Coach effect

Blau-Weiß Linz against Austria Wien – LIVE from 5pm

Fitz scored from the penalty spot to make it 1:0.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Vienna's Austria finished the Bundesliga qualifying group in second place. The favorites recorded a well-deserved 2:1 win at promoted team Blau-Weiß Linz on Saturday in the last round in the debut of interim coach Christian Wegleitner, but remained two points behind WAC, who won 3:1 against WSG Tirol. As a result, the Viennese side will have to play away to Lavanttal in the semi-finals of the league's European Cup play-off on Tuesday (7pm).

Austria converted their superiority into goals from Dominik Fitz (12th/penalty) and Alexander Schmidt (54th) and, after four games without a win and three defeats, got back to winning ways. The Linzers were noticeably out of steam at times, but thanks to a goal from Simon Pirkl (78') there was still an exciting final phase. Despite the defeat, they can look back on a satisfying debut season in the top flight thanks to third place. For the Viennese or the WAC, the play-off final against Hartberg or Austria Klagenfurt on May 24 and 28 will be about the last international starting place.

Christian Wegleitner

(Bild: APA/WERNER KERSCHBAUMMAYR)

Surprises in the starting eleven
The Viennese dictated the action from the start with Schmidt, among others, newly promoted to the starting eleven. Reinhold Ranftl hit the bar (2nd), Fitz failed to beat Nicolas Schmid, who reacted brilliantly (3rd). At the other end, a shot from Pirkl was blocked (5), otherwise there was almost nothing to see offensively in the first 45 minutes without the injured one-man striker Ronivaldo. Frans Krätzig also found his master in Schmid (8'). Four minutes later, Fitz confidently converted a penalty after Johannes Handl was hit on the foot by Lukas Tursch in the penalty area.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

After that, the visitors lacked efficiency on several occasions. Fitz (19') and Fisnik Asllani (20') were unable to beat Schmid, while a Schmidt header went wide (27'). Ranftl even missed a double chance, first failing to beat the BW goalkeeper and then missing the almost empty goal (39'). In stoppage time, Austria goalkeeper Christian Früchtl had to make his first save from a Maranda long-range shot.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

After the restart, the supposed final decision in the first game after Michael Wimmer's departure as coach was quickly made. Fitz moved towards Schmid, played an unselfish cross to Schmidt, who had no trouble in putting the ball into the empty net from close range. Conor Noß missed the follow-up goal almost on the counter-attack (56'). The Viennese continued to set the tone. Schmid made a brilliant save to keep out a Gruber free-kick from the corner of the net (69').

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Heated finish
The home side came back almost out of nowhere. After Dobras' lofted pass, Pirkl first failed to beat Früchtl, but then slid the follow-up shot into the empty net. In almost the last action, Mehmet Ibrahimi's shot was just centimeters off target and the hosts almost took a flattering point.

FC Blau-Weiß Linz - FK Austria Wien1:2 (0:1)
Linz, Hofmann Personal Stadium
SR Ciochirca

Goals: 
0:1 (12.) Fitz (penalty) 
0:2 (54.) Schmid 
1:2 (78.) Pirkl

BW Linz: Schmid - Mitrovic (73. Feiertag), Maranda, Tursch (46. Koch), Pirkl - Dobras, Pasic (67. Krainz), Briedl (67. Gölles) - S. Seidl, Mensah (46. Ibrahimi), Noß

Austria: Früchtl - Handl, Plavotic, Meisl - Ranftl (80. Pazourek), Fischer, Potzmann (58. Holland), Krätzig (58. Guenouche) - Asllani (58. Gruber), Fitz, Schmidt (67. Huskovic)

Yellow cards: Pirkl, Dobras or Potzmann, Guenouche, Fitz