Not for the faint-hearted – 4-3 defeat in Ostrava

Austria suffered a 3-4 defeat to Baník Ostrava in a spectacular match in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Maurice Malone gave the Violets an early lead, but Baník turned the game around with goals from Michal Kohút, David Buchta and Daniel Holzer. Austria fought back with goals from Dominik Fitz and Manprit Sarkaria, but Erik Prekop scored the final goal to make it 4-3. Everything is still possible for the Violets in the second leg in a week's time.

Johannes Eggestein made his starting debut for Austria, while Manprit Sarkaria started on the bench. Kang Hee Lee replaced Tin Plavotić in the back three, but otherwise head coach Stephan Helm left his team unchanged. Taeseok Lee is not yet eligible to play in the current Conference League qualifying round.

Baník Ostrava drew 1-1 with Dukla Prague on Sunday, with coach Paul Hapal making four changes to his starting line-up. Michal Frydrych and Matěj Chaluš were new in central defence, Daniel Holzer and Michal Kohút in midfield.

Dream start for the Violets, but Baník turned the game around

The game started like a fairy tale, with Maurice Malone putting the ball past goalkeeper Dominik Holec after a pass from Dominik Fitz to give Austria the lead after just four minutes.

Baník responded with a shot from Matěj Šín that hit the outside of the post, but Samuel Şahin-Radlinger would have been there to save it (7'). Our goalkeeper had more trouble with a header from Matěj Chaluš after a corner, but made a confident save (15'). In between, Fitz took a shot at the far corner but missed narrowly (13'). Manfred Fischer reached a failed back pass from the Czechs and laid the ball off to Fitz, who was denied by Holec (19'). Erik Prekop headed over the goal (25'). Fitz hit the crossbar with the outside of his foot after good work from Malone, and the game ebbed and flowed (34').

Unfortunately, the Czechs equalised in the 36th minute, Michal Kohút scoring after good work from Prekop. Malone shot over from a good position, while at the other end, a shot from Kohút grazed the post (37th, 42nd). After 45 minutes, the game had turned around, with David Buchta scoring with a long-range shot after a loss of possession in midfield. Baník Ostrava led 2-1 at half-time.

Four more goals after the break

After the break, it was the Czechs who got off to a flying start. Daniel Holzer scored unmarked to make it 3-1 (49'). Şahin-Radlinger saved a shot from Pojezný, and Malone was prevented from scoring at the last moment on the counterattack (51'). A shot from Reinhold Ranftl went over the goal (55'), after which Stephan Helm made a double substitution. Manprit Sarkaria replaced Johannes Eggestein, and Johannes Handl came on for Manfred Fischer. Kang Hee Lee moved up into defensive midfield.

Austria pressed hard for the equaliser after the substitutions. Malone finished a little too hastily after a pass from Abubakr Barry and shot over the bar (62'). Fitz sent Malone on his way, whose cross was shot over the bar by Sarkaria from a difficult position (65'). Just a few seconds later, the same combination was repeated, but this time Holec in the Czech goal made the save (66'). Shortly afterwards, however, Malone failed to beat Holec after a pass from Hakim Guenouche, but Dominik Fitz converted the rebound to make it 2-3 (67').

Matteo Schablas and Noah Botić came on for Guenouche and Malone. The Violets managed to equalise in a crazy European Cup fight. Şahin-Radlinger initiated the move with a precise pass to Lee, Fitz sent Sarkaria through, who calmly slotted home to make it 3-3 (79').

Aleksandar Dragović had to leave the field injured, with Tin Plavotić taking his place. Banik struck back, Erik Prekop heading home a free kick from Tomáš Rigo to put the home side back in front 4-3 in the 82nd minute.

In stoppage time, Botić headed wide from a Schablas cross, and Austria were ultimately unlucky to lose 4-3.

Baník Ostrava - Austria Wien 4-3 (2-1)

Baník: Holec; Frydrych, Chaluš (73. Lischka), Pojezný; Buchta (86. Rusnák), Rigo, Boula, Holzer (86. Kpozo); Šín (67. Frýdek), Prekop, Kohút (62. Zlatohlávek)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Lee, Dragović (81. Plavotić), Wiesinger; Ranftl, Fischer (57. Handl), Barry, Guenouche (76. Schablas); Fitz; Malone (76. Botić), Eggestein (57. Sarkaria)

Goals: Kohút (36.), Buchta (42.), Holzer (49.), Prekop (82.); Malone (4.), Fitz (67.), Sarkaria (79.)

Yellow cards: Boula (74.); Fischer (27.), Lee (54.), Schablas (81.)

Městský Stadion Ostrava, referee Mohammed Al-Hakim (Sweden), 12,567 spectators