Graz still winless

LIVE from 5pm: Austria Vienna against GAK!

GAK remain winless at Austria.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Promoted team GAK remains winless in this Bundesliga season. Graz lost 2-1 (0-1) at Vienna's Austria in the Generali-Arena on Saturday, missing out on another three points at the ninth attempt. 

Lukas Graf scored the winning goal for the hosts with an unfortunate own goal (70'). Dominik Fitz had initially given Austria the lead with a penalty (24'), Lucas Galvao had also equalized with an own goal (51').

Austria thus remain unbeaten at home this season and climbed to seventh place ahead of Sunday's games. GAK remain in the red lantern with just four points and now have two weeks to get in shape for the Graz derby (19.10.).

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

16-year-old in the starting eleven
FAK coach Stephan Helm once again opted for a back three and 16-year-old Philipp Maybach as a front six. It was the teenager's debut in the Bundesliga starting eleven, coming in for the suspended Abubakr Barry. The fit attacking player Andreas Gruber, on the other hand, started on the bench. For the visitors, coach Gernot Messner made five changes to his squad and also deployed a back three. Regular defender Michael Lang was withdrawn from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

In cold and wet conditions, both teams took a controlled approach in front of almost 13,200 fans. Maurice Malone made the first attempt on goal, but missed (12'). At the other end, Romeo Vucic, on loan from Austria, missed the lead for Graz with a knee from close range (17'). The goal came from the spot for the "Veilchen". After a pass from Fitz, Nik Prelec spun around opposite number Marco Gantschnig, who reached out for the striker. Prelec accepted the invitation on the edge of the penalty area and fell. Referee Florian Jäger immediately whistled for a penalty, which was confirmed by the VAR. Fitz converted confidently.

Penalty alert 
Shortly afterwards there was a penalty alert in the other penalty area, Philipp Wiesinger attacked Graf with a high leg. The GAK captain fell, but without any actual contact with the opponent, so Jäger's whistle remained silent (29'). However, the referee showed GAK co-trainer Christoph Cemernjak a yellow card for protesting too vehemently. That was the end of the excitement in the first half.

Messner brought on two new players after the break, Atsushi Zaizen and Murat Satin, and was able to celebrate the equalizer shortly afterwards. Reinhold Ranftl made a mistake in his own half and lost the ball to Benjamin Rosenberger, who artistically kept the ball in play and crossed in front of the Austria goal. Under pressure from Zaizen, Galvao was unlucky to push the ball into his own goal (51').

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

A lively game then ensued with opportunities on both sides. However, it was the end of the line for debutant Maybach after an hour, having already seen his Austria's winning goal from the bench. Fitz crossed into the Graz penalty area, Manfred Fischer failed to get a header on target but irritated Graf, who, after a misunderstanding with keeper Jakob Meierhofer, managed to bend the ball into his own net (70').

Austria goalkeeper Samuel Sahin-Radlinger finally saved the win when he brilliantly saved a header from substitute Daniel Maderner after a Satin corner. With a lot of luck, the favorites cleared up this dicey situation (85'). The final goal was scored by GAK veteran Petar Filipovic, who was shown a yellow card in stoppage time (99').

Austria Vienna - GAK 2:1 (1:0)
Vienna, Generali-Arena, 13,188 spectators, refereed by F. Jäger.

Goals:
1:0 (24.) Fitz (penalty)

1:1 (51.) Galvao (own goal)

2:1 (70.) Graf (own goal)

Austria: Sahin-Radlinger - Wiesinger, Dragovic, Galvao - Ranftl, Fischer, Maybach (62. Potzmann), Guenouche (62. Perez Vinlöf) - Fitz - Prelec (90. Gruber), Malone (71. Raguz)

GAK: Meierhofer - Graf, Filipovic, Gantschnig - Italiano, Schriebl (75. Cipot), Dressel, Rosenberger - Lichtenberger (46. Zaizen) - Vucic (69. Maderner), Frieser (46. Satin)

Yellow-Red: Filipovic (99th/repeated foul)

Yellow cards: Galvao, Malone, Perez Vinlöf or Gantschnig, Dressel, Schriebl, Italiano, Satin