Austria gets 1-1 draw at WAC

Austria took the lead shortly after the break through Aleksandar Jukić, but Dario Vizinger equalized for the Carinthians. Matthias Braunöder had to be replaced with an ankle injury, Eric Martel saw his 9th yellow card and will therefore miss the derby.

Manfred Schmid had to do without the stricken Lukas Mühl and the suspended Marvin Martins. Austria started with a back four, Vesel Demaku was given the place on the right wing. Christian Schoissengeyr started in central defense. Offensively, Can Keles and Romeo Vucic remained on the bench, Alexander Grünwald and Noah Ohio moved into the team.

WAC celebrated their first win in the champions group on Sunday, coach Robin Dutt made two changes to his starting eleven: Dominik Baumgartner replaced Michael Novak in defense, and Tai Baribo started at forward in place of Dario Vizinger.

Good game, but no (regulation) goal

The team learned shortly before the start of the game that the license for the upcoming season had been granted and started accordingly motivated. A first shot by Aleksandar Jukić was blocked on the line by Baumgartner. The ball then went through Alex Grünwald and Manfred Fischer to Christian Schoissengeyr, who beat Alexander Kofler, but was just offside (14th). After good crosses from Markus Suttner, Ohio and Fischer failed to beat the Carinthian goalkeeper (20th, 22nd). Manfred Fischer was stopped by Baumgartner after a great combination over several stations, a cross from Vesel Demaku was intercepted by Kofler (28th, 34th).

Austria already had four corners and five shots on goal after half an hour, had more possession and a better duel quota, but could not score yet. A shot by Jukić was too central (39th). A good game of the Violets was unfortunately not yet rewarded with a goal — 0-0 at the break.

Jukić put the Violets in the lead, but Vizinger equalized

Wolfsberger AC came back stronger from the break, but with the first offensive action in the second half, Austria managed to take the well-deserved lead: After interplay with Alex Grünwald, a perfect cross from Markus Suttner landed with the completely free-standing Aleksandar Jukić, who pushed the ball over the line — 0:1 in the 51st minute.

After an hour, Manfred Schmid brought on Can Keles and Marco Djuričin for Grünwald and Ohio. At WAC, Dario Vizinger came on for Tai Baribo and the striker was to score seconds after his substitution. After a misunderstanding in the defense, Patrick Pentz was able to parry a shot from Michael Liendl, but the team goalkeeper was powerless on Vizinger's follow-up shot — 1-1 (64th). Johannes Handl took the place of Vesel Demaku on the right side of the back four, Matthias Braunöder had to be replaced by Domink Fitz due to an ankle injury. Another goal by Dario Vizinger was disallowed due to an offside position (75th). Fitz got the better of Luka Lochoshvili on the counterattack, his great shot was blocked by Kofler with an equally strong save (77th). A flick from Jukić went just wide, a free kick from Fitz was missed by Schoissengeyr by a hair's breadth (80th, 86th).

In the final phase, Eric Martel received his 9th yellow card and will miss the derby. The score remained unchanged, Austria and WAC separated 1-1.

RZ Pellets WAC - FK Austria Wien 1:1 (0:0)

WAC: Kofler; Jasic, Baumgartner, Lochoshvili, Dedić; Leitgeb; Taferner, Liendl, Peretz; Röcher, Baribo (63rd Vizinger)

Austria: Pentz; Demaku (68th Handl), Schoissengeyr, Galvão, Suttner; Martel, Braunöder (74th Fitz); Jukić, Grünwald (63rd Keles), Fischer; Ohio (63rd Djuričin)

Goals: Vizinger (64th); Jukić (51st)

Yellow cards: Peretz (62nd), Baumgartner (83rd), Taferner (85th); Grünwald (62nd), Handl (77th), Martel (81st).

Lavanttal Arena, referee Markus Hameter, 2,800 spectators