ADMIRAL Bundesliga Matchday 31 Reviews

Relegation Round

WSG Tirol 4-2 TSV Egger Glas Hartberg

The crowd in Innsbruck were treated to a goal-fest on Saturday as WSG continued their incredible Relegation Round run to seal top spot in the group with a game to spare. It took the hosts 36 minutes before Michael Steinwender headed a dangerous cross into his own net, but early in the second half they were able to finish it for themselves, as Thomas Sabitzer knocked in Giacomo Vrioni’s square ball for his eighth goal of the campaign, seven of which have come at the Tivoli Stadium. Hartberg’s Manfred Gollner got his second goal of the season against WSG, as a powerful header just crossed the line after 63 minutes, but it proved to be a false dawn for the Styrians. Vrioni added a goal and another assist for WSG in the closing stages, as he moved just two behind Nikolai Baden Frederiksen’s club record of 18 goals in a season. Seth Paintsil bagged a late consolation goal for Hartberg, but the result was never in doubt. WSG Tirol have now won five of their last seven games, and have secured their place in the European Qualifying Play-Off; Hartberg will have to fight against relegation on the final day.

SV Guntamatic Ried 1-1 LASK

Ried missed the chance to cement their Bundesliga status with a game to go, as they let slip a lead against a LASK side who for their part failed to guarantee the club’s place in the European Qualifying Play-Off. In another heated Upper Austrian Derby, the home team came flying out of the blocks, forcing LASK keeper Alexander Schlager into a number of saves, before defender Oumar Sako looped a header past him and into his own net shortly before the break. It was the second derby in a row in which Ried have benefited from an own goal, and the third time this season that they’ve done so, a club record. Despite the hosts pushing forward and creating chances, Ried’s bogeyman Sascha Hovath was able to fire in a powerful shot to level for LASK. He’s now scored in three games against Ried this season, once for Hartberg and twice for LASK, and he moved onto 10 goals for the season, with seven coming since his transfer to the Linzers. In the end, a point each does neither side many favours, and both have work to do next week.

FC Flyeralarm Admira 0-3 CASHPOINT SCR Altach

Admira could have done themselves and several other sides a favour by relegating Altach on Saturday, but instead, three late goals left the relegation race wide open. With the game finely poised at 0-0 and 20 minutes to play, Atdhe Nuhiu got up highest to head home a precious goal for the Vorarlbergers. In his last four games he’s now managed two goals and three assists which, remarkably, is two more scorer points than he got in his first 25 games of the season. Admira were piling on the pressure and threatening to equalise, but instead a long, bouncing clearance set up an Altach break which ended with Dominik Reiter tapping in his first goal for the club and sealing the win in stoppage time. The Altach bench were jubilant, but there was still more to come, as Stefan Haudum made it 3-0 after 95 minutes; the final moment of a confidence boosting win which leaves them two points behind three other clubs (Hartberg, Admira & SV Ried) going into the final fixture of the season, where they will meet WSG Tirol.

Championship Round

SK Austria Klagenfurt 1-1 FK Austria Vienna

The battle of the Austrias went the way of the capital club, as they moved into an all-important third place in the table with just one more game to go. The Viennese side got off to the ideal start, as Noah Ohio scored his fifth goal of the season from point blank range with just one minute of football played. Klagenfurt stayed in the contest though, creating more shots overall than their guests, and when future Rapid Vienna player Patrick Greil was on hand to turn in a rebound for his fourth of the campaign after 68 minutes, the finale was set up nicely. Austria Vienna were the team to find the winner though, when Dominik Fitz was afforded far too much space on the edge of the area, and was able to sweep home a Vesel Demaku pass for a vital win. It was Fitz’ first goal of the season, and Demaku’s first assist since back in 2019. Austria Vienna now have their fate in their own hands regarding finishing third and guaranteeing lucrative European group stage football for next season; Klagenfurt will not be in Europe, and are certain of sixth place.

SK Rapid Vienna 0-1 FC Red Bull Salzburg

Salzburg won for the seventh straight time against Rapid Vienna, continuing a miserable series for the Green and Whites, and extending the champions’ advantage atop the Bundesliga table. Rapid Coach Ferdinand Feldhofer had to start with an experimental side against Salzburg given a number of injuries and suspensions, but despite opening strongly, it was the away side who took the lead after 10 minutes. A neat passing move ended with Karim Adeyemi releasing Luka Sucic to slot in for 1-0. It was Sucic’s sixth goal of the group, and eighth overall for the season, as well as marking 14 Bundesliga assists for striker Adeyemi. Rapid didn’t give up, and makeshift centre forward Kelvin Arase had five shots, more than any other player, but when one half-volley ricocheted off the post, the goalkeeper and the crossbar before falling to safety, the home crowd in Hütteldorf probably knew it wasn’t to be their day in the sun. They slip to fourth, and now have a vital European showdown away to WAC on the last day; Salzburg close out their campaign at home against Klagenfurt.

SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz 1-4 RZ Pellets WAC

Wolfsberg reignited their European hopes with a big win away against second-placed Sturm. An early blitz from WAC included three first-half goals which left Sturm with too much to do on Sunday. Luka Lochoshvili curled in a lovely opener on his 50^th Bundesliga appearance, before Tai Baribo ended a goal drought which stretched back to match day 19 with his 10^th of the season. Michael Liendl scored his 10^th career goal against Sturm, more than he’s got against any other team, when he converted a penalty for 3-0, and the game was still only 25 minutes old. Jakob Jantscher assisted Ivan Ljubic from a Sturm set-piece in the second half, but WAC had the last laugh, as Dario Vizinger scored for the fourth time this season to leave the score at 4-1. Sturm are nonetheless set in second place, but Wolfsberg now face Rapid on the last day with the remaining European places directly on the line!