Bundesliga

Austria Vienna vs. Klagenfurt – LIVE from 5pm

Aleks Dragovic celebrates with the Violets.

(Bild: GEPA)

Vienna's Austria are not letting up at the end of the basic round of the Bundesliga. On Sunday, the favorites celebrated a 2:0 (2:0) home victory over Austria Klagenfurt in the 21st and penultimate round. 

Dominik Fitz (15th) and Maurice Malone (20th) ensured a deserved and unchallenged victory. The Viennese side thus remained level on points with leaders Sturm Graz in second place in the table.

Austria welcomed back the recently suspended bulwark Aleksandar Dragovic in defense, but had to replace the injured Johannes Handl with Lucas Galvao. Otherwise, everything remained the same, including the dominance. The home side patiently but unsuccessfully played the deep visitors' block for a good 15 minutes before "Zaubermaus" Fitz broke the spell within two minutes.

(Bild: GEPA)

First, he initiated the one-two with Reinhold Ranftl with a quickly played foul, who then set him up for the 1:0 from close range - goalkeeper Simon Spari was on hand but powerless. A short time later, Fitz delivered a precise assist for Malone from the far right and the striker shot in with ice-cold precision. Klagenfurt's top chance out of nothing through Ben Bobzien, which was thwarted by Samuel Sahin-Radlinger (15th), was long forgotten by then.

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK)

Austria miss out on further goals
Austria kept the pressure on. Spari saved a header from Tin Plavotic (33'), but was then beaten by Aboubakr Barry's sensitive and daring attempt - the crossbar saved (37'). A few seconds later, the goalkeeper made another save from Matteo Perez Vinlöf's overhead kick and was again on hand to deny Plavotic (41'). The Carinthians were well served with the 0:2 at the break, even if Sahin-Radlinger had to be alert once again after a counterattack against Dikeni Salifou (44').

In terms of play, the changeover brought a repeat of the first 45 minutes. Klagenfurt continued to try hard, but were fairly harmless, while Austria had their first top opportunity after 20 minutes. However, it was thwarted by Martin Hinteregger in a desperate save from Malone (64'). The 14,379 spectators witnessed a flood of violet chances in the final period: Malone failed to beat Spari (79'), Fitz hit the bar (84'). Manfred Fischer's supposed 3:0 was disallowed for offside (92'), and finally Spari threw himself into a Ranftl shot (95').

FK Austria Wien - SK Austria Klagenfurt 2:0 (2:0)

 Vienna, Generali Arena, 14,379, referee Ciochirca

Goals: 
1:0 (15.) Fitz

2:0 (20.) Malone

Austria: Sahin-Radlinger - Dragovic (61. Wiesinger), Plavotic, Galvao - Ranftl, Barry (71. Gruber), Fischer, Perez Vinlöf (91. Potzmann)- Fitz - Prelec (61. Raguz), Malone (91. Maybach)

Klagenfurt: Spari - Szerencsi, Mahrer, Hinteregger, Robatsch - Bonnah, Wernitznig, Cvetko (78. Wydra), Salifou (82. Kitz), Bennets (78. Toshevski) - Bobzien

Yellow cards: Fitz, Perez Vinlöf or Salifou, Bennets