“We’re going to Vienna relaxed, the pressure on Austria Wien is even greater. We can only win,” said Lustenau coach Markus Mader after the performance-based draw. The coach saw the strength of his eleven dwindle after the break, but also an opponent who struggled against Vorarlberg again.
The defense around Matthias Maak and Jean Hugonet had their former teammate Haris Tabakovic under control. The Viennese were unable to create any compelling chances and remained without a win in the third duel of the season (before 2:2, 0:1). The visitors equalized with a deflected shot from Manfred Fischer (46′). Lukas Fridrikas (17th) had advanced Lustenau with his 15th goal of the season. In the finish, the hosts missed a great opportunity through Nemanja Motika.
First leg ends in a draw
The first leg in the play-off final of the Admiral Bundesliga for the last place in the European Cup did not result in a winner on Thursday. The Austrias from Lustenau and Vienna parted with 1:1 (1:0).
Wimmer hopes for home advantage
Austria-Vienna coach Michael Wimmer missed his players’ pace and the right allocation. You didn’t notice that the opponent had played 120 minutes three days earlier, says Wimmer about the performance of the first 45 minutes. But he looked ahead: “When I look into the dressing room, there is the absolute will to bring about the decision on Sunday with the fans behind me.”
The fans would whip the team forward, Wimmer said. “We also have to be whipped.” He hopes that Dominik Fitz, who is still ill, will be available. His creativity could be decisive against the Lustenauer defensive.
Lustenau with Fridrikas and no pressure
The Vorarlbergers have a man for special moments in Fridrikas, who is hitting like an assembly line. The son of ex-Austria attacker Robertas Fridrikas now has eleven goals in the past ten games. “It’s just going, I know where the goal is and I have a good feeling,” said the 25-year-old. He is also physically “at the limit”. Strike partner Yadaly Diaby had to leave the field in the second half with a knee injury. It is therefore open whether the Frenchman can cause problems for the Viennese again on Sunday.
Lustenau’s advantage remains that the guests can act without much pressure. The team said goodbye to the home fans on Thursday. Cem Türkmen, Yuliwes Bellache, Henri Koudossou, Nemanja Motika, Emrehan Gedikli, Michael Cheukoua, Hannes Küng, Hakim Guenouche, who was no longer used for disciplinary reasons, and Jean Hugonet will no longer be seen in the Lustenau jersey next season. Hugonet, which is moving to Magdeburg in the second German league, did not declare the mission to be over. “We can still play a big game, that was the goal. Anything is possible.” An assessment that Mader shared. “We still have one last highlight ahead of us,” emphasized the coach. The reward is the starting place in the qualification for the Conference League.
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