Narrow defeat in test match against Hertha BSC

Austria suffered a 1-2 defeat to German second division side Hertha BSC in a good test match at the end of their summer preparations. Julian Eitschberger scored to give Hertha the lead, Manprit Sarkaria equalised with a dream free kick. Marko Raguž missed a penalty, and Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scored in injury time to seal an unfortunate final score.

Austria welcomed Hertha BSC from Berlin in their final friendly match before the start of the new season. Samuel Şahin-Radlinger started in goal, with Tin Plavotić and our new signing from South Korea, Kang Hee Lee, playing alongside Aleksandar Dragović in a back three. Hakim Guenouche, Manfred Fischer and Reinhold Ranftl started in midfield. In attack, the fans were delighted to see the return of Manprit Sarkaria and the new striker, Australian Noah Botić, who lined up alongside Dominik Fitz and Maurice Malone.

Philipp Maybach, Konstantin Aleksa and Sanel Šaljić played for the Young Violets in the run-up to the game, while Luca Pazourek and Philipp Wiesinger were absent through injury.

7-1 shots on goal, 0-1 goals at half-time

Austria got off to a good start in their final test match, showing great enthusiasm. Noah Botić hit the outside post after a nice combination between Manprit Sarkaria and Maurice Malone, but the move was ruled offside (13'). Just a minute later, Botić appeared in front of the Berlin goal after a pass from Kang Hee Lee, but Tjark Ernst in the visitors' goal was able to parry the ball (14'). A header from Botić in the 32nd minute posed no problem for Ernst, and shortly afterwards the Berlin goalkeeper deflected a shot from Malone after a pass from Dominik Fitz for a corner.

Hertha BSC took the lead with their first shot on goal, Julian Eitschberger scoring from the edge of the penalty area. A Berlin striker blocked Şahin-Radlinger's view from an offside position, but referee Cagri Demir did not penalise him (38').

After a corner, Botić had another chance following a pass from Aleksandar Dragović, but shot over the goal (44'). A header from Tin Plavotić was cleared off the line, and the score remained 0-1 at half-time.

Mani scores with a dream free kick, Hertha in injury time

Stephan Helm brought on Abubakr Barry for Noah Botić at half-time, with Sarkaria moving up a position. In the 52nd minute, Sarkaria took a free kick from the right, curling the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1 – a dream goal for the returning player.

Kang Hee Lee, who made an impressive and very strong debut in front of over 7,000 spectators at the Generali Arena, made way for Johannes Handl in the 61st minute. With 15 minutes to go, there was a quadruple substitution: Ifeanyi-Arthur Ndukwe, Matteo Schablas, Marko Raguž and Kelvin Boateng replaced Plavotić, Guenouche, Fitz and Sarkaria. Ndukwe saved the Violets from conceding a goal in the 77th minute with a great defensive action, and Johannes Handl cleared a ball off the line (82'). At the other end, Dardai fouled Boateng in the penalty area, and Marko Raguž stepped up to take the penalty. Ernst saved the low shot, and the score remained 1-1 (83').

Ernst also came out on top in a duel with Maurice Malone (84'). The last substitution took place in the 89th minute, with Dejan Radonjić replacing Reini Ranftl. Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson scored the 2-1 for the visitors in injury time. A final shot from Barry was too central, and Austria had to admit defeat to Hertha BSC 1-2 despite 11-4 shots on goal.

Austria Wien – Hertha BSC 1-2 (0-1)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Lee (61. Handl), Dragović, Plavotić (74. Ndukwe); Guenouche (74. Schablas), Fischer, Ranftl (89. Radonjić); Fitz (74. Raguž), Sarkaria (74. Boateng); Malone, Botić (46. Barry)

Hertha BSC: Ernst; Eitschberger (58. Sessa), Dardai (85. Gottschalk), Gechter, Leistner (58. Kolbe); Lum (46. Winkler), Jensen (46. Thorsteinsson); Karbownik (85. Telib), Krattenmacher (64. Grönning), Cuisance; Reese (85. Hoffmann)

Goals: Sarkaria (52.); Eitschberger (38.), Thorsteinsson (90.+1)

Yellow cards: Dragović (39'), Raguž (84'); Dardai (62')

Generali Arena, referee Cagri Demir, 7,211 spectators