Master group start with a 2:1 win against WAC!

Marco Djuričin gave Austria the lead, but WAC equalized through Michael Liendl before the break. Immediately after the restart, Can Keles scored to make it 2-1. The Violets missed a few chances to take the early decision, but managed to hold on for the 5th win in the 5th spring match and thus move up to second place in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga table.

Manfred Schmid was back on the Austria bench, with Eric Martel also returning after his suspension. Lukas Mühl was absent due to his 5th yellow card, Johannes Handl started in his place. On offense, Schmid had to do without Manfred Fischer, who was ill, as well as Aleksandar Jukić further. Muharem Husković and Marco Djuričin moved into the starting eleven, Noah Ohio took a seat on the bench for the time being.

WAC coach Robin Dutt made one change after the win against LASK, Dominik Baumgartner started in defense in place of Adis Jasic.

Djuričin put Violett in the lead, Liendl equalized

The match started with an unpleasant scene, of all things the hero from the last encounter - Luka Lochoshvili - crashed into Marvin Martins in a header duel (2nd). Lochoshvili could not continue and was taken off to the encouraging applause of the Austria fans. Adis Jasic replaced the Georgian. Can Keles had the first chance, his shot missed the second bar by a hair's breadth (8th). After a cross from Keles, Carinthian keeper Alexander Kofler let the ball go, Marco Djuričin dusted off and made it 1:0 for the Violets.

WAC equalized with their first noteworthy attack: after an Amar Dedić drive and a Christopher Wernitznig assist, Michael Liendl scored to make it 1-1. The ball was slightly deflected by Markus Suttner and Patrick Pentz had no chance (26th). A shot by Thorsten Röcher landed in the outer net, but the Carinthian striker was offside (34.). Marvin Martens entered the penalty area, but was stopped by Dedić according to the rules. The ball ended up via Husković to Marco Djuričin, but he missed the goal (38th). The game went into the halftime break at 1-1.

Can Keles scored the winner

The second half started perfectly for Violett: a corner kick by Markus Suttner was cleared too short by Dominik Baumgartner, Can Keles took off from the edge of the penalty area and scored into the corner for the lead once again (47th). A shot by Suttner landed in the arms of Kofler (48th). After that, WAC had its strongest phase: a free kick by Liendl was fished out of the corner by Pentz, and after the subsequent corner Tai Baribo put a header next to the goal (56.). Another shot by Liendl went over the goal (58.).

In the 66th minute, Austria counter-attacked through Keles, but Noah Ohio, who replaced Djuričin, failed to put the ball in the net. A shot by Keles was saved by Kofler (71.). Manfred Schmid made defensive changes: Vesel Demaku and Christian Schoissengeyr came on for Muharem Husković and Alexander Grünwald. A little later Dario Kreiker came on for Can Keles.

After that, the guests from Lavanttal dominated the game. A deflected shot by Dario Vizinger was off target, a Christopher Wernitznig effort was spectacularly turned over the crossbar by Patrick Pentz (77th, 87th). Noah Ohio hit the bar after a counter-attack - but probably from an offside position (90th). WAC goalkeeper Alex Kofler, who had rushed forward with the team, had the last chance of the game after a free kick, but shot well over the goal. Austria carried the victory over time and remains unblemished in the spring.

FK Austria Wien - RZ Pellets WAC 2:1 (1:1)

Austria: Pentz; Martins, Handl, Galvão, Suttner; Martel, Braunöder; Keles (78. Kreiker), Grünwald (70. Schoissengeyr), Husković (70. Demaku); Djuričin (60. Ohio)

WAC: Kofler; Novak, Baumgartner, Lochoshvili (6. Jasic, 62. Peretz), Dedić; Leitgeb (78. Veratschnig); Wernitznig, Liendl, Taferner; Röcher (62. Vizinger), Baribo

Goals: Djuričin (13.), Keles (47.); Liendl (26.)

Yellow cards: none

Generali-Arena, referee Alexander Harkam, 9,005 spectators