Victory against Hartberg and top of the qualifying group

With goals by Patrick Wimmer and Dominik Fitz, Austria Wine was in the lead at the break. Rajko Rep scored after the break, Manprit Sarkaria scored the final goal - 3-1.

After recovering from his illness, Peter Stöger was back and made three changes compared to the defeat in Altach: In the back four, Michael Madl and Markus Suttner replaced Johannes Handl and Andreas Poulsen. Vesel Demaku made a comeback in defensive midfield after his shoulder injury. Stephan Zwierschitz took a seat on the bench.

Hartberg coach Markus Schopp sent Andreas Lienhart and Manfred Gollner onto the pitch instead of Julius Ertlthaler and Sascha Horvath. Stefan Rakowitz, Jürgen Heil, Tobias Kainz and Stefan Rakowitz were not in the squad due to a positive corona test.

Many chances and a 2-0 lead for the “Violets”

Austria Wien took command from the start, Christoph Monschein had the first chance in the second minute but shot just past the far corner. A header by Dominik Fitz after a cross by Markus Suttner went over the goal, a shot by the midfielder was blocked (3’, 9’). Christoph Monschein had more chances: in a counterattack he shot next to the goal after assist by Manprit Sarkaria, the second chance was thwarted by Rene Swete (19’, 21’). In the 27^th minute Austria Wien took the lead. Patrick Wimmer failed on Swete after a pass by Vesel Demaku, but utilized the follow-up shot with his head and scored the 1-0.

Hartberg tried it with a shot by Christian Klem, Patrick Pentz was on the spot (31’). Sarkaria headed the ball over the goal after a cross by Georg Teigl, Swete parried a shot by Fitz (33’, 38’). After a counterattack, Monschein just missed a cross by Fitz (40’). A little later, Dominik Fitz increased to 2-0 - he scored a free kick from the edge of the penalty area beautifully into the corner (42’). Markus Suttner also stepped up to a promising free kick, but his shot went past the far corner (45’+1’).

Austria Wien was in the lead after a strong first half.

Hartberg makes it exciting, Sarkaria seals the deal

Markus Schopp started with three new players: Julius Ertlthaler, Seifedin Chabbi and Samson Tijani. Little changed in the game for the time being: Patrick Wimmer prevailed twice on the left, Hartberg’s back team prevented crosses to Christoph Monschein twice (48’, 57’). The guests had a chance after a corner, but Patrick Pentz brilliantly blocked a shot by Ertlthaler (61’). Then a duel between Sarkaria and Swete developed - three times the “Violet” failed on Hartberg’s goalkeeper, once with a free kick, twice in a one-on-one (65’, 70’, 70’).

The missed chances should take revenge, Hartberg scored out of nowhere through Rajko Rep – 2-1 (73’). An offside goal by Seifedin Chabbi was rightly denied, a header by the striker missed the goal (76’).

For Austria Wien, Andreas Poulsen, Stephan Zwierschitz, Marco Djuricin and Johannes Handl came into the game during the second half. Marco Djuricin tried a long shot, but it was too weak (83’). A shot by Rep went over the goal (87’), on the other side Rene Swete prevented the next big chance for the “Violets” by Marco Djuricin (89’). In the 92^nd minute Manprit Sarkaria finally sealed the deal after assist by Dominik Fitz, the redeeming 3-1 had fallen.

In the end, Austria Wien had fired 21 shots, 11 of which were on goal. With the well-deserved victory against Hartberg, Austria Wien took back the lead in the qualifying group of the tipico Bundesliga.

FK Austria Wien - TSV Prolactal Hartberg 3-1 (2-0)

Austria Wien: Pentz; Teigl (85’ Handl), Madl, Palmer-Brown, Suttner (71’ Poulsen); Demaku, Martel; Wimmer (71’ Zwierschitz), Sarkaria, Fitz; Monschein (82’ Djuricin)

Hartberg: Swete; Lienhart (46’ Ertlthaler), Gollner (75’ Rotter), Luckeneder, Klem; Horvat (46’ Tijani), Nimaga; Flecker, Rep, Ried (66’ Schmerböck); Tadic (46’ Chabbi)

Goals: Wimmer (27’), Fitz (42’), Sarkaria (90’+2’); Rep (73’)

Yellow cards: Palmer-Brown (49’); Nimaga (63’), Tijani (65’)

Generali-Arena, referee Andreas Heiß, no spectators due to the COVID-19 regulation