Austria Vienna (Am) vs Ried II

Max Uhlig's side dominated from the opening whistle at the Austria Akademie, creating chances inside the first two minutes when Marjan Österreicher set up Bruno Jerabek, whose shot drifted just wide. The pressure told in the 22nd minute: Noel Polonkai broke the deadlock with a composed finish to put the Young Violets ahead.

Ried II's first real chance came in the 39th minute through a long-range effort, but goalkeeper Marcel Alphonsus — the 17-year-old making his first start — handled it well. Just before the break, Marcel Moswitzer turned home from a corner to make it 2-0 at half-time.

The match turned in a two-minute spell. Ried II were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute, which Elias Krain converted to halve the deficit. Barely 120 seconds later, the visitors capitalised on a turnover from a Young Violets throw-in, and Krain added his second to level the score at 2-2.

Austria's response to the equaliser defined the match. Rather than settling for a draw, Uhlig's substitutes — particularly Menshykov and David Ewemade — injected fresh energy. The Young Violets pushed for a winner and created several half-chances through Lars Stöckl and Can Danis before the breakthrough arrived in the 89th minute.

Menshykov, introduced in the 60th minute, missed his first attempt but recovered to score on the rebound. Deep into stoppage time (90+4), Ewemade's cross found Menshykov again, and the Ukrainian forward powered home his second to seal the result.

Illia Menshykov — The match-winner. Two goals in five minutes of normal-plus-stoppage time, both showing sharp reactions in the box after coming off the bench. Player of the match.

Elias Krain (Ried II) — His penalty and quick-fire second goal dragged his side level and threatened an upset. The two-minute brace was the high point of Ried's afternoon.

Marcel Moswitzer — The defender scored the crucial second goal just before the break and was solid at the back during Ried's equalising spell.

Noel Polonkai — Opened the scoring with a cool finish in the 22nd minute, setting the tone for Austria's early dominance.

The 4-2 scoreline flatters the closeness of the contest. Austria led 2-0 at the break and dominated possession in the first half, creating a string of chances through set-pieces and crosses. Ried II's 2-2 equaliser came from their only two shots on target of the second half — a penalty and a counter-attack from a throw-in. The expected goals data would likely show a clear advantage for the home side, who had the bulk of corners and entries into the final third. Austria's finishing was wasteful until Menshykov's late intervention.

Ried II's discipline in the second half was admirable but ultimately undone by a failure to see out the final minutes.

This was the final pre-season friendly for the Young Violets (Austria Vienna Am) before the 2026/27 2. Liga season begins. They face FC Blau-Weiß Linz on 31 July 2026 in their competitive opener, carrying mixed form from their pre-season run (W-L-D-L-D-W in their last six friendlies since late June).

Ried II, competing in the Regionalliga Nord (Austrian third tier), next face SV sedda Bad Schallerbach on 1 August 2026 in league action. With three pre-season games played (W-L-L), they will look to shore up a defence that conceded twice in stoppage time.

A game of two distinct halves. The Young Violets controlled the first 45 minutes but let their concentration slip after the break, nearly paying for it against a limited but determined Ried II side. Menshykov's late heroics mask the lack of a clinical edge that will need sharpening before the league starts. For Ried II, the fightback showed character, but conceding four goals in a friendly — including two in added time — is a warning sign for the season ahead.

Venue: Austria Akademie, Vienna
Attendance: 50
Referee: Gerhard Grobelnik

Young Violets line-up: Alphonsus (Jusic 45'), Vorsager (Gündük 78'), Moswitzer (Danis 78'), Hausjell (Menshykov 60'), Mörth, Roider (Hofmann 60'), Baotic (Bah 78'), Polonkai (Ewemade 60'), Jerabek (Brandt 60'), Stöckl, Österreicher
Ried II line-up: Frey, Gruber, Krain, Peric, Gschweidl, Zeqiri, Steingreß, Shabani, Schwaiger, Kreuzriegler

Scorers: Polonkai 22', Moswitzer 45', Menshykov 90', 90+4 — Krain 66' (pen), 68'

Next up: Young Violets vs FC Blau-Weiß Linz (31 July 2026, 2. Liga) | SV sedda Bad Schallerbach vs Ried II (1 August 2026, Regionalliga Nord)