Veilchen celebrate away win at Blau Weiß Linz

Austria won an exciting away game at Blau Weiß Linz 3-2. Manprit Sarkaria gave the Violets an early lead, Simon Seidl equalized. Johannes Eggestein scored from the penalty spot shortly before half-time, Sarkaria increased the lead to 1-3 with his second goal after the break. Linz pulled one back, again through Seidl, to make it a tense finish, but the Viennese held on to win after a hard-fought battle. 

After the international break, Austria went into the game against FC Blau Weiß Linz with the same lineup as in their victory against GAK. Dejan Radonjić was absent due to injury.

Linz were without defensive stalwart Manuel Maranda, who was suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card, with Elias Bakatukanda taking his place. Oliver Wähling also moved into the starting lineup in place of Ronivaldo, who was slightly injured.  

Halftime lead for the Violets

The hosts had the first chance of the game when Alem Pašić shot from close range after a free kick and hit the crossbar, but he was offside anyway (7'). In the 13th minute, the Violets had a corner kick, the ball came back from Taeseok Lee to Manprit Sarkaria, who scored beautifully into the far corner from the corner of the penalty area - 1-0 for the Violets.

Johannes Eggestein had a shot after a free kick from Sarkaria, but shot over the bar (17'). Mamadou Fofana missed the goal from a few meters out (18th minute), but shortly afterwards Linz managed to equalize: Samuel Şahin-Radlinger initially prevented Thomas Goiginger from scoring, but our goalkeeper was powerless against Simon Seidl's lob – 1-1 in the 20th minute.

Blau Weiß Linz turned up the heat, with Şahin-Radlinger saving a shot from Wähling and a great chance from Fofana (26th, 34th). Goiginger had to be substituted due to injury, after which Austria regained control of the game. In stoppage time, Manfred Fischer was brought down in the penalty area by Pašić after a dream pass from Sarkaria. Eggestein confidently converted the penalty awarded by referee Alexander Harkam (45+2).

Shon Weissman then scored what would have been the equalizer, but he was clearly offside (45+4). The Violets went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Sarkaria scored for the second time

Ronivaldo came on for Wähling at half-time and tested Şahin-Radlinger in the 49th minute, but the keeper had little trouble with the central shot. Sarkaria initiated a counterattack, and the ball came back to him via Reinhold Ranftl and Taeseok Lee. Our number 11 made it 1-3 with a powerful finish (52').

Şahin-Radlinger was on hand again to save a header from Pašić (60'), with the goalkeeper putting in an outstanding performance. At the other end, Viktor Baier saved a shot from Sarkaria (70'). Philipp Maybach came on for Kang Hee Lee, and Blau Weiß Linz reduced the deficit to 2-3 in the 76th minute with Seidl's second goal, making the game exciting once again.

Noah Botić replaced Eggestein for the final phase. Ranftl saved from Ronivaldo in the 89th minute, and Konstantin Aleksa came on for double goalscorer Manprit Sarkaria in stoppage time. The Blue and Whites failed to create any more notable chances, and Austria climbed back into the top six of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga with the win.

FC Blau Weiß Linz - FK Austria Wien 2:3 (1:2)

Blau Weiß Linz: Baier; Pašić, Bakatukanda, Moormann; Wähling (46. Ronivaldo), Fofana (73. Cvetko), Briedl, Pirkl; Seidl, Weissman, Goiginger (28. Maier)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Wiesinger, Dragović, Plavotić; Ranftl, Barry, Kang Hee Lee (73. Maybach), Fischer, Taeseok Lee; Sarkaria (90.+2 Aleksa), Eggestein (84. Botić)

Goals: Seidl (20', 76'); Sarkaria (13', 52'), Eggestein (45'+2, penalty)

Yellow cards: Pašić (80'); Ranftl (59')

Hofmann Personal Stadium, referee Alexander Harkam, 5,557 spectators