St. Pölten II vs Donau

Donau drew first blood inside nine minutes. Staudinger capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot home and give the visitors an early lead.

St. Pölten II responded with purpose. Maximus Zeno Ghideu levelled in the 35th minute, and the hosts turned the game on its head just four minutes later when Davud Hodzic fired them into a 2-1 lead.

But Donau refused to buckle. Staudinger popped up again in the 44th minute to complete his brace and restore parity, sending the sides into the break locked at 2-2.

The second half proved a more cagey affair. Neither side could find a decisive fifth goal, leaving the spoils shared.

Staudinger's second goal, just before half-time, was decisive. Had St. Pölten II carried their 2-1 lead into the interval, they would have had the platform to control the second half. Instead, the equaliser gave Donau renewed belief and ensured the match remained in the balance until the final whistle.

Paul Staudinger (Donau) — The clear standout. Two well-taken finishes, one early and one on the stroke of half-time, dragged his team back into the game twice. A classic poacher's display.

Maximus Zeno Ghideu (St. Pölten II) — Scored the crucial equaliser to wipe out Donau's early advantage and sparked the home side's best spell of the match.

Davud Hodzic (St. Pölten II) — Put St. Pölten II ahead with a composed finish in the 39th minute, capping a swift turnaround.

The match was played as part of the Club Friendlies 4 series, with both teams using the fixture to build sharpness. The 2-2 scoreline at half-time — and the goalless second half — suggests fitness levels were still building, with energy dipping after the break. The four goals in the first 45 minutes reflect the open, transitional nature of a pre-season hit-out, with neither side prioritising defensive solidity over rhythm and minutes.

For St. Pölten II, the draw extends a run of three consecutive draws in pre-season friendlies, according to 4score.ru data. Donau, meanwhile, showed resilience to recover from 2-1 down and will take encouragement from Staudinger's form in front of goal as they prepare for the Regionalliga Ost campaign.

Both teams continue their pre-season schedules. Donau were next in action on 28 July 2026 in the Donaustadt-Cup against Columbia Floridsdorf.

A typically open pre-season friendly that delivered entertainment but few definitive conclusions. Staudinger's double was the individual highlight, while St. Pölten II will rue not seeing out the first half with their lead intact. Neither side will read too much into the result, but both will have identified areas to tighten before competitive action begins.