Draw against Baník not enough

Austria's journey in the UEFA Conference League came to an end in the third qualifying round after a 1-1 draw in the second leg against Baník Ostrava. Erik Prekop scored from the penalty spot shortly before half-time to give the visitors the lead, and Philipp Wiesinger's equaliser was ultimately not enough. The Czechs prevailed with an aggregate score of 5-4. 

Head coach Stephan Helm started with the same line-up as in the first leg, with the exception of the injured Aleksandar Dragović. Tin Plavotić played alongside Kang Hee Lee and Philipp Wiesinger in central defence. Compared to the game against WAC, Manprit Sarkaria and Noah Botić remained on the bench this time, with Abubakr Barry and Maurice Malone starting. Johannes Handl was absent due to illness, and Taeseok Lee was not eligible to play, as was the case in Ostrava.

Baník Ostrava suffered a 1-2 home defeat against MFK Karvina on Sunday, but coach Pavel Hapal made no changes to his starting line-up from the first leg.

Baník took the lead shortly before half-time

Austria had to make up a goal, and that was evident from the start. A first shot from Dominik Fitz was blocked (6'), and a good opportunity from Johannes Eggestein was prevented at the last moment. After the resulting corner, Eggestein got his head to the ball but hit one of his own players (15'). Eggestein continued to stand out, with Dominik Holec in the Czech goal saving one shot and another attempt from Maurice Malone narrowly missing the goal (16', 17'). Abubakr Barry shot over the bar after a pass from Reinhold Ranftl (22').

Baník got into the game better after half an hour and created their first dangerous chance in the 32nd minute, but Samuel Şahin-Radlinger was on hand to save a good long-range shot from Michal Kohút. A header from David Buchta went over the bar (41'). A foul by Hakim Guenouche on Buchta in the penalty area led to a penalty, which Erik Prekop converted in stoppage time of the first half to make it 0-1 (45+1).

A shot by Barry went wide (45+2), and Baník Ostrava led 0-1 at half-time at the Franz Horr Stadium.

Wiesinger's goal was not enough in the end

The visitors came out of the dressing room stronger, with a shot from Karel Pojezný from a promising position going wide of the goal (51'). In the 54th minute, Manprit Sarkaria came on in place of Johannes Eggestein. The new striker's first shot ended up in the arms of Holec (59'). The Czech goalkeeper was also on hand to save a shot from Manfred Fischer (60'). In the 67th minute, the moment finally arrived: after a corner from Dominik Fitz, a header from Tin Plavotić was cleared off the line, but Philipp Wiesinger reacted quickest and pushed the ball over the line to make it 1-1.

After a free kick from Fitz, Wiesinger was on hand again, but this time Holec saved his header (72'). Matteo Schablas and Noah Botić then came on for Guenouche and Malone, and shortly before the end, Sanel Šaljić replaced Dominik Fitz. Šaljić tried his luck with a volley in added time, but the ball went wide (90+2'). Barry shot over the goal (90+4').

The match ended 1-1, and Austria Vienna must now bid farewell to the European Cup.

Austria Wien - Baník Ostrava 1-1 (0-1)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Lee, Plavotić, Wiesinger; Ranftl, Fischer, Barry, Guenouche (76. Schablas); Fitz (84. Šaljić); Malone (76. Botić), Eggestein (54. Sarkaria)

Baník: Holec; Frydrych, Chaluš, Pojezný; Buchta (85. Zlatohlávek), Rigo, Boula, Holzer (76. Kpozo); Šín (85. Látal), Prekop, Kohút (71. Munksgaard)

Goals: Wiesinger (67.); Prekop (45.+1, penalty)

Yellow cards: Wiesinger (39.), Guenouche (58.), Fischer (84.), Plavotić (90.+4); Holzer (53'), Kpozo (83'), Látal (90'+3)

Franz-Horr-Stadion, referee Juxhin Xhaja (Albania), 10,022 spectators