Bundesliga

Grazer AK against Wolfsberger AC from 5pm LIVE

GAK let a 3:0 lead against WAC slip away.

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WAC maintained fourth place in the Bundesliga with a spectacular victory on Saturday. Wolfsberg were already 3-0 down at GAK, but won 4-3 thanks to four goals scored from the 80th minute onwards. After Marco Perchtold (27) and Petar Filipovic (89) were sent off, Graz finished the game with nine players and are now just two points ahead of bottom club Altach.

Daniel Maderner (8'), Tio Cipot (11') and Marco Gantschnig (36') seemingly put GAK on course for a third win in a row, but then WAC struck back with "joker" goals. David Atanga (80th/penalty) and Angelo Gattermayer (83rd, 98th) were substituted, as was GAK's own goal scorer Martin Lang (92nd).

WAC had more of the play right from the start, but GAK were much more efficient and made it 2:0 with their first two serious attacks. First Maderner headed a cross from Christian Lichtenberger into the net, then Maderner provided the assist for Cipot, who beat visiting goalkeeper Nikolas Polster.

Perchtold red carded after VAR intervention
The Carinthians tried to use playful means to break down their opponents, who were lurking on the counter-attack, but failed to create any compelling chances. This did not change when Perchtold was sent off after a rough tackle on Thierno Ballo. The midfielder had initially only received a yellow card for the foul, but after VAR intervention he was sent off early.

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GAK only found their way into the opposition penalty area sporadically, but the home side still made it 3:0. After a corner, Wolfsburg failed to clear the ball, Martin Kreuzriegler took the shot and the ball was deflected slightly but decisively into the goal by Gantschnig.

For a long time after the break, the characteristics of the game remained the same - WAC played, GAK was dangerous. In the 56th minute, Murat Satin almost had the entire empty goal in front of him, but shot at Dominik Baumgartner, who was positioned on the line. Ten minutes later, Maderner missed from a good position.

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Atanga penalty turned the game around
WAC got back into the game thanks to a decision by the video assistant. Referee Isa Simsek initially showed Thomas Sabitzer a yellow card for an alleged foul, but withdrew the caution after studying the TV images and awarded a penalty - Atanga converted on his comeback.

Three minutes later, WAC scored again when Gattermayer, who had come on as a substitute like Atanga, scored with a direct shot from a Boris Matic corner. This heralded a turbulent final phase in which GAK defender Filipovic was shown a yellow card.

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Despite this, the Styrian bulwark seemed to hold firm - until the 92nd minute, when Lang, in the style of a classy striker, unchallenged, turned the ball into his own goal following an obvious blackout. Erik Kojzek missed a top chance in the 94th minute, but his WAC colleague Gattermayer did better seconds before the final whistle and headed in to make it 4:3 for the visitors.

The final score:

GAK - WAC 3:4 (3:0)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 5,180, referee Simsek

Goals: 1:0 (8.) Maderner, 2:0 (11.) Cipot, 3:0 (36.) Gantschnig, 3:1 (80.) Atanga (penalty), 3:2 (83.) Gattermayer, 3:3 (92.) Michael Lang (own goal), 3:4 (94.) Gattermayer

GAK: Meierhofer - Gantschnig, Filipovic, Kreuzriegler - Frieser, Perchtold, Satin (86. M. Lang), Italiano - Lichtenberger (57. Vucic), Maderner, Cipot (46. Dressel)

WAC: Polster - Baumgartner, Nwaiwu, Wimmer - Jasic (46. Kojzek), Altunashvili (46. Matic), Zukic (64. Atanga), Piesinger, Ullmann - Sabitzer (81. Gattermayer), Ballo (46. Agyemang)

Red card: Perchtold (27./Foul)

Yellow-Red: Filipovic (89.)

Yellow cards: Cipot, Maderner, Frieser, Italiano or Ballo, Wimmer, Atanga