Two teams walk into Sportplatz WAF Gruabn on October 26, but only one will walk out with their trajectory intact—or at least with their dignity unscathed, which, in the Landesliga Wien, can sometimes be the same thing. Autumn’s chill has set in, but the temperature at kick-off between Vorwärts Brigittenau and Austria XIII promises to be considerably warmer than the Vienna forecast. This isn’t merely another fixture shuffled into the late-October calendar; this is a crossroads, a test of mettle, and for at least one squad, a potential line between lingering hope and looming crisis.
Vorwärts Brigittenau, by any metric short of a last-minute goalkeeping clinic, have been sputtering through fall. One win in five, with goals harder to come by than an honest answer at a post-match press conference. The 1-4 loss at FAC Wien last week laid bare the cracks—no, the crevasses—in their defensive organization. Confidence is a fragile thing in football, and Vorwärts have lost three of their last five, conceding buckets while their attack quietly leafs through old match reports, searching for the last time anyone recorded a brace in their favor. A draw at Mauerwerk, a solitary win against Dinamo Helfort—the kind of form that makes you wonder if someone’s been swapping the match balls for medicine balls at training.
Yet, if you squint—there it is, a glimmer. Every battered side has its moment in the sun, and if Vorwärts Brigittenau can circle the wagons for ninety minutes, there’s a narrative flip waiting to be authored. The home crowd at WAF Gruabn isn’t known for its patience, but they’ll be bringing passion unfiltered, and you can bet the players will feel that heat from the first whistle.
Across the touchline, Austria XIII arrive with a record that reads like a cryptic crossword: wins, draws, losses—and goals, glorious goals. They’ve netted them in twos, in threes, once even four in a rousing display away at FAC Wien. Mind you, they also took a 1-4 beating at the hands of Wienerberg, so consistency is more concept than reality here. Still, their recent 1-1 draw against Stadlau showed spine, and a 4-0 thrashing of FAC Wien just a week before suggests Austria XIII still remember how to swing the hammer when the mood strikes.
Here’s the chess match: Vorwärts, desperate for goals and defensive pride, likely tighten up and try to frustrate Austria XIII’s attacking ambitions. But parking the bus is easier when the engine isn’t sputtering; Vorwärts' recent defending has resembled more of a revolving door than a barrier. Austria XIII, in contrast, will look to keep the tempo high, probing for those familiar gaps in transition, where they excel at turning half-chances into headline moments.
Individual battles will decide this one, even if the team sheets don’t feature household names outside Vienna’s 20th and 13th districts. Keep an eye on Vorwärts' midfield anchor—rumor has it he’s been running his own tackling clinic mid-match, out of necessity. Up front, Vorwärts need someone, anyone, to rediscover that striker’s swagger—because a toothless attack against Austria XIII is almost an invitation to disaster.
On Austria XIII’s side, the wide men could spell trouble. Their ability to drag defenses out of shape and whip in crosses has been the difference in games where patience paid off. If they get going early, it could be a long afternoon for the home supporters. The Austria XIII goalkeeper, meanwhile, has seen his fair share of action lately; whether he’s up to the task of marshaling a sometimes-adventurous backline will be key if Vorwärts manage to muster anything resembling attacking intent.
What’s at stake? For Vorwärts Brigittenau, it’s not just three points—it’s respect, both from their own locker room and from the rest of the league. Lose here, and the narrative becomes one of damage control for the rest of autumn. But steal a win, and suddenly, the ghosts of October fade a bit, and belief trickles back in. For Austria XIII, this is about proving consistency. Can they string together results, put away a struggling side, and stake their claim at the upper end of the table? Or will their see-saw run continue, complete with the frustrations of dominant spells undone by a single lapse?
Prediction? Call it cautious optimism: Austria XIII have the attacking tools, the form, and the wind at their backs. But if Vorwärts decide to show up with nothing to lose, and maybe a little bitterness from last week’s humiliation still in their boots, we could see a performance worthy of the home crowd. In the Landesliga Wien, you don’t bet the mortgage. But you do keep your radio tuned—a wild finish is always lurking around the next corner, and these two have plenty left to prove.