Only 1-1 against Austria Lustenau

In the third game of the qualifying group, the Violets were again only able to pick up a point. Dominik Fitz gave Austria Vienna the lead with a penalty, but Lukas Fridrikas equalised - also with a penalty.

Frans Krätzig replaced the suspended Moritz Wels in the center of midfield, while Hakim Guenouche started on the left wing. Otherwise, coach Michael Wimmer made no changes to the starting eleven.

Lustenau coach Andreas Heraf was without two key defensive players, with the suspended Kennedy Boateng and the injured Matthias Maak being replaced by Matheus Lins and Tobias Berger. Two attacking players, Pius Grabher and Yadaly Diaby, were also new to the starting eleven.

Gruber hit the bar, no goal scored

As expected, Austria from Lustenau played deep and our Austria made the game. It became dangerous for the first time when Manfred Fischer took a shot and missed the corner of the net by just a few millimeters (13'). A shot from Andreas Gruber after a feed from Hakim Guenouche was blocked (16'), and shortly afterwards the bar prevented the Austria striker from scoring his 10th goal of the season. Reinhold Ranftl delivered the perfect cross, but Gruber's header only hit the aluminum (17'). Ranftl and Guenouche missed the target with long-range shots (21', 25'), Muharem Husković was one step too late against Domenik Schierl (26').

After half an hour, Heraf had to make another defensive change. Luca Meisl - Matteo Meisl's brother - had to leave the pitch with a knee injury and Fabian Gmeiner came into the game. A shot from Dominik Fitz went over the goal and Fischer also shot over shortly before the break (35', 45'). Fischer and Krätzig saw yellow in the first half and are both suspended for next week's match against WAC.

Fitz scored from the spot, Fridrikas too

In the second half, the game moved towards the packed east stand, but nothing changed. With over 80% possession, Austria tried to break through the visitors' 11-man defense. In the 56th minute, Ranftl went down in the penalty area after a Fitz cross and referee Stefan Ebner awarded a penalty after an on-field review. Dominik Fitz converted confidently. 1-0 for Austria Vienna.

Muki Husković had two shots (60', 69'), but both were blocked and replaced shortly afterwards by Romeo Vučić. A shot from Fitz was too central and the home side continued to dominate the game even after taking the lead (71'). Out of nowhere, the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when Vučić hit Lukas Fridrikas as he attempted to clear the ball in his own penalty area. Fridrikas stepped up himself and gave Christian Früchtl no chance - Lustenau made it 1-1 completely unexpectedly.

Alexander Schmidt replaced Andreas Gruber for the final minutes. A final, long cross from Hakim Guenouche reached Dominik Fitz, who put the ball just past the second post (90+7'). The game ended 1-1.

Austria Vienna - Austria Lustenau 1:1 (0:0)

Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Martins, Galvão; Ranftl, Fischer, Krätzig, Guenouche; Gruber (83' Schmidt), Fitz, Husković (70' Vučić)

Lustenau: Schierl; Anderson, Meisl (30' Gmeiner), Lins, Grujčić, Berger; Chato (63' Mikic), Grabher (72' Tiefenbach), Gorzel (72' Rhein); Diaby (72' Bobzien), Fridrikas

Goals: Fitz (58', penalty); Fridrikas (77', penalty)

Yellow cards: Krätzig (33'), Fischer (41'); Anderson (11'), Chato (58'), Lins (66'), Grujčić (85')

Generali-Arena, referee Stefan Ebner, 11,242 spectators