No points in Carinthia: Austria lose 0–3 to WAC

A disappointing day in Wolfsberg saw Austria get off to a poor start to the new ADMIRAL Bundesliga season. The Violets never found their usual form in Carinthia and were beaten 0–3 by an efficient WAC side. Giacomo Vrioni scored twice from the penalty spot, whilst Aaron Sky Schwarz netted the third goal for the home side.

For the ADMIRAL Bundesliga opener at WAC, Stephan Helm made a few changes to the starting line-up again due to the packed start to the season: whilst the defence, centred around Kang Hee Lee, remained unchanged from the successful European Cup match against Liepāja (Aleksandar Dragović was still being rested due to his concussion), captain Manfred Fischer returned to the team in midfield in place of Philipp Maybach. Taeseok Lee replaced Matteo Schablas on the left wing. Up front, Moritz Wels, Johannes Eggestein and Sanel Šaljić started in place of Vasilije Marković, Kelvin Boateng and Julian Hettwer.

WAC manager Thomas Silberberger fielded the same team that had comfortably won 5–1 against FC Lauterach in the first round of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup. Only Nikolas Polster returned to his usual position in goal in place of Lukas Gütlbauer.

Wolfsberger AC took the lead

Both teams lined up in the same 3-4-3 formation, and the match began as a closely contested affair. Giacomo Vrioni went down in the penalty area following a challenge with Kang Hee Lee; at the other end, Johannes Eggestein was up against Raffael Behounek. On both occasions, referee Alexander Harkam correctly waved play on (11’, 13’). In between, Taeseok Lee had a shot from around 15 metres following a corner, but fired over the bar (12th minute). In the 16th minute, Ibrahim Buhari handled a deflected ball, and Giacomo Vrioni converted the resulting penalty – 1–0 to the hosts (18th minute). Just a few minutes later, Donis Avdijaj headed home a cross from Fabian Wohlmuth to make it 2–0, but the cross had been preceded by a foul on Taeseok Lee, which Harkam spotted following an on-field review – the goal was disallowed (21’).

In his 150th Bundesliga match, Samuel Şahin-Radlinger denied Vrioni another good chance for Wolfsberg; at the other end, Reinhold Ranftl, following a quick counter-attack, sent the ball just wide of the far post (32’, 36’). A cross from Ranftl to Eggestein was intercepted by the Carinthian defence (37'). Moritz Wels narrowly missed a long ball (44'). Towards the end of the first half, Austria grew stronger, but there was still room for improvement.

WAC added to their lead, Austria harmless

Both teams returned to the pitch with unchanged line-ups, and WAC added a second goal early on. Donis Avdijaj broke through in the centre, and Aaron Sky Schwarz found the net – after a double deflection – (49'). Marco Schabauer shot over the bar (53').

Austria couldn’t find their rhythm, so Stephan Helm made three substitutions in the 57th minute: Johannes Handl came on for Jonas Feddersen in the back three, whilst Kelvin Boateng and Julian Hettwer replaced Wels and Šaljić. Shortly after coming on, Boateng brought down Schwarz in the penalty area, resulting in another penalty for the Lavanttal side. Giacomo Vrioni converted confidently, making it 3–0 to WAC.

A header from Taseok Lee following a cross from Ranftl lacked power (66'). Daniel Nnodim came on for Florian Wustinger, whilst Hasan Deshishku replaced Johannes Eggestein. A shot from Hettwer went wide of the goal (87’), and Kang Hee Lee and Deshishku both hit the crossbar in the 88th minute. Şahin-Radlinger prevented a fourth goal against substitute Verhounig.

In the end, the Violets suffered a 0–3 defeat at WAC. The Carinthians extended their unbeaten run at home to nine matches, whilst Austria failed to score for the first time in 17 away matches in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga.

Wolfsberger AC – Austria Wien 3–0 (1–0)

WAC: Polster; Behounek, Diabaté, Wimmer; Wohlmuth, Sulzner, Agyemang (71’ Mamageishvili), Schwarz (71’ Renner); Schabauer (60’ Verhounig), Vrioni (79’ Pink), Avdijaj (79’ Karamoko)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Buhari, Kang Hee Lee, Feddersen (57’ Handl); Ranftl, Wustinger (70’ Nnodim), Fischer, Taseok Lee; Wels (57’ Boateng), Eggestein (80’ Deshishku), Šaljić (57’ Hettwer)

Goals: Vrioni (18’, penalty, 63’, penalty), Schwarz (49’)

Yellow cards: Wimmer (31’), Polster (89’); Nnodim (85’)

Lavanttal Arena, referee Alexander Harkam, 4,930 spectators