Away match at GAK ended 2–2

Austria found themselves trailing twice against GAK, who remain unbeaten at home this season, following goals from Alexander Hofleitner and Jacob Italiano. Manfred Fischer and Kang Hee Lee each scored an equaliser. The Violets went into the international break with a 2–2 draw.

Stephan Helm made two changes to his starting line-up compared to the match against Lustenau: Ibrahim Buhari started in the back three alongside Aleksandar Dragović and Johannes Handl, allowing Reinhold Ranftl to move up from the back line to his usual position on the right wing in place of the injured Daniel Nnodim. Manfred Fischer was moved back from the attack to central midfield alongside Valentino Müller, replacing Philipp Maybach. The vacant spot in the attacking line was taken by Kelvin Boateng, who made his debut in the starting line-up and formed the Veilchen’s attacking trio alongside Vasilije Marković and Johannes Eggestein.

There were three changes for GAK; manager Gerald Scheiblehner brought in Mark Grosse and Jacob Italiano up front in place of Daniel Maderner and Liam Hermesh. Anderson was ruled out at short notice with a muscle injury, whilst Leon Klassen returned to the team.

Early setback, Fischer equalised

In a fiercely contested match, GAK had the first shot on goal, but Beres Owusu’s volley went wide (8’). Following a cross from Eggestein, Marković shot over the bar (10’). The Graz side took the lead in the 15th minute, with Alexander Hofleitner striking the ball precisely into the corner from just over 18 metres.

Austria immediately set about equalising. Johannes Handl headed wide from an Eggestein corner (18th minute). Boateng was played in well by new signing Vasilije Marković, but his chip ended up in the arms of GAK goalkeeper Cican Stankovic (20'). Ibrahim Buhari had a chance with a header, but his effort was too central (28'). Eggestein tried his luck from distance, but the ball went wide of the goal (34').

Shortly before the half-time whistle, the ‘Veilchen’ managed to score the all-important equaliser: Eggestein played the ball into the centre, Boateng controlled it and laid it off to Manfred Fischer. The captain rounded Cvetko and slotted it into the far corner with his right foot (45th minute) – 1–1 at half-time.

GAK take the lead again, Lee scores a late equaliser

GAK, strong in the tackle, tried their luck with long-range shots at the start of the second half, with Michorl and Owusu narrowly missing the target (46th, 51st minutes). A promising counter-attack led by Eggestein was thwarted by the Graz side, but the home side took the lead once again on the break. A cross from Christian Lichtenberger fell at the feet of Italiano, and the Australian World Cup participant slotted home to make it 2–1 (55').

Helm reacted, bringing on Julian Hettwer for Kelvin Boateng. Ten minutes later, Sanel Šaljić and Matteo Schablas came on for Vasilije Marković and Taeseok Lee. The Violets looked increasingly unsettled, so Helm played his final cards: Handl and Müller made way for Florian Wustinger and the South Korean had barely been on the pitch when he scored with his first touch to make it 2–2. Dragović headed on a free-kick from Eggestein, and Lee smashed the ball volleyed under the crossbar (81’).

Samuel Şahin-Radlinger saved a header from Grosse; Sollbauer’s follow-up shot went wide of the goal (85’). A hard-fought match ended in a 2–2 draw.  

Grazer AK – Austria Wien  2–2 (1–1)

GAK: Stankovic; Owusu, Sollbauer, Oberleitner; Italiano (80’ Markovic), Michorl, Cvetko, Klassen (70’ Gragger); Hofleitner (83’ Maderner), Grosse, Lichtenberger (79’ Smits)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Buhari, Dragović, Handl (80’ Wustinger); Ranftl, Müller (80’ Kang Hee Lee), Fischer, Taeseok Lee (70’ Schablas); Eggestein, Boateng (61’ Hettwer), Marković (70’ Šaljić)

Goals: Hofleitner (15'), Italiano (55'); Fischer (45'), Kang Hee Lee (81')

Yellow cards: Hofleitner (49'), Klassen (58'), Oberleitner (64'), Michorl (81'), Sollbauer (90+3'); Ranftl (16'), Handl (72'), Wustinger (87')

Graz-Liebenau Stadium, 7,524 spectators, referee Arnes Talic