3–0 Away Victory Against Title Contenders
In the 20th round of the ADMIRAL 2. Liga, First Vienna FC 1894 faced an away match against title contenders SC Austria Lustenau. After a strong first half and a 2–0 lead at the break, the Döbling side added another goal after halftime to seal an impressive 3–0 away win.
Away in the “Ländle” Against a Title Contender
For the 20th round of the league, Vienna once again traveled west—this time to Vorarlberg, where the blue-and-yellow side faced Austria Lustenau. For head coach Hans Kleer, it was also a special encounter against his former club.
In terms of personnel, Vienna had to make two changes compared to the previous week. Jongmin Seo and Meguru Odagaki, who had started the first two matches, were sidelined with injuries. Youngsters Zeidler and Nagele moved into the starting lineup instead. There was also good news: Markus Rusek returned after a serious knee injury and was included in the matchday squad for the first time since his comeback.
Even Opening Phase
The match began intensely and evenly. Both teams played with great concentration and initially allowed few chances. Vienna’s defense remained alert and intercepted several early advances from the hosts. At the same time, the blue-and-yellows looked to push forward, resulting in an open contest with opportunities on both sides.
Zimmermann Puts Vienna Ahead
In the 29th minute, Vienna finally rewarded themselves for their committed performance. After a strong attack down the right wing, Christoph Luxbacher broke through and fired toward the far corner. Lustenau goalkeeper Domenik Schierl managed to parry the shot, but the rebound fell to Zimmermann, who headed home to give the Döbling side a 1–0 lead.
Vienna Doubles the Lead
Even after the opener, the match remained balanced, but Vienna began to enjoy more possession and the better moments. Just a few minutes later, the visitors struck again. In the 32nd minute, Rosenberger delivered a precise corner into the penalty area, where Bauer rose highest and headed in for 2–0.
Deserved Lead at the Break
The hosts tried to respond, but Vienna remained defensively solid and allowed little. Time and again, the blue-and-yellows cleared Lustenau’s attacks early while creating occasional counterattacks themselves. After a focused and efficient first half, Vienna went into the break with a deserved 2–0 lead.
Lustenau Increases the Pressure
At the start of the second half, Lustenau reacted to the two-goal deficit by making two substitutions. The home side began the second 45 minutes with noticeably more pressure, attempting to pin Vienna back early. Although the Vorarlberg side attacked more frequently, clear chances were still lacking.
Substitutions and Chances at Both Ends
In the 56th minute, Vienna made their first substitution as Szerencsi replaced Zeidler. Just a minute later, Vienna goalkeeper Unger had to intervene decisively, tipping a dangerous shot around the post for a corner.
Shortly afterward, the visitors also threatened again. Following a quick attack, the ball reached Nagele, whose attempt was intercepted in time by Lustenau’s goalkeeper.
Zimmermann Completes His Brace
At a moment when Lustenau was pushing for a goal to get back into the match, Vienna delivered the decisive blow. In the 61st minute, Gantschnig sent an excellent free kick from midfield into the box. Rosenberger flicked the ball on acrobatically to Zimmermann, who remained ice-cold and finished for 3–0—a crucial goal at the perfect time.
Further Substitutions and Attacking Moments
The hosts responded in the 69th minute by bringing on Jastremski as an additional striker. Shortly afterward, Nagele produced a strong individual run in the 71st minute, beating several opponents and entering the penalty area, but his shot was too weak to trouble Schierl.
Vienna also made a double substitution in the 73rd minute, with Mergner replacing Nagele and Christoph Monschein coming on for the two-goal scorer Zimmermann. Lustenau made two more changes in the 76th minute for the closing stages.
Emotional Comeback for Markus Rusek
Shortly before the end, there was a special moment for Vienna: Markus Rusek made his competitive comeback after nearly two years out. Following a long injury layoff, the midfielder returned to the pitch and was warmly celebrated by his teammates.
Vienna Sees the Game Out
In the final minutes, Lustenau tried everything to at least pull one goal back. However, Vienna remained defensively compact, allowed very few dangerous situations, and focused on possible counterattacks. In the end, the blue-and-yellows comfortably saw out their lead and secured an impressive away victory.
SC Austria Lustenau vs. First Vienna FC 1894 0–3 (0–2)
ADMIRAL 2. Liga – Round 20
Friday, March 6, 2026 – 6:00 PM
SUN MINIMEAL Arena
Goals: 0–1 Zimmermann (29’), 0–2 Bauer (32’), 0–3 Zimmermann (61’)
Vienna lineup: Unger, Rosenberger, Gantschnig, Bauer, Nnamdi, Stratznig, Prohart, Nagele (73’ Mergner), Luxbacher (85’), Zeidler (56’ Szerencsi), Zimmermann (73’ Monschein)
