Important away win in Hartberg

Austria Wien secured a 1-0 victory away at TSV Hartberg after a hard-fought match. Manfred Fischer scored the winning goal shortly before half-time following a superb assist from Vasilije Marković. Hartberg were forced to play with ten men for a long period after Konstantin Schopp was shown a red card.

Vasilije Marković made his first-team debut in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga; the U17 World Cup runner-up started in place of Abubakr Barry, who was suspended after picking up his ninth yellow card. In central defence, Johannes Handl replaced Tin Plavotić, who was suspended following a red card. Taeseok Lee returned to the squad and started at left-back in place of Matteo Schablas. Sanel Šaljić was still unavailable due to a thigh injury.

Hartberg manager Manfred Schmid, who remained unbeaten in 2026, also had to do without two suspended players in Youba Diarra and Tobias Kainz, whilst Maximilian Hennig was absent through illness. Konstantin Schopp (also making his first-team debut), Julian Halwachs and Jed Drew were new additions to the squad.  

Red card for Hartberg, goal for Austria

In an early quick counter-attack, Johannes Eggestein sent Reinhold Ranftl through on goal, but he was only stopped by a hard challenge from Habib Coulibaly, which went unpunished (5'). A shot from Eggestein, following a pass from Marković, was blocked for a corner (16'). Ranftl set up another chance for the Violets via Philipp Wiesinger and Eggestein with a superb tackle; the Hartberg defence managed to clear in the nick of time (21').

Samuel Şahin-Radlinger was called into action for the first time in the 31st minute to save a shot from Jürgen Heil. Konstantin Schopp’s debut came to an end in the 38th minute when referee Stefan Ebner showed the 20-year-old a red card following a VAR review. Wiesinger was able to continue after the heavy challenge.

Johannes Handl played a perfect cross to Taeseok Lee, who smashed the ball against the crossbar (45'). Handl initiated the next move again, with Ranftl leaving Pazourek in his wake. His cross was flicked on by Marković with his heel to Manfred Fischer, who scored Austria’s opening goal with his right foot (45+1').  

With a deserved lead and a man advantage, the Violets went into the dressing room.

The Violets saw out the game

Vasilije Marković headed over the bar from a Ranftl cross early in the second half, with Austria continuing to dictate the play (51'). On the hour mark, Stephan Helm brought on Matteo Schablas and Romeo Mörth for Taeseok Lee and Philipp Maybach. Mörth had a chance to make it 2-0 just seconds after coming on, following a pass from Marković, but was denied by Hülsmann (63').

A volley from Ranftl was blocked by Coulibaly, and Hülsmann saved a shot from Fischer (69', 70'). Marković shot over the bar from a Ranftl cross – the Violets were looking to seal the win (72').

Romeo Vučić and Dejan Radonjić came on ten minutes from time for Vasilije Marković and Joe Handl in what had become a very frantic game. In stoppage time, Kovacevic cleared a shot from Romeo Mörth off the line (90+1').

Austria ultimately secured a narrow but deserved 1-0 victory, handing Hartberg their first defeat in eight ADMIRAL Bundesliga matches.  

TSV Hartberg - Austria Wien 0-1 (0-1)

Hartberg: Hülsmann; Pazourek (77. Fillafer), Schopp, Wilfinger, Coulibaly, Vincze (53. Hoffmann); Heil (77. Fridrikas), Markus, Halwachs (77. Aziz); Drew (43. Kovacevic), Havel

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl (79. Radonjić), Dragović, Wiesinger; Ranftl, Kang Hee Lee, Maybach (63. Mörth), Taeseok Lee (63. Schablas); Fischer, Marković (79. Vučić), Eggestein

Goal: Fischer (45+1.)

Yellow cards: Kang Hee Lee (1.), Taeseok Lee (49.), Marković (57.), Mörth (64.), Handl (71.)

Red card: Schopp (38.)

Profertil Arena Hartberg, referee Stefan Ebner, 4,126 spectators