On Thursday, Manfred Schmid’s team didn’t manage to beat Lech Poznan 1-1 (0-0) in their own stadium, and even before the last group game next week at Hapoel Be’er Sheva they have no chance of promotion. Mikael Ishak (48th) sealed the fate of Austria, who, thanks to Can Keles (70th), still had a sniff of the mandatory win, but has been without a win for 13 European Cup games in a row.
The “Violets”, who were better in the first half, have the chance to do so next Thursday in Israel, where a win could still move them up to meaningless third place in Group C. Before that, Austria has to play against Altach in the league on Sunday.
In view of the long list of injuries, Schmid again put Matteo Meisl in central defence, on offense Keles, Dominik Fitz and Manuel Polster and Georg Teigl as the solo striker should take care of it. The regular winger didn’t see too many balls, but almost scored the goal of the year: After a cross from Matthias Braunöder, his volley hit the top of the bar (22′).
And even if the ball didn’t wriggle in the goal, the home side had more and more dangerous chances before the break and 12,211 spectators. Lech goalie Filip Bednarek had to unpack a foot defense after a quick action via Fitz and a shot from Keles (12′), Marvin Martins headed over the goal (16′) and Polster aimed over it after a pass from Teigl (37′). Violett tried again and again with long-range shots, but Keles (9th), Reinhold Ranftl (16th) and Braunöder (42nd) had set their sights too imprecisely.
The Poles, whose solo striker Ishak was mostly signed off in contrast to the first leg, came up with opportunities in a first half characterized by tactics through Filip Szymczak (via the goal, 29 ‘), who was freed in the penalty area, and above all Austria central defender Lucas Galvao. The latter lost the ball first and, in his attempt to make amends, caused a free kick from 17 meters out, which Nika Kvekveskiri scored just over the bar (39’).
However, the guests came out of the dressing room with a lot of enthusiasm and promptly took the lead. Goalie Christian Früchtl was able to tame a Kvekveskiri attempt, but Szymczak grabbed the rebound in front of Martins and served Ishak, who shot in from a few meters. The seventh-placed in the Polish league continued to set the tone and was 2-0 closer than Austria to the equalizer.
The fact that there was still an exciting finish was thanks to a burst of energy from Keles, who asserted himself against two Lech players on the right flank and finally gave Bednarek no chance with a low shot. The open final phase brought a lot of momentum. Austria “Joker” Ibrahima Drame was separated from the ball in the penalty area at the last second (85′). And a Fersler by Haris Tabakovic, who was also substituted on, went over the goal (92nd).
Source: Nachrichten
