Vienna Falls to Kapfenberg 0-2
In the 27th round of the ADMIRAL 2. Liga, Vienna hosted Kapfenberger SV at Hohe Warte, a direct rival in the standings. Despite showing some committed performances at times, the Döbling side ultimately suffered a 0-2 defeat.
Compared to the mid-week match against Sturm Graz II, coach Manzana Marin made two changes to the starting lineup: Nnamdi replaced Steiner, and Diomandé took the place of the recently-started Schmidt.
Cautious Start
The match began slowly, with both teams testing each other and trying to find their rhythm through ball possession. Early on, the game was largely played in midfield, with few clear goal-scoring chances.
The first noteworthy offensive action came from Vienna: In the 9th minute, Bumbic sent a cross toward goal, but it posed no threat to the visiting goalkeeper Colic. Shortly afterward, the hosts played a nice combination that got them into the Kapfenberg penalty area, but the final pass from Edelhofer to Diomandé was slightly too imprecise.
Kapfenberg Gaining the Upper Hand
After this, the guests from Styria began to take control in phases, creating dangerous opportunities. In the 13th minute, a cross found Heindl, who headed the ball toward the Vienna goal, but Unger was there to deflect the shot just in time over the crossbar.
In the 16th minute, things became tense again: A long ball found Hofleitner, who was one-on-one with Unger. The Vienna keeper made an excellent save, preventing a certain goal with his fingertips.
Vienna Showing Offensive Threat
In the 25th minute, Vienna came forward again. A precise cross from Luxbacher found Dilek in the center, but he just missed it. The game was picking up pace as both teams sought to push forward, with Kapfenberg creating the more dangerous chances.
Visitors Take the Lead
After an important defensive action from Dilek, Kapfenberg earned a corner, which eventually led to the opening goal. Unger made a save initially, but Heindl was quickest to react and pounced on the rebound to score, giving Kapfenberg the lead at 1-0.
Vienna's response came soon after: In the 33rd minute, Bumbic sent a free kick just over the crossbar – the best chance for an equalizer up until that point.
Unger Saves Again Before the Break
Just before halftime, Unger once again prevented a second goal. A deflected cross from Kapfenberg found an attacker in the box, whose shot Unger brilliantly parried.
Vienna also threatened once more before the break: A corner found Omerovic, but his shot was blocked by the well-organized Kapfenberg defense.
With a narrow 0-1 deficit, the teams headed into the locker rooms – the game remained open, with everything still to play for.
No Changes at Half-Time
Vienna started the second half unchanged, but they immediately tried to increase the pressure and take control of the match. Just after the restart, Bumbic tested Kapfenberg goalkeeper Colic with a powerful shot from distance, but Colic was equal to the task, making a solid save.
Another Setback
In the 57th minute, Vienna had another opportunity: Edelhofer fired a shot just wide of the far post from just outside the penalty area.
Penalty for Kapfenberg
Coach Manzana Marin reacted in the 63rd minute, bringing Ochs on for Diomandé. However, just one minute later, a bitter blow came for the hosts: After a challenge in the penalty area, referee Leitner awarded a penalty to Kapfenberg against Luxbacher. Hofleitner stepped up and confidently converted, making it 2-0 for the visitors.
Vienna Struggles to Respond
The hosts made a double substitution: Edelhofer and Dilek were replaced by Peham and Zimmermann. Despite these attacking changes, Vienna struggled to break into the final third and create chances. Kapfenberg remained solid defensively, waiting for counterattacks.
Yellow-Red for Vienna
In the 79th minute, another setback occurred: After a foul following a corner, Unger was shown a yellow-red card, leaving Vienna to finish the match with 10 players.
A Glimmer of Hope for Vienna
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Blau-Gelb side did not give up and continued to push forward, looking for a way back into the match.
Zeidler Makes His Debut
In the dying minutes, Vienna made another double substitution: Tiktov replaced Nnamdi, and there was a special moment when Vincent Zeidler came on for captain Luxbacher. The 16-year-old made his debut in the ADMIRAL 2. Liga, a bright spot in an otherwise difficult match for the hosts.
In the end, the match finished with a 0-2 home loss for Vienna against Kapfenberg. Next week, they will face Austria Lustenau away.
First Vienna FC 1894 vs. Kapfenberger SV 0:2 (0:1)
ADMIRAL 2. Liga, Round 27
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 10:30 AM
Naturarena Hohe Warte, 1,659 spectators
Goals: 0:1 Heindl (31'), 0:2 Hofleitner (65')
Vienna: Unger, Luxbacher B. (83' Zeidler), Bumbic, Omerovic, Diomandé (63' Ochs), Bauer, Stratznig, Nnamdi (83' Titkov), Dilek (68' Peham), Ungar, Edelhofer (68' Zimmermann)
