European Qualification Play-Off: Semi-Final

TSV Prolactal Hartberg 0-3 FK Austria Vienna

Austria Vienna gained a measure of revenge for their defeat to Hartberg in last year’s play-off final as they brushed the East Styrians aside on their way to a showdown with Wolfsberger AC, with a place in the European qualifiers as the prize.

In a game packed with action and shooting chances, Patrick Wimmer fired in to open the scoring for the Violets late in the first half and his team never looked back. As the hosts pushed for a leveller early in the second period, a mix-up allowed Dominik Fitz to chip in from all of 40 yards and give Austria a two-goal cushion.

Despite Dario Tadic coming on as a substitute and getting involved in six shots for Hartberg, they couldn’t make any of their 19 efforts on goal count, and once Benedikt Pichler was able to break away late on and calmly turn left and right before slotting in a third goal, the contest was over. Wimmer and Pichler were both on the score sheet in last year’s play-off final defeat, so it will feel particularly sweet for them that their goal tallies against Hartberg this season (three and four respectively) are higher than against any other side. Austria Vienna can now look forward to a home game against WAC on Thursday and a return fixture in Wolfsberg at the weekend.