On Penalties! Austria Fights Its Way into UECL Playoff

Viennese Austria has reached the play-off round for the group stage of the UEFA Conference League!

Against Beitar Jerusalem, they trembled their way through after a 1-2 second-leg defeat, advancing after 120 minutes and a penalty shootout. Youngster Sanel Saljic converted the decisive spot-kick.

However, Beitar started a bit better, with the guests from Jerusalem repeatedly breaking through, especially on the left flank, though without initially producing genuinely dangerous shots.

Atzili Puts Beitar Ahead

On the other side, Julian Hettwer had the best chance for the Viennese after fifteen minutes, but he was denied by goalkeeper Miguel Silva. Subsequently, the Israelis grew stronger again, with a deflected shot from Dagats Worko just whistling past the left post.

This dominance then paid off, as winger Omer Atzili took a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 33rd minute, curling a powerful low shot into the bottom left corner.

Beitar then took a more relaxed approach until halftime, but Austria still only had one chance to equalize, though Kelvin Boateng's shot lacked power.

Strong Austria Response

After the break, Beitar Jerusalem initially remained the better team, and Johnbosco Kalu deservedly doubled the Israelis' lead with a rebound in the 56th minute (2-0).

However, Viennese Austria had the perfect response ready. After a mistake by the visitors during build-up play, Hettwer intercepted the ball; his shot was saved, but Boateng was perfectly positioned to tap in (58th minute) – 1-2, everything was open again.

A few minutes later, Atzili for Beitar only hit the post, and Austria was lucky. The game then became more fragmented, and only in the final phase did Manfred Fischer have a clear opportunity to win the match, but a bobble caused him to miss.

Decision in the Penalty Shootout

Because a header from Beitar defender Brayan Carabali, following a free-kick from Samuel Sahin-Radlinger, was well saved, the match went into extra time.

There, the visitors had the more dangerous chances; Carabali created danger with another header, and Yarden Shua carelessly missed a big chance after a well-worked move. Sahin-Radlinger then got a hand to another shot from Tomer Yosefi, thus taking Austria into the penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Eugene Ansah hit the crossbar for Beitar, but Vasilije Markovic also only hit the post for the Viennese. However, Sahin-Radlinger then saved Timothy Muzie's penalty, and Sanel Saljic secured the 4-2 victory in the shootout.

For Viennese Austria, the play-off for the Conference League group stage will now be against SC Braga.