Last-minute goal saved Austria Wien a 2-2 draw against Klagenfurt

The point almost felt like a complete success on Sunday, however, as Andreas Gruber only managed to equalize in injury time (91′).

After an early lead by Hakim Guenouche (3rd), Sinan Karweina (9th) and Kosmas Gkezos (70th) shot the still undefeated guests on course towards victory. The Viennese remain in ninth place, Klagenfurt slipped back to fourth place behind LASK.

At Austria, Hoffenheim loanee Fisnik Asllani, who was only committed on Thursday, made his debut in the storm instead of the injured Muharem Huskovic, it was the only change compared to 0: 2 at LASK. Klagenfurt coach Peter Pacult made two changes, one of which was forced. Because one-goalie Phillip Menzel fell ill at short notice, Marco Knaller guarded the goal. In addition, Florian Jaritz came on for Jonas Arweiler in attack.

Austria was rewarded for a committed start with a lightning hit by Guenouche, who rose ten meters in front of the goal after a cross from Reinhold Ranftl and headed in after 2:33 minutes. Shortly before that, Asllani had failed at Knaller. The goalkeeper was also challenged against Andreas Gruber (5th) and when Asllani shot from a long distance too centrally (6th).

The fact that the score was 1-1 just six minutes after the lead was thanks to a bad pass from defender Galvao. The ball quickly came to Jaritz, whose Stangler maneuvered Marvin Martins in the direction of the goal. But he came back from there via Matan Baltaxa, and Karweina shot in easily. After that, the guests repeatedly delivered pleasing combinations over several stations, but hardly penetrated into the dangerous zone. Only shortly before the break did Veilchen goalie Christian Früchtl have to defuse a powerful Jaritz shot (43′).

After the equaliser, Austria’s game seemed jittery and flawed, but the favorites remained the more dangerous team. A shot by Matthias Braunöder clearly went wide (34′), and Fortune also missed an explosive stab in the penalty area (38′). The same was true immediately after the restart for a shot from the post by Ranftl (47′) and a Köpfler (54′) that Gruber narrowly missed at the far corner.

In between, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca stood in front of the VAR screen, but blew off a supposed penalty for the home side. Andy Irving’s contact with Asllani was not enough. There were no more dangerous actions after that, only the lead for the Carinthians rekindled the game. From Austria’s point of view it was another unnecessary goal: After a corner by Christopher Cvetko, the centrally positioned Gkezos headed in quite easily.

Michael Wimmer’s team threw everything forward again in the finish, but initially remained either toothless or unlucky: a deflected shot by substitute Jukic clapped back off the post (89′). Only a corner kick brought salvation, Gruber was there with his head.