Austria-Salzburg fans celebrated the 0:4 like a victory

The game started late at Untersberg. A car blocked the access of the Bundesliga club Salzburg’s team bus to the stadium. The champions also struggled on the pitch to make their way into the round of 16 for a long time.

Coach Gerhard Struber announced “full focus on the sport” before the game. He hardly rotated after the recent defeat in the Bundesliga against Blau-Weiß Linz (0-1), and Alexander Schlager also guarded the goal. He should remain little busy in front of former Austria greats such as Heimo Pfeifenberger, Otto Konrad and Hermann Stadler.

Austria, which saw itself robbed of its identity after the takeover of Red Bull in spring 2005 and re-established itself in the lower house, tried to resist with determination. After seven minutes, however, the Violets’ goal barrier was broken. Captain Amar Dedic (8th) defeated goalkeeper Manuel Kalman in the second attempt. The West League club owed the fact that it stayed that way until the half-time whistle to its disciplined performance on the one hand, and to the red and white usury of opportunities on the other. Luka Sucic hit the crossbar (15th), Roko Simic failed due to Kalman’s reflex (23rd).

Fireworks at break

The second half also started late after the Austria supporters set off an arsenal of fireworks. Once the outsider had a chance: Yannic Fötschl appeared in front of Schlager in the 58th minute, but the national team keeper was quicker to the ball.

Amankwah Forson (64th), who had just come into the game for Sucic, finally ended the faint hopes of the Austria fans and made it 3-0 (74th). Strahinja Pavlovic (83′) scored from a corner. The purple supporters still celebrated the brave performance as a victory.

Tyrol was eliminated in Leoben

Bregenz had been caught in the first round by LASK’s second round opponent Imst, with Tirol now the second Bundesliga team saying goodbye: With the 1:3 in Leoben, elimination was already apparent in the early stages. Kevin Friesenbichler made it 1-0 for the home team from a penalty (19th), Deni Alar headed in two minutes later and increased the score to 3-0 in the 48th minute. Substitute Nik Prelec scored the next goal in the 53rd minute, but there was nothing more possible for the current Bundesliga second-to-last team. WSG coach Thomas Silberberger spoke of a deserved exit. “It leaves me speechless how we present the goals to the opponent on a silver platter. All three goals came about through gross individual mistakes. This has nothing to do with tactical orientation or errors in intensity, but is simply catastrophic.”

In contrast to the WSG, Lustenau, who is currently at the bottom of the upper house, made it one round further – albeit with difficulty. At Vienna everything initially went according to plan for the guests, Nikolai Baden-Frederiksen gave Vorarlberg an early 2-0 lead with his brace (5th with a shot from their own half, 20th). The Viennese regained hope thanks to Bernhard Luxbacher (51′), but Torben Rhein scored from a penalty to regain the old two-goal lead (63′). Vienna only managed to make it 2:3 thanks to Philipp Ochs (67th).

The GAK won the second division duel against Stripfing 2-1. Title rivals St. Pölten had to go into extra time in Dornbirn before Kevin Monzialo scored the decisive goal.