wins 5-0 against Spaeri FC in Georgia and advances to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League with a confident 7-0 aggregate score. Tin Plavotić, Dominik Fitz, a brace from Maurice Malone and Johannes Eggestein's debut goal ensured a clear victory in Tbilisi.

Stephan Helm made one change to the team that won 2-0 at the Franz Horr Stadium a week ago. Noah Botić partnered Maurice Malone up front, with Manprit Sarkaria taking his place on the bench, as did the recently injured Philipp Wiesinger and Luca Pazourek, as well as Johannes Eggestein. Spaeri started with exactly the same line-up as in Vienna-Favoriten the previous week.

In oppressively humid conditions in Tbilisi, it was the Violets who got off to the better start and appeared early in the opponent's penalty area. After Malone could only be stopped by foul play at the edge of the penalty area following a pass from Botić, Aleksandar Dragović had the first real chance from the resulting free kick. However, Putkaradze was able to parry his powerful shot into the top corner (8'). The Georgians grew in confidence as the first half progressed and tried their luck on the counterattack, but Samuel Şahin-Radlinger was not called into action.

Three goals shortly before half-time

Instead, the ball almost ended up in the net at the other end after 20 minutes, but the Georgian keeper reacted strongly to Dominik Fitz's sharp and well-placed shot. Three minutes later, Hakim Guenouche tried his luck from the second row after a corner, but Putkaradze was again on hand to deflect the ball for another corner (23'). Spaeri was by no means hiding and kept Tin Plavotić & Co busy in the purple defence time and again.

In the 40th minute, however, it was the 28-year-old centre-back who put Austria on the road to victory. After a free kick cross from Fitz, Plavotić headed in the long-awaited lead! Then it was one thing after another: Fitz himself scored with a spectacular shot over Putkaradze (43') to make it 2-0. In stoppage time, a Georgian defender blocked a Botić shot with his hand, and Malone converted the resulting penalty (45+2') to give his side a comfortable half-time lead.

Malone with a brace & Eggestein's debut goal

At half-time, Philipp Wiesinger came on for Abu Barry, with Kang Hee Lee moving into the centre in his place. His teammate, captain Manfred Fischer, set up the fourth goal with a fine pass to Malone, who coolly slotted home from close range with only Putkaradze to beat (55'). Shortly afterwards, the purple coaching team made three substitutions: Johannes Handl, Sanel Šaljić and Johannes Eggestein came on, with Dragović, Fitz and Malone taking their places on the bench (56').

It was substitute Šaljić who set up Botić perfectly in the 64th minute, but the Australian's header was saved all the more strongly. Eggestein then scored the fifth goal, dancing through the Georgian defence on his own and slotting home skilfully (72') – the German's first goal! Exactly ten minutes later, Eggestein hit the bar after a pass from Šaljić (82'), and Šaljić himself shot just over (83'). Botić missed the last chance from close range (86').

Austria ultimately advanced to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League with a 7-0 aggregate score against Spaeri FC. They will play either Baník Ostrava or Legia Warsaw on 7 August (away) and 14 August (home), with the opponent still to be determined at the final whistle.

Spaeri FC – Austria Wien 0-5 (0-3)

Spaeri: Putkaradze - Chagunava, Kentchadze © (Grigalashvili 77'), Bunturi, Samkharadze - Tsurtsumia (Chotalishvili 46'), Maisuradze - Barabadze, Poniava (Mathenjwa 46'), Gegiadze (Kobakhidze 77') - Tsetskhladze (Tsetskhladze 68')

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger - Plavotić, Dragović (Handl 56'), Lee - Ranftl (Pazourek 69'), Fischer ©, Barry (Wiesinger 46'), Guenouche - Fitz (Šaljić 56') - Malone (Eggestein 56'), Botić

Goals: Plavotić 40', Fitz 43', Malone 45+2' (penalty), 55', Eggestein 72'

Yellow: Bunturi 9', Chagunava 43', Kobakhidze 79'; Barry 19', Lee 73'

Mikheil Meskhi II Stadium; Referee Ashot Ghaltakhchyan

Comments on the match

Stephan Helm: "In the end, it was the football festival we had all hoped for. The opponents were extremely respectful, as were their fans, and our fans gave us outstanding support. Spaeri had a good plan today and did well, but we also played with great concentration. The fact that it ended 5-0 here and 7-0 overall is not a matter of course, but is due to the fact that the team performed its tasks well."

Johannes Eggestein: "It took us a while to get going at the start, but then we quickly turned the game in our favour and sealed the deal with the goals before half-time. The more playing time I get, the better the teamwork with my teammates becomes. We are getting to know each other better every day and understand each other's moves better. Today's game, in which we were very dominant, is of course very nice for a striker like me, and I think I was able to show some of my offensive qualities."