2-0 - important away victory in St. Pölten

Austria Wien secured three points in the battle for the championship group with early goals from Johannes Handl and Christoph Monschein. The gap to sixth-placed WSG Tirol was reduced to one point.

Stephan Zwierschitz started on the left in the back four, Patrick Wimmer moved forward to the midfield. Manprit Sarkaria and Dominik Fitz started behind the strikers Benedikt Pichler and Christoph Monschein, Aleksandar Jukić initially took a seat on the bench.

SKN St. Pölten coach Robert Ibertsberger started with a five-man defense, Taylor Booth and Dor Hugy were new in the starting line-up.

Handl and Monschein scored before the break

After a corner Michael Steinwender had the first chance of the game, his header hit the crossbar (6’). Austria Wien took the lead: Dominik Fitz kicked a free kick in the middle, Lukas Tursch extended, Johannes Handl was spot on and scored with a header – 0-1 (15’). Just two minutes later, Patrick Wimmer took the ball, after a nice combination over Dominik Fitz and Benedikt Pichler Christoph Monschein scored the 0-2 - a very successful start (17’).

Stephan Zwierschitz continued playing after a collision, St. Pölten's Robert Ljubicic was not able to continue because of a head injury. Patrick Pentz saved a shot by Michael Blauensteiner, on the other side Christoph Riegler defended a finish by Manprit Sarkaria (23’, 24’). Alexander Schmidt tried twice, Pentz parried both his shots (25’, 33’). Austria Wien had chances through standard situations, all by Dominik Fitz: Patrick Wimmer’s shot went over the goal after a free kick, Eric Martel and Christoph Schösswendter came to finishes after corners, but missed the goal (35’, 38’, 40’). The half time break started with two goals for the “Violets”.

They took the victory home

In the 51^st minute, after a free kick by Dominik Fitz, the “Violets” scored their third goal, which was not recognized due to an offside position. After an hour, Peter Stöger brought Thomas Ebner for Christoph Monschein. Michael Madl replaced Christoph Schösswendter.

In the second half, Austria Wien left the game to the Lower Austrians, but the hosts were unable to create any chances for a long time. After a pass by Fitz Benedikt Pichler appeared in front of Riegler, but failed on St. Pölten’s goalkeeper (79’). For Pichler and Fitz the game was over shortly afterwards, Aleksandar Jukić and Marco Djuricin replaced them. Substitute George Davies had the only chance to score in the 85^th minute, but as so often Patrick Pentz remained the winner. Riegler parried the last shot by Manprit Sarkaria (90’+1’). Austria Wien left the field with the fourth victory in 2021 and is well prepared for the derby next Sunday.

spusu SKN St. Pölten - FK Austria Wien 0-2 (0-2)

St. Pölten: Riegler; Blauensteiner, Steinwender, Drescher (83’ Majnovics), Muhamedbegovic, Schulz; Booth, Tursch, Ljubicic (25’ Pokorny); Schmidt (63’ Tetteh), Hugi (63’ Davies)

Austria Wien: Pentz; Teigl, Schösswendter (64’ Madl), Handl, Zwierschitz; Fitz (83’ Jukić), Martel, Sarkaria, Wimmer; Pichler (83’ Djuricin), Monschein (60’ Ebner)

Goals: Handl (15’), Monschein (17’)

Yellow card: Booth (39’)

NV Arena, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca, no spectators due to the COVID-19 regulation