Austria Vienna vs Paks

The first half was a cagey affair. Austria dominated possession but struggled to break down a well-organised Paks defence. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute through 19-year-old Sanel Šaljić: Johannes Eggestein played him in on the left flank with a low cross, Šaljić controlled the ball elegantly and chipped the goalkeeper — 1-0.

A potential goal from Ibrahim Buhari (22nd minute) was ruled out for handball. Shortly before half-time, Matteo Schablas was substituted due to circulation problems, though the club confirmed there was no serious concern.

Austria raised the tempo after the restart. Captain Manfred Fischer doubled the lead in the 52nd minute following a one-two with Vasilije Marković. The visitors responded immediately — Erik Silye pulled one back in the 54th minute to make it 2-1.

Head coach Stephan Helm introduced Moritz Wels and Julian Hettwer from the bench in the 60th minute — and the impact was instant. Wels scored in the 65th minute from Hettwer's assist to make it 3-1, and Hettwer himself finished a Reinhold Ranftl cross just two minutes later. The game was decided in 120 seconds.

Manfred Fischer — The captain anchored the midfield and scored the crucial second goal. A composed, experienced presence throughout. Man of the match.

Sanel Šaljić — The 19-year-old opened the scoring with a delightful lob and justified the trust shown in him during pre-season.

Julian Hettwer — The new signing assisted the third goal and scored his first for the club. Two minutes, two goal contributions — maximum efficiency.

Austria scored four from five registered attempts (one disallowed), all in the second half — evidence of squad depth and strong fitness after six weeks of preparation. The Veilchens finished the pre-season unbeaten (four wins, two draws).

The fixture was the final tune-up before competitive action begins. On Thursday, 23 July 2026 at 17:00 CEST, Austria Vienna travel to Latvian side FK Liepāja for the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round first leg. Paks also begin their European qualification campaign next week.

A professional performance from Austria Vienna. Patient in the first half, clinical after the break. The depth of the squad — particularly the quality of the substitutes — could prove decisive over a long season. The trip to Liepāja will reveal where this team truly stands under Stephan Helm.