Bitter home defeat against Salzburg

Austria was beaten 1:2 in front of almost 10,000 spectators at the Generali Arena. Junior Adamu gave Salzburg the lead after a clear miscue, Aleksandar Jukić equalized with a penalty. Luka Sučić made it 1:2 as a goal by Dominik Fitz in injury time was disallowed.

Manfred Schmid changed a few positions in his team after the narrow defeat in Graz. In a 3-4-3 system, Eric Martel started in place of Christian Schoissengeyr in central defense. Marvin Martins was healthy again and replaced Leonardo Ivkić on the right wing. On offense, Schmid relied on the substitutes from the previous week, Can Keles and Aleksandar Jukić. In attack, Romeo Vucic made his starting debut. Alexander Grünwald was not in the squad due to the birth of his child, while Dominik Fitz made his first appearance of the year.

Red Bull Salzburg won 6:0 in Klagenfurt the week before, coach Matthias Jaissle made two changes: Kamil Piątkowski and Karim Adeyemi replaced Oumar Solet and Noah Okafor.

Goalless at the break - Austria well in the game

As in the last encounters with Red Bull Salzburg, Austria managed to keep the game open due to a high duel rate. Salzburg had the first chance in the 15th minute, Junior Adamu shot over the goal after a corner by Nicolas Seiwald. After half an hour Austria also came to the fore offensively, after a cross from Marvin Martins Romeo Vukic headed over. A shot by Manfred Fischer was parried by Philipp Köhn in the goal of the guests (34., 36.). Mohamed Camara fired the last shot of the first half already in stoppage time. The ball went over the goal, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca whistled for half-time - 0:0.

Dramatic second half with bitter ending

Just like against Sturm, Austria had to concede an early goal against Salzburg after the restart, but let's take it one step at a time: After a foul by Lucas Galvão on Nicolás Capaldo, referee Ciochirca ruled for a penalty, VAR Rene Eisner moved the scene outside the penalty area (49th). The free kick was taken by Luka Sučić, Capaldo headed against the crossbar. The referee team mistakenly decided on a corner kick. The corner from Seiwald was extended by Piątkowski to Junior Adamu, who pushed the ball over the line for 0:1 (52.).

Austria did not let itself be upset by the wrong decision and became stronger offensively. After a cross from Markus Suttner, Lucas Galvão had a header, but it was too central (54.). In the duel with Aleksandar Jukić, Kamil Piątkowski caused a handball, this time there was the penalty. Jukić stepped up and gave Köhn no chance - 1:1 in the 65th minute.

Martins missed a corner kick by Suttner by a hair's breadth (69th), then Manfred Schmid brought on Noah Ohio for Romeo Vucic. Unfortunately, it was again the serial champions from Salzburg who took the lead: substitutes Zlatko Junuzović and Noah Okafor brought the ball to Luka Sučić, who scored with a well-considered shot to make it 1:2 (78.). A header by Benjamin Šeško and a shot by Nicolas Seiwald were saved by Patrick Pentz (82nd, 84th).

Dominik Fitz came on for Can Keles for the final offensive and he took a free kick from an acute angle in stoppage time after a foul on Jukić. The ball went into the goal, the stadium was upside down, but the magnificent goal was not to count - Noah Ohio obstructed the Salzburg goalkeeper from an offside position. Austria had to admit defeat 1:2, next week there will be a chance for revenge in Salzburg.

FK Austria Wien - FC Red Bull Salzburg 1:2 (0:0)

Austria: Pentz; Mühl, Martel, Galvão; Martins, Fischer, Braunöder, Suttner; Keles (86. Fitz), Vucic (74. Ohio), Jukić

Salzburg: Köhn; Kristensen, Piątkowski (77. Solet), Wöber, Ulmer; Capaldo (74. Junuzović), Camara (58. Kjærgaard), Sučić, Seiwald; Adamu (59. Okafor), Adeyemi (58. Šeško)

Goals: Jukić (65th, penalty); Adamu (52nd), Sučić (78th).

Yellow cards: Braunöder (90.+5); Camara (43.)

Generali-Arena, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca, 9,659 spectators