Play-off final

Austria vs Hartberg LIVE from 7.30 pm

Austria missed a preliminary decision.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Vienna's Austria celebrated a 2:1 victory in the first leg of the play-off final against TSV Hartberg. The Violets thus took a small step closer to their mission of saving the season after all. The Viennese side had the game under control for a long time, but Hartberg managed to score the important final goal in the closing stages. The decision will be made on Tuesday. 

Austria have taken the lead in their clash with TSV Hartberg for the last European Cup ticket. The Viennese won the first leg of the play-off final against the East Styrians 2:1 (0:0) at home on Friday evening. James Holland (51) in his last home game for the favorites and Dominik Fitz with a foul penalty (58) scored for the Violets. Hartberg kept their chances alive thanks to Maximilian Entrup's goal (84').

The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday (19:00) in Hartberg. The winner of the tie will advance to the 2nd round of Conference League qualifying.

Hartberg kept their cool
Austrias interim coach Christian Wegleitner was delighted with the third win in the third game of his tenure. As announced, he rotated his starting eleven and named Holland, Hakim Guenouche and Andreas Gruber. Markus Schopp saw no reason to change his starting line-up after the 3-0 win at Rapid last Sunday. National team striker Entrup, who was available again, also took a place on the bench.

Hartberg really turned up the heat, especially towards the end.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

A crowd of 10,788 saw Austria get off to a dominant start. Hartberg got close to their opponents' penalty area for the first time after eleven minutes. However, the Styrians hardly conceded anything and showed the necessary composure on the ball against an early disruptive Vienna side.

The game picked up pace after 20 minutes. Gruber was brought down in a running duel with Paul Komposch, but the penalty whistle was not blown even after a VAR review. Shortly afterwards, the Austria attacker shot from an acute angle, but Raphael Sallinger saved (26'). Hartberg came close to scoring before the break after two corner kicks. Ibane Bowat's header was too weak (33') and Dominik Frieser volleyed just wide (45').

Austria miss out on a preliminary decision
Entrup came on for Maximilian Fillafer after the break, with Moritz Wels replacing Fisnik Asllani for Austria. It took exactly 15 seconds for the purple "joker" to appear alone in front of Sallinger, but he was unable to beat the TSV keeper. The next 15 minutes belonged to an Austria side that was full of pressure.

Bowat's header from a corner kick was volleyed into the far corner by Holland, before Manfred Fischer was hit on the foot by Ousmane Diakite as he attempted to shoot. The VAR intervened and referee Sebastian Gishamer pointed to the spot after viewing the images. Fitz placed the ball into the net for his tenth goal of the season.

Hartberg had the chance to respond almost immediately, Entrup ran alone towards Christian Früchtl but was unable to beat the German. Austria allowed Hartberg more possession and the visitors launched their attacks more effectively. Gishamer had to make another save when Entrup hit Matteo Meisl on the upper arm in the penalty area (78'). The referee then withdrew the penalty he had initially awarded.

A hard-fought game

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Entrup still had one more chance, however, which he did not miss. The attacker volleyed a cross from substitute Ruben Providence into the goal. Austria now wavered considerably. In seven minutes of stoppage time, Donis Avdijaj had the equalizer at his feet, but Früchtl again saved his team from worse.