Home win against Sturm - Austria third!

An unleashed Austria defeated SK Sturm 4-2 in the final round of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga to end a sensational season in third place and secure a place in a European group stage. Eric Martel, Manfred Fischer, Dominik Fitz and Can Keles made the Veilchen happy, Jakob Jantscher and Manprit Sarkaria scored for the runners-up from Graz. Markus Suttner and Alexander Grünwald celebrated a fitting farewell.

Manfred Schmid saw no reason for a change in his starting eleven after the win at Austria from Klagenfurt. Vesel Demaku was sent off before the match and was no longer in the match squad.

Sturm coach Christian Ilzer took the match very seriously and sent a very strong squad into the last round. Jon Gorenc-Stankovič and Alexandar Borkovic were not involved this time after the clear defeat against WAC, David Affengruber and Otar Kiteishvili took their places.

Martel and Fischer made the stadium shake

Austria were clearly in control of the game at the start, but neither side was able to create any clear goal-scoring chances in the first quarter of an hour. But it was not to stay that way: After a corner by captain Markus Suttner, Eric Martel headed the ball into the net for a much-celebrated 1:0 (21st). But unfortunately, Sturm Graz also converted their first chance to score: A cross from Jusuf Gazibegović was deflected right in front of the legs of Jakob Jantscher, who pushed the ball over the line (27.).

But the game continued to go from strength to strength and just two minutes later the Violets were back in the lead. Eric Martel won the ball in midfield and Matthias Braunöder sent Manfred Fischer on his way. He saw Jörg Siebenhandl a little bit far in front of his goal and lifted the Graz goalkeeper - the sold-out Generali-Arena was upside down (29th)!

A shot by Braunöder was blocked for a corner, Suttner brought it to the middle, Eric Martel put the header this time just past the goal (39.). Austria ran the ball and the opponent well and went into the half-time break with the narrow lead.

Fitz and Keles added to the lead - a wonderful day!

The second half began a bit calmer, a counterattack by the tireless Noah Ohio could only be cleared with difficulty by the visitors' back line (55). The runners-up became stronger and had good chances to equalise through Jakob Jantscher and Gregory Wüthrich (61st, 64th). After 64 minutes a legend left the field - Alexander Grünwald got his well-deserved farewell applause. Dominik Fitz came on for our number 10 and a little later Marco Djuričin replaced Noah Ohio. As in Klagenfurt, Manfred Schmid again proved to have a golden hand. 72nd minute - Marco Djuričin laid on for Dominik Fitz, who scored from 20 metres into the corner - 3:1 for Austria.

After 85 minutes it was also the end for Markus Suttner, in tears a great Austria captain left the pitch. Johannes Handl came into the game. Can Keles replaced Aleksandar Jukić and made the decision a few seconds later - 4:1 for the Veilchen, what a day (85.). Manprit Sarkaria scored in the 89th minute to make it 4:2, but that did not change the outcome of the game. Austria beat SK Sturm and occupy third place in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga 2021/22.

FK Austria Wien - SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz 4:2 (2:1)

Austria: Pentz; Martins, Mühl, Galvão, Suttner (84. Handl); Braunöder, Martel; Jukić (84. Keles), Grünwald (65. Fitz), Fischer; Ohio (68. Djuričin).

Sturm: Siebenhandl; Gazibegović (78. Ingolitsch), Affengruber, Wüthrich, Dante (60. Kuen); Ljubic (46. Jäger); Kiteishvili (78. Wels), Sarkaria, Prass (78. Kronberger); Højlund, Jantscher

Goals: Martel (21.), Fischer (29.), Fitz (72.), Keles (85.); Jantscher (27.), Sarkaria (89.)

Yellow cards: Fischer (69.); Kiteishvili (49.), Wüthrich (77.)

Generali-Arena, referee Markus Hameter, 14,300 spectators (sold out)