The “Veilchen” defeated Blau-Weiß Linz 2-1 (0-1) after halftime and thus secured third place. Like last time, Stephan Helm’s team needed a half to get up to operating temperature. With goals from Maurice Malone (52nd) and Nik Prelec (60th), the hosts turned the game around in front of 14,600 spectators. Simon Seidl had put Blue-White in front (30′).Vienna. After sharing points in Graz, Salzburg and Linz, Austria ended the 12th round as the big winner. Second-placed arch-rivals Rapid are two points short of points and league leaders Sturm Graz are five points short. The top six are secured by six points after the fifth win in the sixth home game.
The Linzers, who started the season so well, continued their negative run. Gerald Scheiblehner’s eighth-placed team only got one point from the last five rounds. Before the November international break, Salzburg will be visiting Linz. Austria plays in the fifth WAC.
First offensive moments
In an initial phase with a lot of piecemeal, the guests recorded their first offensive moments. Austria goalie Samuel Sahin-Radlinger parried a central shot from Anderson from an attractive position (10th). The Violets found it difficult to find their game. Gentle danger was emitted via corners, but little came out of the game.
In a phase in which chants of “Jürgen Werner out” could be heard again, Dominik Fitz almost surprised the insecure Linz goalie Radek Vitek with a long-range shot. The loan from Manchester United still brought the hands up (18th).
Defensively, Austria had recently shown itself to be almost insurmountable, conceding just one goal in four games. After half an hour, however, the assignment was missing. Anderson had time and space on the right flank, Ronivaldo processed his cross with a shot past Philipp Wiesinger into Seidl’s path. Reinhold Ranftl deflected his shot decisively to give the visitors the lead (33′).
Stronger after changing sides
The Viennese responded with a ball from Malone from a tight angle, which Martin Moormann cleared in front of the line (33′). Like last time, the purple increase came after the break. First, a chance product equalized the score. A failed shot attempt by Abubakr Barry became the ideal template for Malone, who scored dryly (52′).
The Vienna lead brought a counterattack. Fitz found Malone with the through ball, who crossed to Prelec. The Slovenian, who had recently scored his first goal of the season, loaded the Linz defense including Vitek and shot into the empty goal. Austria then briefly pushed for the 3-1 and relied on their defensive qualities in the finish. The generally harmless guests no longer had a clear opportunity to take a shot.
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**Interview with Football Analyst Mark Thompson on Austria Wien‘s Recent Victory**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Mark! It’s great to have you here to discuss Austria Wien’s recent performance against Blau-Weiß Linz. They turned the game around to secure a 2-1 victory. What did you think of their overall performance?
**Mark Thompson:** Thanks for having me! Austria Wien showed a tremendous spirit in that match. They really struggled in the first half, but the way they came out stronger after halftime was impressive. It was clear they needed a moment to find their rhythm, but once they did, their attacking play was much more fluid.
**Interviewer:** The team seemed to have a slow start, conceding first to Linz. What do you think contributed to that initial struggle?
**Mark Thompson:** The first half was quite disjointed for Austria. They lacked sharpness upfront and were not able to create significant chances. Their defense, which had been solid in previous games, looked a bit vulnerable. Linz took advantage of that, particularly with their counter-attack, leading to Seidl’s goal. However, their failure to maintain that momentum in the second half ultimately cost them.
**Interviewer:** After halftime, Maurice Malone and Nik Prelec scored to turn the game around. What did you make of their contributions?
**Mark Thompson:** Malone was pivotal in the second half. His first goal came from a fortunate but opportunistic situation, and that really shifted the momentum. Prelec’s goal was also a mark of a player who knows where to be at the right time. To see them both score under pressure, especially in front of 14,600 fans, indicates their growing confidence and crucial importance to the team this season.
**Interviewer:** Austria Wien secured third place with this victory. How does this position them for the rest of the season?
**Mark Thompson:** Sitting in third place puts them in a strong position, especially with major rivals like Rapid Wien and Sturm Graz trailing behind them. They need to build on this winning momentum; being just two points off second and five points off the top is healthy. The upcoming fixtures will be important, particularly as they face WAC next. They must maintain consistency to keep their place in the top six.
**Interviewer:** Linz, on the other hand, is struggling now, having only secured one point from their last five matches. What do you see as the main issues for them?
**Mark Thompson:** It’s concerning for Linz. They started the season relatively strong, but they seem to have lost their way. The confidence appears to be low, and their defensive frailties are coming to light. As their coach, Gerald Scheiblehner mentioned, they need to find a way to regain momentum and belief. A difficult match against Salzburg before the international break will be crucial for them to turn things around.
**Interviewer:** Thanks for your insights, Mark! It’s always a pleasure to discuss the Austrian Bundesliga with you.
**Mark Thompson:** My pleasure! I’m looking forward to seeing how the league unfolds in the coming weeks.
