Defeat against Wolfsberg

Austria Wien had to admit defeat against Wolfsberger AC with a 3-5. Marco Djuricin scored the early lead for the “Violets”, but WAC turned the game with four goals. Alexander Grünwald and Agim Zeka brought Austria Wien close again before Dario Vizinger scored the final goal.

Peter Stöger has to do without Benedikt Pichler for five games, Christoph Monschein and Marco Djuricin started up front. Thomas Ebner started in defensive midfield alongside Eric Martel, while Aleksandar Jukić took a seat on the bench for the time being. Instead of Stephan Zwierschitz Georg Teigl started on the right in the back four. Vesel Demaku was back in the squad for the first time after a long injury break.

Roman Stary - WAC coach with a violet past - made five changes after the disappointing 3-5 against Wattens. Luka Lochoshvili, Mario Pavelic, Kai Lukas Stratznig, Eliel Peretz and Thorsten Röcher were new to the starting line-up.

Deficit at half time despite an early lead

Austria Wien got off to an ideal start during snowfall in the Generali-Arena. After a shot on the pole by Christoph Monschein, the ball went through Manprit Sarkaria and Dominik Fitz to Marco Djuricin, who scored the lead for the “Violets” with his first goal of the season. A shot by Dominik Fitz was blocked, on the other side Michael Liendl shot far over the goal (9’, 12’). Wolfsberger AC equalized shortly after, Luka Lochoshvili kicked the ball into the goal after a corner kick by Liendl (14’). A shot by Eliel Peretz landed with Thorsten Röcher, who scored the 1-2 - WAC turned the game.

With a header Eric Martel had a chance after a free kick by Dominik Fitz (41’), otherwise Austria Wien hardly had any chances. A shot by Peretz went wide in the 43^rd minute, but Dejan Joveljic scored the 3-1 shortly afterwards. With the clear deficit the “Violets” went into the dressing room.

The race to catch up remained unrewarded

After the break, Andreas Poulsen tried to bring Austria Wien back into the game with a long shot but missed (48’). Wolfsberg raised their game, Michael Liendl scored after a cross by Röcher - 1-4 (53’). Peter Stöger then exchanged four players: Alexander Grünwald, Aleksandar Jukić, Agim Zeka and Patrick Wimmer replaced Andreas Poulsen, Manprit Sarkaria, Dominik Fitz and Christoph Monschein.

A shot by Martel just missed the goal, Patrick Pentz saved a shot by Dario Vizinger (60’, 66’). Alexander Grünwald scored the 2-4 in his 300^th Bundesliga game after assist by Patrick Wimmer and once again gave the “Violets” some hope (66’). Aleksandar Jukić missed, Alexander Kofler defused a shot by Thomas Ebner (68’, 74’). Patrick Pentz was on the spot for a finish by Mario Leitgeb (77’). With his first goal after a great assist by Jukić, Agim Zeka narrowed the cap for Austria Wien - 3-4.

Vesel Demaku replaced Thomas Ebner. Shortly before the end, substitute Dario Vizinger scored during a counterattack – 3-5, Austria Wien had to admit defeat and finished the regular round of the tipico Bundesliga in eighth place.

FK Austria Wien - RZ Pellets WAC 3-5 (1-3)

Austria Wien: Pentz; Teigl, Schösswendter, Palmer-Brown, Poulsen (58’ Grünwald); Sarkaria (58’ Jukić), Ebner (80’ Demaku), Martel, Fitz (58’ Zeka); Monschein (58’ Wimmer), Djuricin

WAC: Kofler; Pavelic, Baumgartner, Lochoshvili, Scherzer; Stratznig (63’ Leitgeb), Wernitznig (87’ Taferner); Röcher (87’ Henriksson), Liendl, Peretz (63’ Vizinger); Joveljic

Goals: Djuricin (6’), Grünwald (66’), Zeka (78’); Lochoshvili (14’), Röcher (33’), Joveljic (44’), Liendl (53’), Vizinger (86’)

Yellow cards: Fitz (31’), Monschein (51’); Stratznig (20’), Baumgartner (45’+1’)

Generali-Arena, referee Manuel Schüttengruber, no spectators due to the COVID-19 regulation