Domestic Bundesliga

LIVE from 5pm: Austria Klagenfurt against GAK!

Austria Klagenfurt pick up an important three points against GAK.

(Bild: GEPA)

Austria Klagenfurt have ended their seven-game winless streak in the Bundesliga. The Carinthians beat GAK 4-2 at home on Saturday to move up to ninth place in the table. Klagenfurt squandered a 2-0 lead after goals from Christopher Wernitznig (12th) and Dikeni Salifou (60th). Graz came back through Daniel Maderner (62') and Zeteny Jano (73'). Ben Bobzien made the difference with a brace (78th, 95th/penalty).

Klagenfurt coach Peter Pacult opted for Florian Jaritz in attack alongside his top scorer Bobzien in place of the injured Nicolas Binder. His team set the tone in the first half. Salifou tested GAK goalkeeper Florian Wiegele for the first time after six minutes. A little later, Wiegele made a great save from Thorsten Mahrer from a corner (8'). Wernitznig scored the opening goal after a throw-in from which GAK had failed to clear the ball. The 34-year-old struck it perfectly from just inside the penalty area.

GAK were missing attacker Dominik Frieser due to thigh problems. Coach Rene Poms reacted angrily to his team's poor performance and made a triple substitution at the break. Substitute Martin Kreuzriegler was tripped by Salifou after a long ball from Tobias Koch to make it 2-0. The Werder Bremen loanee from Togo finished alone in front of Wiegele. GAK struck back less than two minutes later through Maderner. The captain headed a corner from substitute Jano into the far corner.

Klagenfurt still unbeaten with Hinteregger
Jano went one better: The Salzburg loanee scored the equalizer with a low shot from the edge of the box. It was the 19-year-old's first Bundesliga goal. However, the joy of the numerous GAK fans who had made the journey lasted only a short time: After a duel with Kreuzriegler, Bobzien went down in the penalty area. Wiegele saved the fouled player's subsequent penalty, but Bobzien tucked away the follow-up shot.

Klagenfurt are still unbeaten with Martin Hinteregger (left).

(Bild: GEPA)

The German was allowed to take another penalty kick deep into stoppage time. Keanan Bennetts had taken it in a duel with Milos Jovicic. This time, Bobzien scored directly for his ninth league goal of the season. Shortly beforehand, substitute GAK man Thorsten Schriebl had been shown a yellow card for repeated fouls (92').

Graz conceded their first defeat of the new calendar year after picking up four points from two games. The promoted side remain second-last in the table. Bottom-placed Altach could catch up on points with a home win against TSV Hartberg on Sunday (14:30/live Sky). Klagenfurt, on the other hand, remain unbeaten after three games with ex-national player Martin Hinteregger in defense. The lead over Altach is seven points.