ADMIRAL Bundesliga Matchday 26 Reviews

Qualification Round

FC Flyeralarm Admira 1-1 LASK

Admira remain unbeaten since the league split, after securing their third draw in succession with a fightback against LASK on Saturday. Sascha Horvath has been a thorn in Admira’s side in recent seasons, he was left open on the right to cross towards Peter Michorl who volleyed in from the far side for a lovely early opener. It was the fourth goal of the season for Michorl, and Horvath’s seventh career scorer-point in games against Andreas Herzog’s team (3 goals, 4 assists). After falling behind in the sixth minute, the hosts came back to level things up just after the break through Leonardo Lukacevic’s first Bundesliga goal, on his 50th appearance. After that, the second half produced shooting chances for both sides, but a keenly contested game ended with a point apiece, leaving LASK and Admira second and third in the group respectively.

WSG Tirol 0-3 CASHPOINT SCR Altach

Altach recorded their biggest win of the season to stay unbeaten in four games, and turn up the relegation pressure for all of their group rivals. Despite WSG’s Tim Prica having a game-high five shots and forcing Tino Casali into some excellent saves, it was Bakary Nimaga who opened the scoring just inside 20 minutes with his first goal for Altach. His effort from Gianluca Gaudino’s corner kick only just crossed the line, but it was a crucial lead and his side never looked back. It was the first time in 14 games that Altach managed a goal before the break, and like London buses, a second came along soon after! Another Gaudino corner led to Emanuel Schreiner’s deflected shot doubling the lead eight minutes before the interval. It was his first goal of the season, and it marked the first time since 2019 that Altach found the net twice from corner kick set plays. A late solo goal from Noah Bischof capped off a stunning day for the league’s bottom club, who are now just four points away from the top of the group table.

SV Guntamatic Ried 0-0 TSV Egger Glas Hartberg

Ried retained their narrow lead at the top of the group after playing out a goalless draw at home to Hartberg. The hosts had 16 shots in the game, but it was their keeper Samuel Sahin-Radlinger who made the best early stop to deny Jürgen Lemmerer on his debut in the Hartberg starting XI. Ante Bajic slammed a shot off the upright, but again it was the Ried keeper who was busiest for much of the first half, as Hartberg searched desperately for a first league goal since February. Ried bossed the game more after the break, but Rene Swete had a good game in the Hartberg goal, and he was aided by an excellent defensive header from Christian Klem as both teams drew a blank. Even a late sending off for Ried’s Stefan Nutz couldn’t lead to an opener, so the points were shared.

Championship Round

SK Austria Klagenfurt 0-6 FC Red Bull Salzburg 

Klagenfurt set an unwanted record as an early sending-off allowed Salzburg a chance to comfortably avenge their defeat from earlier in the season. Christopher Cvetko had the first shooting chance for the hosts, but once Turgay Gemicibasi had been given his marching orders for the third time this season with half an hour gone, the contest changed. It was Austria Klagenfurt’s ninth straight red of the campaign, the most ever by a team in the modern Bundesliga era. Salzburg took full advantage, as Luka Sucic scored his first Bundesliga brace either side of the break; five of his six career league goals have come in 2022. Maxi Wöber was again dangerous from a set piece, slotting in his fourth goal of the season for 3-0 after Karim Adeyemi’s delightful flick-on. Maurits Kjaergaard scored one and set up another for Benjamin Sesko, after Adeyemi had rolled in from the penalty spot for his first Bundesliga goal since early March. That left the scoreline at 6-0, Salzburg’s fifth win on the bounce leaves Matthias Jaissle’s team 12 points clear at the top of the table.

SK Rapid Wien 2-1 RZ Pellets WAC

Rapid’s youngsters helped them pass a tough test from Wolfsberg, as they had to make do without several key players due to illness or suspension on Sunday. A high tempo game began with chances falling frequently at both ends of the pitch, but it was Bernhard Zimmermann who finished off a neat passing move with his fourth Bundesliga goal in just six appearances to give the hosts the lead at the break. The last Rapid player to manage four goals in his first six games was Terrence Boyd. The game remained entertaining after the interval, and with Rapid having 18 shots and WAC 20, it was no surprise that more goals came: Matthäus Taferner was able to equalise for the guests as he kept himself onside and slotted home calmly with 15 minutes left. WAC deserved their leveller, but Rapid turned the game on its head when substitute Dragoljub Savic powered in a shot from outside the box for his first Bundesliga goal after 80 minutes. Fellow Rapid II regular Nicolas Binder got the assist for that goal on his Bundesliga debut, and the home team held on to win a high quality game. They ended the day in third place, Wolsfberg stay fifth.

SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz 1-0 FK Austria Wien

Sturm cemented second spot in the table with a narrow but well-deserved win in front of 12,000 fans on Sunday evening. Gregory Wüthrich had two chances to open the scoring in the first 45 minutes, but on both occasions Austria keeper Patrick Pentz came out on top, and the sides went in goalless at half time. After the break, Sturm made their dominance pay, as the returning Otar Kiteishvili lofted a well-weighted through ball towards Jon Gorenc-Stankovic, who finished with the touch of a striker to give the hosts the lead. It was Kiteishvili’s 15th career Bundesliga assist, and Gorenc-Stankovic’s fourth goal of the season, taking him one clear of last season’s tally. Despite only having four shots, Austria did test Jörg Siebenhandl in the Sturm goal, but once he had denied Romeo Vucic in a one-on-one situation, the points were safe for Sturm Graz. They’re in second place, six points above Austria who are fourth.