Moritz Wels came in for the suspended player Frans Krätzig to the midfield center, Hakim Guenouche started on the left wing. Otherwise, coach Michael Wimmer made no changes to the starting eleven.
Lustenau coach Andreas Heraf had to do without two important defensive players; the suspended Kennedy Boateng and the injured Matthias Maak were replaced by Matheus Lins and Tobias Berger. Two offensive players, Pius Grabher and Yadaly Diaby, were also new to the starting line-up.
Gruber hit the post and no goal was scored
As expected, Austria from Lustenau stood deep, our Austria took the game. The first time it became dangerous was… Manfred Fischer took off and missed the cross corner by just a few millimeters (13th). A degree from Andreas Gruber Hakim Guenouche’s cross was blocked (16th), shortly afterwards the bar prevented the Austria striker from scoring his 10th goal of the season. Reinhold Ranftl delivered the perfect cross, but Gruber’s header unfortunately only hit the aluminum (17th). Ranftl and Guenouche missed the goal with long shots (21st, 25th), Muharem Husković came a step too late against Domenik Schierl (26th).
After half an hour, Heraf had to make another defensive change. Luca Meisl – Matteo Meisl’s brother – had to leave the field with a knee injury, Fabian Gmeiner came into the game. A flick from Dominic Fitz went over the goal, and Fischer also shot over it shortly before the half-time whistle (35th, 45th). Fischer and Krätzig were shown yellow in the first half and are therefore both suspended against the WAC next week. The score was 0-0 at the break.
Fitz scored from the spot, as did Fridrikas
In the second half we headed towards the fully occupied East Stand, but nothing changed in the game. With over 80% possession of the ball, Austria tried to penetrate the guests’ 11-man defense. In the 56th minute, Ranftl went down in the penalty area after a Fitz cross, and referee Stefan Ebner decided on a penalty after an on-field review. Dominik Fitz converted confidently – 1-0 for Austria Vienna.
Muki Husković had two shots (60th, 69th), but was blocked in each case and shortly afterwards by Romeo Vucic replaced. A shot from Fitz was too central, and the home team continued to clearly dominate the game even after the opening goal (71′). In the 77th minute, the guests were awarded a penalty out of nowhere; Vučić hit Lukas Fridrikas while trying to clear the ball in his own penalty area. Fridrikas came forward himself and left Christian Früchtl no chance – Lustenau made it 1-1 completely unexpectedly.
Alexander Schmidt replaced Andreas Gruber for the final minutes. A final, long cross from Hakim Guenouche reached Dominik Fitz, who put the ball just past the second post (90th+7). The game ended 1:1.
Austria Vienna – Austria Lustenau 1:1 (0:0)
Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Martins, Galvao; Ranftl, Fischer, Krätzig, Guenouche; Gruber (83. Schmidt), Fitz, Husković (70. Vučić)
Lustenau: Schierl; Anderson, Meisl (30. Gmeiner), Lins, Grujčić, Berger; Chato (63. Mikic), Grabher (72. Teifenbach), Gorzel (72. Rhein); Diaby (72. Bobzien), Fridrikas
Tore: Fitz (58th, penalty); Fridrikas (77th, penalty)
Yellow cards: Krätzig (33rd), Fischer (41st); Anderson (11th), Chato (58th), Lins (66th), Grujčić (85th)
Generali Arena, referee Stefan Ebner, 11,242 spectators