Unchallenged 2-0 home win against Spaeri FC

An early and a late goal decided the first leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League in favour of Austria Wien. Manfred Fischer scored in the 8th minute to give the Violets the lead. The woodwork prevented the Violets from scoring three more times before Dominik Fitz scored the well-deserved 2-0 final score from the penalty spot in the 91st minute. The second leg will take place in Tbilisi in a week's time.

Stephan Helm made one change to the team that played in the last friendly against Hertha BSC for the first competitive game of the season. Abubakr Barry started alongside captain Manfred Fischer in defensive midfield. Noah Botić started on the bench, with Manprit Sarkaria, Dominik Fitz and Maurice Malone leading the attack. New signing Kang Hee Lee started on the right of the back three, as he did against Berlin. Philipp Wiesinger was out injured, while Johannes Eggestein was not yet in the squad.

Football Club Spaeri, founded in 2017, was allowed to participate in a UEFA competition for the first time after its surprise cup victory over Dinamo Tbilisi. Coach Anzor Kighuradze sent his team – leaders of the Georgian Erovnuli Liga 2 – onto the pitch at the Franz Horr Stadium in a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation.

Fischer with the early lead

As expected, the home team took control from the start in pouring rain, but it was the visitors from Tbilisi who had the first chance. A dangerous shot from Papuna Poniava on the wet ground narrowly missed Samuel Şahin-Radlinger's goal (5'). Maurice Malone powered through on the left, but his cross was deflected for a corner. The corner found its way to Hakim Guenouche, whose cross was converted by Manfred Fischer to give his side an important early 1-0 lead (8').

In the 13th minute, Spaeri had another chance due to a lapse in concentration in the defence, but Giorgi Tsetskhladze shot well over the goal from close range. After a counterattack via Dominik Fitz, Guenouche shot from Barry's cross and hit the crossbar (16'). Just a minute later, a header from Kang Hee Lee crashed against the crossbar – bad luck for the Violets (17').

Austria pushed the Georgians deep into their penalty area. A shot from Lee was deflected for a corner, and another attempt from Barry missed the goal (18', 23'). Guenouche narrowly missed a cross from Sarkaria (29'). After a short breather, Barry took heart, but his long-range shot went over the goal (41'). With the score at 1-0, both teams went into the dressing rooms.

Fitzi scored from the spot

The Violets came out strong after the half-time break, with Malone's shot being blocked after just 22 seconds. In the 49th minute, Sarkaria and Malone were denied by goalkeeper Bukhuti Putkaradze. A shot from Malone after Fischer and Barry won the ball narrowly missed the far post (57'). Hakim Guenouche had to be substituted due to back problems and was replaced by 20-year-old Matteo Schablas. Noah Botić also came on to replace Maurice Malone in attack.

After a pass from Botić, Sarkaria had the chance to make it 2-0, but was prevented from scoring by Nikoloz Kentchadze (63'). Fitz and Sarkaria had further chances but missed the goal (69th, 70th). Putkaradze deflected a fantastic volley from Fitz onto the post – Austria's third shot to hit the woodwork (75th).

Kelvin Boateng came on for Manprit Sarkaria in the final quarter of an hour, and Putkaradze saved a good shot from Reinhold Ranftl (82'). Shortly before the end, Abu Barry made way for Sanel Šaljić. A handball by Maisuradze led to a penalty for Austria, which Dominik Fitz converted to make it a well-deserved 2-0 (90'+1).

That was also the final score, with Austria's 2-0 home win giving them a good starting point for the second leg in Georgia.

Austria Wien - Spaeri FC 2-0 (1-0)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Lee, Dragović, Plavotić; Guenouche (57' Schablas), Fischer, Barry (87' Šaljić), Ranftl; Sarkaria (78' Boateng), Malone (57' Botić), Fitz

Spaeri: Putkaradze; Chagunava, Kentchadze, Bunturi, Samkharadze; Tsurtsumia (78' Mathenjwa), Maisuradze; Barabadze (90+6' Chotalishvili), Poniava (83' Tsetskhladze), Gegiadze (90+5' Kobakhidze); Tsetskhladze (78' Basilashvili)

Goals: Fischer (8'), Fitz (90+1', penalty)

Yellow cards: Samkharadze (60'), Gegiadze (90+4')

Franz Horr Stadium, referee Martin Dohal (Slovakia), 8,951 spectators