Even supposedly clear favorites like Vienna Austria do not do justice to their role. “We have a home game, we take a 1-0 lead, and then you have to bring home the win without any ifs or buts. We didn’t manage to do that,” criticized Michael Wimmer, the coach of Wiener Austria, after Saturday’s meager 1-1 home draw against bottom team Austria Lustenau. “We lack control and order, and we don’t always act cleverly. At some point we have to learn, otherwise it will be difficult to win.”
A flattering penalty whistle, which Dominik Fitz scored to make it 1-0 (58th), only temporarily put the “Veilchen” on course for their first win in the qualifying group against the “Maurer” from the Ländle. Lukas Fridrikas also equalized from the spot after a rash attack from Romeo Vucic (77′). After that, the Viennese couldn’t think of much to avoid a third draw in a row. After the final whistle, whistles mixed in with the departure of the players.
Lustenau gets a point from Austria
Vienna Austria had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the qualifying group against bottom team Austria Lustenau.
Polster makes the next misstep
Wimmer said he understood the expressions of displeasure “100 percent” and rather praised the supporters’ restraint until the final whistle. Manuel Polster, who arrived late at the meeting point and had already committed his third disciplinary offense, was not in the squad at all.
“I protected everyone for a long time, but at some point you have to learn and the next step has to come. You can see that we are depriving ourselves of the benefits,” said Wimmer, also referring to Polster. In the next game – the top duel for first place in the Lavanttal – Manfred Fischer and Frans Krätzig are also missing due to suspension. Austria brings a one-point lead to the guest appearance in Carinthia.
Sweet surprise for Lustenau
The Lustenauers left the relegation battle with an unexpected point. Although nothing came of the ice cream apricot dumplings that coach Andreas Heraf had promptly offered for the away win at halftime, Heraf gratefully accepted the journalist’s idea after a round of Cornetto at the gas station. “Good idea. My mom also gave me Lindt balls, which I also hand out on the bus.”
Overall, his team only allowed a few scoring opportunities. The coach calmly accepted that there was almost no activity in terms of offense. “If you have three points after 17 laps and are last on the pole and are still last now, then we don’t need to talk around it: it’s a question of quality,” said Heraf. “We don’t have a team that can easily hold the league, but rather they have to fight for the league by hook or by crook.”
debate
Bundesliga: Who will be champions and who will be relegated?
Heraf still hopes for a “happy ending”
Last but not least, the defensive compactness leads him to believe that staying in the league is still possible if they are five points behind. A second “match ball”, like the one awarded in the 1:2 against WSG Tirol, is necessary for this. “This means that we have the opportunity to stay in the league with a three-pointer in any game. My feeling is towards Altach on the last lap. We have to catch up on points by then,” said Heraf. The first of two Ländle derbies will take place in Bregenz on Saturday. The local rivals are five points ahead.
WAC leaves Chance in first place
The WAC, however, left the Viennese team’s pass unused with a mixed performance at Blau-Weiß Linz (0-0). Two aluminum hits by Thierno Ballo (42nd) and Sandro Altunashvili (63rd) were not enough to secure the first win in the second phase of the season. Ballo was greatly disappointed by the fourth game in a row without a win. “That was two points lost today, we were clearly the better team,” said the striker. His coach didn’t see it as dramatic. “We finally played football again today. I am satisfied with the performance,” explained Manfred Schmid.
Blue-White and WAC continue the draw
Blau-Weiß Linz’s draw against RZ Pellets WAC continued on Saturday in the qualifying round of the Admiral Bundesliga. The Upper Austrians and Carinthians played a goalless draw in the 25th round, resulting in the eighth draw in nine games. The WAC once again missed the jump to first place in the lower house.
His team’s existence on the lower floor isn’t necessarily good either. “The games in the qualifying group are consistently not good. There is a lot of fear of defeat, a lot of relegation battle, you can feel the uncertainty,” said the Viennese. His BW counterpart Gerald Scheiblehner made similar comments. “In this league, where so much is at stake, safety is the top priority,” emphasized the 47-year-old.
His team is now eleven games in a row without a win or four without a goal – and is still five points ahead of bottom team Lustenau. For managing director Christoph Peschek, there is no reason to get nervous. “Overall, the services are absolutely fine. “It’s not something that would make me nervous,” he explained on Sky. “I am convinced that we will stay in the Bundesliga because the way we play is absolutely Bundesliga-ready.”
