0-1 home defeat against WAC

Austria was beaten 0:1 by WAC at the end of the year. Substitute Thierno Ballo scored the decisive goal shortly before the end of the match, and two further goals from the Carinthians were disallowed after video review. The Violets spend the winter in 7th place in the table.

In the last match of the year, Manfred Schmid made two changes to his starting eleven. Lucas Galvão returned to the team after his yellow suspension, Johannes Handl took a seat on the bench. On the offensive side, Andreas Gruber started on the right wing, Aleksandar Jukić moved to the ten, Dominik Fitz to the forward line. Nikola Dovedan remained out for the time being.

WAC recently suffered five defeats in a row, coach Robin Dutt nevertheless made no changes to his starting lineup.

Austria started well, but WAC became stronger

Austria was the team that dominated the game at the start. Andreas Gruber had two chances, but was blocked by the Carinthian back line both times (10th, 13th). Maurice Malone was brought down in a duel with Lucas Galvão in the penalty area, and referee Walter Altmann correctly ruled it a swallow (20.).

After half an hour, the guests found their way into the game better. Matteo Anzolin had a chance, but the Italian shot over the goal (31.). Also a free kick by Dominik Baumgartner was no danger for Christian Früchtl (34.). Augustine Boakye missed (36th). Tai Baribo scored the supposed 0:1, but referee Altmann decided after video study on "dangerous play" - further 0:0. A nice pass from Dominik Fitz could Gruber unfortunately not process well enough (42.). Fitz played a free kick flat to Manfred Fischer, Ervin Omić straddled the shot of the captain (45.+1). The game went into the break goalless.

Thierno Ballo decided the game in favor of the guests

Manfred Schmid made a double substitution at half-time: Can Keles and Nikola Dovedan came on for Aleksandar Jukić and Manuel Polster. Both players brought fresh momentum. Dovedan set up Fitz, whose shot missed the goal (51st). A shot by Keles was deflected for a corner. Fitz took the eighth corner kick for Austria, Galvão finished, but it was too central (53rd). After a counterattack via Dominik Fitz, Dovedan put the finish just past the far corner (63rd).

Shortly after, Ibrahima Drame came on for Andreas Gruber. Christian Früchtl was on the spot for a shot by Nikolas Veratschnig (68th). Tai Baribo scored another time, again the goal was not given after an on-field review (69th). Malone hit the crossbar after a flying header. The ball bounced on the line, again on the crossbar and out again - luck for the Violets (76th). On the other side, Dovedan put another Fitz corner just wide, and Hendrik Bonmann parried another shot by the striker (78th).

Thierno Ballo, who had just been substituted, scored in the 81st minute to give the Carinthians the lead - this time the goal counted. Haris Tabaković replaced Matthias Braunöder and immediately set up a chance for Drame, but he shot past the goal (85th). The equalizer would not come for the Violets, Austria had to admit defeat to WAC 0:1.

FK Austria Wien - RZ Pellets WAC 0:1 (0:0)

Austria: Früchtl; Ranftl, Galvão, Meisl, Martins; Braunöder (84. Tabaković), Fischer; Gruber (64. Drame), Jukić (46. Keles), Polster (46. Dovedan); Fitz

WAC: Bonmann; Veratschnig, Baumgartner, Schifferl, Novak, Anzolin (90. Gugganig); Taferner, Omić, Boakye (81. Ballo); Malone (90. Kerschbaumer), Baribo (73. Röcher)

Goal: Ballo (81.)

Yellow cards: Omić (25.), Taferner (42.), Veratschnig (86.)

Generali-Arena, referee Walter Altmann, 11,703 spectators