Vienna Amateurs Finish as Runners-Up After Final Day Draw
The final matchday of the 2024/25 Wiener Stadtliga promised high drama in the title race — and right in the thick of it: the Vienna Amateurs. In a thrilling season finale, the Youngsters drew 3-3 with WAF Brigittenau, capping off an outstanding debut season in Austria’s fourth tier as league runners-up.
Hope alive in the first half
Vienna were put under early pressure as Brigittenau showed no signs of easing off in the final game of the campaign. Keeper Danilo Matovic was called into action as early as the 9th minute with a spectacular save. In the 14th minute, the Vienna Campus erupted: after a mistake by WAF goalkeeper Kovacevic, Karl Höflich slotted home to make it 1-0. At the same time, Red Star Penzing were already ahead at Donauplatz, meaning the Amas were top of the table at that moment.
Blue and Yellow remained focused — a must against a strong WAF side. But in the 30th minute, the visitors equalised through Piotr Pawlowski after a chaotic scene in the box. With Red Star Penzing now leading 2-0, Vienna needed to win their own match to keep title hopes alive.
Chances were rare towards the end of the half, and the teams went into the break at 1-1. Meanwhile, SV Donau had pulled one back and were topping the table with a one-point lead.
WAF take the lead
The second half began with a cold shower for Döbling: less than a minute in, the ball was in the back of the Vienna net. Alexander Barnet was the party spoiler for the hosts. In a strange twist, SV Donau also conceded in the 46th minute to make it 3-1 in their game — setting the stage for a potential Vienna celebration. But two goals were still needed, and the attacking momentum was slow to return.
Brigittenau looked to hit on the counter, and in the 53rd minute, Matovic denied an indirect free-kick from close range.
Late drama and heartbreak
Just when WAF seemed to take control of the game, Vienna hit back. In the 70th minute, Louis Birkhahn converted a low cross to bag his 17th goal of the season and make it 2-2. Brigittenau narrowly missed the target in the 78th minute, but just one minute later came a rollercoaster moment: WAF keeper Kovacevic let the ball slip through his hands, and Höflich smashed it home for his second of the day to put Vienna 3-2 up.
At Donauplatz, it was now 3-3 — Vienna were just ten minutes away from clinching the title.
In the 84th minute, Vienna had a chance to seal it with an acrobatic effort, but it went wide. Then came the crushing news: SV Donau had taken a 4-3 lead in the 87th minute, making Vienna’s scoreline irrelevant once again. Almost simultaneously, WAF struck back at the Campus. Milan Milovanovic pounced on a rebound in the 90th minute to make it 3-3.
SV Donau scored a fifth goal shortly after, sealing the title for themselves. Vienna gave it everything in the dying moments, but referee Patrick Heinzl blew the final whistle. SV Donau are champions of the Wiener Stadtliga with a four-point lead. The Vienna Amateurs finish an exceptional season as well-deserved runners-up.
Gökce Tuna: "We’ll be challenging at the top again next season"
Head coach Gökce Tuna reflected on the match and the season: "In the first half we were a bit nervous. At halftime I told the team I wanted players who are brave and push forward — I think they responded to that. In the 88th minute, we still had the feeling we could win the title. Overall, it was a good game."
"As for the season: we started with a very young squad, most of them with no first-team experience. They tried to find their feet in senior football — and I think they did really well. When you’re a newly promoted side and you’re fighting for the title with 14 U18 players, that’s a huge achievement. We’re confident we’ll be right up there again next season."
Match report:
First Vienna FC Amateure vs. WAF Brigittenau 3-3 (1-1)
Wiener Stadtliga, Matchday 29
Friday, 13 June 2025, 18:00
First Vienna Football Campus, 225 spectators
Goals: 1-0 Höflich (14'), 1-1 Pawlowski (30'), 1-2 Barnet (46'), 2-2 Birkhahn (70'), 3-2 Höflich (79'), 3-3 Milovanovic (90')
Vienna lineup: Matovic, N. Nösslinger (53' Milic), M. Roschütz, Babic (81' L. Roschütz), Valtchev, Höflich (81' Soos), Birkhahn, Ellen, Dzibric, Weitmayr (63' Uysal), Heller
