WSG Tirol and GAK draw 1-1 at Innsbruck's Tivoli on Saturday evening.
The hosts started the match more actively and had more possession, but couldn't find solutions in the final third against the Graz defense.
Hofleitner converts from the spot
However, after nine minutes, the visitors took the lead! Jacob Italiano fell after a challenge with Kubatta in the penalty area and was awarded a penalty. Alexander Hofleitner confidently converted it to give GAK an early lead (9.).
After just over fifteen minutes, Graz seemingly extended their lead to 2-0, but Leon Klassen was marginally offside when Christopher Cvetko passed the ball.
In the 37th minute, Mark Grosse had a clear shot from six meters but failed to beat the rushing Hamzic. Shortly after, Grosse hit only the outside of the post following a cross.
WSG were fortunate to be only 0-1 down at halftime. However, GAK also suffered two setbacks. Anderson and Jacob Italiano both had to leave the field injured before the end of the first half.
Frederiksen strikes as a super-sub
GAK continued to create better chances after the break. Just a few minutes after the restart, WSG goalkeeper Salko Hamzic had to make a save from a powerful header by Yannick Oberleitner.
WSG Tirol also repeatedly created good opportunities, but lacked clarity in front of goal. However, a set-piece brought the equalizer.
Nikolai Baden Frederiksen was substituted in the 59th minute and, just five minutes later, curled a free-kick from the left edge of the penalty area into the far corner (64.). There was a lot of traffic in front of Stankovic, so the Graz goalkeeper cannot be blamed here.
After the equalizer, the momentum shifted towards the home team. The Tyroleans repeatedly appeared in front of Stankovic but often took too long to finish. Neither team managed to find a lucky punch in the closing stages. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Both in the race for the top six
WSG Tirol is now seventh with twelve points. GAK is immediately behind them with ten points.
Next week, the Tyroleans will travel to Upper Austria to face LASK, while GAK has a home game against TSV Hartberg ahead of them.
