WAC suffers heavy defeat after disappointing run before international break

On Sunday, the Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC lost at home to SV Ried 1-4, which meant the 2025 cup winner suffered its third defeat in the league and is now already six rounds without a win, as UWE WINTER noted.

Early Lead and Quick Turnaround

The Upper Austrians quickly established a clear advantage, but already in the third minute Ante Bajic equalised for Ried from a corner, heading the ball into the net. Only six minutes later Evan Eghosa Aisowieren took advantage of WAC's misplaced defence and made it 2-0. The Ried players consistently exploited WAC's early ball losses.

WAC began with the experienced player Markus Pink as a second striker alongside Phillip Verhounig, while defender Raphael Behounek returned after his ankle injury. Goalkeeper Lukas Gütlbauer had to clear several crosses right from the start, including one from Jaedin Rhodes that he could not catch cleanly. However, the early ball play remained more dominant for Ried.

Stefan Schwab converted the third goal in the 40th minute from a penalty after Martin Rasner hit the post and Schwab skillfully laid the ball to Bajic. Shortly before halftime Isaac Kiese Thelin, who made his debut in the second half, scored the fourth goal, only twelve minutes after his introduction. This gave Ried the fourth strike in just 81 minutes.

WAC chances and tactical changes

WAC own chances remained unused: Andreas Leitner had to save a double chance from Otar Mamageishvili and Verhounig, and Simon Piesinger narrowly missed with a header. In stoppage time Thomas Silberberger scored with a triple substitution, but Joris Boguo let several opportunities slip, including a shot against the right post.

After the break Silberberger introduced Donis Avdijaj, the former Hartberg player, into the game, but the attack remained dangerous. Kiese Thelin, the Swedish former national team striker, scored his first goal for Ried after a pass from Bajic.

Table consequences and outlook

Matteo Kitz rounded off the result in the 88th minute with a header from a corner by Avdijaj, the score remained 4-1. The defeat drops WAC to the second‑last place in the table, only two points ahead of bottom‑placed Altach. Ried climbed to seventh place thanks to the four goals.

Ried have collected seven points from the last three home games and have recorded twelve wins in 18 league matches at their own stadium. Ahead of the three‑day international break, WAC looks back on a run of three defeats and six rounds without a win.