Rapid, Austria Vienna, Sturm Graz, Red Bull Salzburg, LASK and several other top-flight teams all booked their places with victories by multiple-goal margins. Only Wolfsberger AC were made to work considerably harder: the Carinthians needed 120 minutes away to Regionalliga side Parndorf before eventually squeezing through on penalties.
Wurmbrand hat-trick sends Rapid through
Rapid were made to work hard for parts of their tie against second-tier Austria Klagenfurt. Captain Matthias Seidl put the Viennese side ahead after 28 minutes, but Tristan Schoppitsch responded just six minutes later with an excellent finish. Nikolaus Wurmbrand restored Rapid’s lead before the break.
The match became tense again immediately after the restart, when Schoppitsch lobbed Rapid goalkeeper Paul Gartler to make it 2-2. From that point on, however, the Bundesliga side raised the tempo considerably. Wurmbrand struck in the 57th minute, Nicolas Bajlicz made it 4-2 five minutes later and Wurmbrand then completed the first senior hat-trick of his Rapid career to seal a 5-2 victory. Coach Johannes Hoff Thorup was pleased with qualification but less impressed by the two goals his side conceded.
Austria and LASK cruise through
Austria Vienna had an even more comfortable evening away to FCM Traiskirchen. The Violets won 6-0 and had effectively settled the contest before half-time. Hasan Deshishku, making his first start for the senior side, opened the scoring after 22 minutes before Johannes Handl, Johannes Eggestein and Daniel Nnodim produced a devastating spell that gave Austria a 4-0 lead at the interval.
Julian Hettwer and Eggestein, with his second of the night, added two more goals in stoppage time. For an Austria side that has not always convinced in the Bundesliga in recent weeks, it was a welcome and thoroughly professional victory in which progression was never seriously in doubt.
LASK were similarly dominant away to Deutschlandsberger SC. Goals from Christoph Lang, Nael Kane, Kryštof Daněk and Florian Flecker put the Linz side 4-0 up by half-time. Kane completed his brace after the restart before substitute captain Sascha Horvath also got on the scoresheet. The Regionalliga side managed a consolation goal, but LASK still ran out comfortable 6-1 winners. Kane could even have added another, but missed a late penalty.
Sturm and Salzburg handle their assignments
Sturm Graz travelled to ASK Voitsberg for a Styrian encounter and came away with a 4-1 victory. Nelson Weiper gave the champions the lead after 15 minutes, although the match was initially much closer than the final scoreline suggests. Voitsberg stayed in contention for a long period before Sturm finally pulled away shortly after the hour mark.
Gizo Mamageishvili first created the second goal for Simon Seidl and then scored himself just four minutes later. Elias Neubauer pulled one back for Voitsberg, but the returning Otar Kiteishvili completed the scoring with an excellent effort from the edge of the penalty area. With a goal and an assist, Mamageishvili was one of Sturm’s standout performers.
Red Bull Salzburg also avoided any problems away to second-tier SKN St. Pölten. Coach Danny Röhl made seven changes to the starting XI that had beaten Rapid 5-1, yet Salzburg still won 3-0. There was an early warning, however, as Leomend Krasniqi struck the crossbar for SKN before the visitors opened the scoring.
From there, Salzburg took control. Haris Tabakovic scored after 23 minutes, his ninth goal in his ninth competitive appearance for the club, before Aboubacar Camara doubled the advantage ten minutes later. Bartosz Mazurek made it 3-0 shortly after the break. Salzburg never needed to reach their absolute best but, after the early scare, controlled the match with few difficulties.
WAC survive a penalty shootout in Parndorf
Wolfsberger AC were the only Bundesliga side forced to genuinely fear elimination against lower-league opposition. Their match away to SC/ESV Parndorf was level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and even extra time could not separate the teams, finishing 2-2. Only in the penalty shootout did the Carinthians finally avoid an early Cup exit.
Progress came at a considerable cost, however. Captain Nicolas Wimmer suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury, while Otar Mamageishvili was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
While the other favourites ultimately won their ties comfortably, Parndorf provided the only genuine threat of a major upset in the second round. For WAC, it was also a clear warning ahead of the last 16, where another second-tier opponent awaits.
Three derbies headline the last 16
The last-16 ties will be played between October 27 and 29. The draw is as follows:
- Wacker Innsbruck – WSG Tirol
- Schwarz Weiß Bregenz – Red Bull Salzburg
- Hertha Wels – Wolfsberger AC
- First Vienna FC – SK Rapid
- SC Austria Lustenau – SK Sturm Graz
- FK Austria Wien – TSV Hartberg
- LASK – SV Ried
- Grazer AK – SCR Altach
The draw is particularly attractive because it has produced three regional derbies. Wacker Innsbruck host WSG Tirol in a Tyrolean derby where there is effectively little sense of a traditional away disadvantage, while Rapid travel to First Vienna for a historic Vienna clash. LASK against Ried also carries extra significance as an Upper Austrian derby.
From a sporting perspective, Austria Lustenau against Sturm Graz could be one of the most intriguing fixtures. The Vorarlberg side already showed in their 1-1 Bundesliga draw in Graz that they are capable of causing the runners-up serious problems. Austria Vienna against Hartberg also looks finely balanced, while GAK against Altach is another all-Bundesliga tie.
Rapid will be clear favourites against Vienna, but an away game against one of Austria’s most historic clubs still carries a particular Cup appeal. Salzburg will likewise be heavily favoured in Bregenz, as will WAC away to Hertha Wels – although the Carinthians should need no reminder of the dangers involved after their near-miss in Parndorf.
Just as in the opening round, the major sensations failed to materialise in round two. The last 16, however, promises a much tighter set of contests, with three derbies, several all-Bundesliga matchups and a number of traditional fixtures providing plenty of intrigue at the end of October.
