Dramatic 2-2 against Blau-Weiß Linz

It wasn't quite enough in the end. In an incredible ADMIRAL Bundesliga final, Austria Wien finished third. Austria had a chance to win the title until stoppage time, but the match against Blau-Weiß Linz ended 2-2. Dominik Fitz and Philipp Wiesinger scored for the Violets, Alexander Schmidt and Oliver Wähling scored for the visitors. We congratulate Sturm Graz on the championship title.

Stephan Helm made two changes to his team for the final showdown: Nik Prelec returned after his suspension and started in place of Andreas Gruber. Tin Plavotić started in defence alongside Aleksandar Dragović and Philipp Wiesinger. Johannes Handl took his place on the bench, otherwise the team remained unchanged from the 2-1 win over WAC.

Blau-Weiß Linz started with their strongest team, the only change after the narrow defeat against Red Bull Salzburg: The recovered Elias Bakatukanda started in defence in place of Manuel Maranda.

Fitz scored from the spot

Both teams started the game in a very cautious manner, with Prelec narrowly missing the first dangerous free-kick from Dominik Fitz (13'). After a cross from Reinhold Ranftl, Radek Vítek saved from Abubakr Barry, who was ready to shoot (15'). Plavotić missed the target with a header from a Fitz corner (19'). Samuel Şahin-Radlinger had to intervene for the first time with a deflected shot from Simon Seidl, but otherwise the Violets had the game well under control.

After a corner kick in the 31st minute, Tin Plavotić was fouled by Ronivaldo and referee Walter Altmann immediately awarded a penalty. Dominik Fitz stepped up and scored his 12th goal of the season to make it 1-0 and turn the Generali Arena upside down for the first time.

Austria took the momentum from the goal and a shot from Fitz was blocked on the line by Fabio Strauss (35'). Manfred Fischer put a header next to the goal (43'), after 45 minutes it was 1-0 in favour of Violett.

2-2 at the end

There were no changes for the Violets at half-time, Vítek in the Linz goal prevented Nik Prelec from scoring with a good save. Maurice Malone hit the bar with a follow-up shot, but was not offside - as incorrectly indicated (55'). On the counter-attack, Ronivaldo hit the outside of the net (56').

After an hour, Hakim Guenouche came on for Matteo Pérez Vinlöf, and ten minutes later Andreas Gruber replaced Nik Prelec. Fitz chased the ball over the goal (71'), Alem Pasic missed (73'). Abubakr Barry had to retire after 75 minutes and Marvin Potzmann came into the game. Maurice Malone missed the target with an overhead kick, and a few seconds later the German hit the aluminium again (77', 78'). Blau Weiß Linz equalised completely out of nowhere, with substitute Alexander Schmidt scoring in the 78th minute to make it 1-1.

The Violets did not give up and the atmosphere reached its peak in the 90th minute. Philipp Wiesinger scored from a corner kick and an assist from Dominik Fitz to make it 2-1 and the stadium shook. From heaven to hell, the ecstasy was short-lived. Oliver Wähling scored in stoppage time to make it 2-2.

That was also the final score, Austria ended a great season in 3rd place and will therefore take part in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.

Austria Wien - Blau-Weiß Linz 2-2 (1-0)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Wiesinger, Dragović, Plavotić; Ranftl, Fischer, Pérez Vinlöf (62' Guenouche); Barry (76' Potzmann), Fitz; Malone, Prelec (69' Gruber)

Blau-Weiß Linz: Vítek; Strauss, Maranda, Bakatukanda; Anderson, Diabate, Pasic, Pirkl (46' Gölles); Seidl (59' Wähling), Ronivaldo (71' Schmidt), Dobras (59' Luiz)

Goals: Fitz (31', penalty), Wiesinger (90'); Schmidt (78'), Wähling (90+2')

Yellow cards: Dragović (53'), Guenouche (88'); Bakatukanda (65')

Generali-Arena, referee Walter Altmann, 14,786 spectators