Disappointing draw against St. Pölten

With a 0-0 against spusu SKN St. Pölten, Austria Wien ended the basic round of the tipico Bundesliga in 7th place. The “Violets” will continue next week with a home game against Admira in the qualification group.

Coach Christian Ilzer made some changes against the bottom of the table: Stephan Zwierschitz replaced the suspended Florian Klein, Michael Madl returned to central defence alongside Erik Palmer-Brown after his suspension. This time James Jeggo and Dominik Fitz started in the defensive midfield. Maximilian Sax started as the key player; Patrick Wimmer started on the left wing.

SKN coach Alexander Schmidt had to do without Christoph Klarer due to a suspension, captain Christoph Riegler was not well enough in time. Luan, Stefan Stangl and Kofi Yeboah Schulz were in the starting eleven compared to the previous week in the significant defeat against Wolfsberg.

Goalless first half

Austria Wien started with a swing, shots by Andreas Poulsen and Christoph Monschein were blocked by St. Pölten’s defence (3’, 5’). SKN St. Pölten started with a remarkable overhead kick by Kwang Ryong Pak, but the ball missed the goal of Patrick Pentz (10’). Manprit Sarkaria made a shot in the penalty area, the shot grazed the bar (15’). A header by the young striker after a cross by Dominik Fitz also missed the goal (21’).

Austria Wien tried to create chances, was dominant with over 65% ball possession. St. Pölten’s dense defence did not allow much. Shortly before the break Monschein failed twice on Thomas Vollnhofer in the goal of the Lower Austrians (43’, 45’+1’). The teams took a break without any goals.

Even after the break, the ball did not want to end up in the goal

The second half started with a corner-kick by Dominik Fitz, but Michael Madl's header went past the goal (46’), on the other side Pentz parried a header by Luxbacher (48’). Vollnhofer had some problems with a cross by Poulsen, Patrick Wimmer missed the follow-up shot (69’).

Christian Ilzer brought Benedikt Pichler for Max Sax, a little later Alexander Grünwald replaced Patrick Wimmer. A corner-kick by Fitz was extended by Erik Palmer-Brown to Michi Madl, who shot over the goal from promising position (84’). Patrick Wimmer almost scored to the lead but missed with a header after a cross by Sarkaria (86’). Bright Edomwonyi came into the game for Dominik Fitz, a shot by Sarkaria missed the second bar (90’+4’). During a save Stangl hit Monschein on the head on the edge of the penalty area, but referee Sebastian Gishamer did not give the penalty shot (90’+5’).

The game ended without any goals, Austria Wien had to accept the 6^th draw in a row.

FK Austria Wien - spusu SKN St. Pölten 0-0

Austria Wien: Pentz; Zwierschitz, Madl, Palmer-Brown, Poulsen; Jeggo, Fitz (87’ Edomwonyi); Wimmer (79’ Grünwald), Sax (73’ Pichler), Sarkaria; Monschein

St. Pölten: Vollnhofer; Muhamedbegovic, Luan, Stangl; Davies, Hofbauer, Alan, Luxbacher (66’ Gorzel), Schulz; Pak (74’ Meister), Burke (55’ Ouedraogo)

Goals: none

Yellow cards: Pentz (18’), Wimmer (58’); Hofbauer (25’), Stangl (45’+2’), Davies (82’), Ouedraogo (88’)

Generali-Arena, referee Sebastian Gishamer, 6,850 spectators