Crazy final phase

Austria Vienna vs Altach – LIVE from 19:30

Austria captain Manfred Fischer can't believe it ...

(Bild: GEPA)

Vienna Austria and SCR Altach shared the points in the Bundesliga on Friday evening! The qualifying group leaders were held to a 2-2 (1-1) draw by a compact Vorarlberg side in front of their home crowd at the Generali Arena. 

Austrian remain number 1 in the lower play-off with 26 points, but their lead over WAC (22) could now shrink to one point. Altacher (17) moved up to 4th place. Muharem Huskovic (25) and Fisnik Asllani (85) gave the hosts the lead twice, Mike-Steven Bähre via a penalty (31) and Lukas Fadinger (88) secured a point for the visitors. The announced reaction of the "Veilchen" after the 0:1 defeat at WSG Tirol thus failed to materialize, at least in terms of results. Austria continue their campaign next Friday with a visit to bottom-of-the-table Lustenau, while SCR Altach host WAC the following Saturday.

Lucas Galvao was fit again in time for the Vienna side and returned to central defense together with Johannes Handl. For the Rheindörfler, Standfest had to fall back on his third keeper due to injuries to Dejan Stojanovic (metacarpal fracture) and Tobias Schützenauer (muscular problems): 24-year-old Alexander Eckmayr made his Bundesliga debut. In defense, Pascal Estrada made his first start in the top flight, replacing the suspended Constantin Reiner. Gustavo Santos started in attack for Atdhe Nuhiu.

While there was little to get excited about in the first 25 minutes, the game suddenly picked up pace. The hosts played quickly and deep through Dominik Fitz and Andreas Gruber, who only hit the bar from an acute angle. Frans Krätzig almost fumbled the rebound, but Huskovic netted from close range to take the lead. However, Altachern immediately responded with the help of Galvao, who failed to clear the ball in the penalty area.

(Bild: GEPA)

The Brazilian first shot at the onrushing Lukas Fadinger and then pulled him off his feet (29'). Referee Jakob Semler did not initially point to the penalty spot, but changed his mind after the VAR intervened. Bähre did not miss it and scored his fifth goal of the season.

After the change of ends, Altach continued to make pinpricks on the counter-attack. First, substitute Christian Gebauer narrowly missed the target (59'). After a quickly taken free-kick, Jan Jurcec ran alone towards Austria keeper Christian Früchtl, but hesitated too long. Krätzig, who rushed back, finally cleared the situation (60'). Both sides were now playing with an open goal. Asllani, who had been substituted, scored the supposed "lucky punch" for Austria in the closing stages when he headed a Galvao cross into the far corner.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

However, the Vorarlberg side equalized again. While Jurcec initially only hit the bar (87'), Fadinger did better after a fine assist from Bahloul. It was Austria's fourth draw since the points were shared and Altach's fifth. The season balance between the two clubs remains even, with one 2-1 win and two draws (1-1, 2-2).

The result:
FK Austria Wien - SCR Altach 2:2 (1:1)
Vienna, Generali Arena, 11,409 spectators, SR Semler

Goals: 1:0 (25.) Huskovic, 1:1 (31.) Bähre (penalty), 2:1 (85.) Asllani, 2:2 (88.) Fadinger

Yellow cards: Galvao, Handl, Huskovic, Fitz or Ouedraogo, Jäger, Bähre, Lukacevic

Austria Wien: Früchtl - Handl, Plavotic, Galvao - Ranftl, Fischer, Wels (70. Polster), Krätzig - Gruber (78. Asllani), Fitz (90. Potzmann), Huskovic (78. Vucic)
Altach: Eckmayr - Estrada, L. Gugganig, Koller - Jurcec (87. Bahloul), Jäger, Demaku, Ouedraogo (58. Lukacevic) - Bähre (87. Nuhiu), Santos (58. Gebauer), Fadinger