SK Rapid Vienna 4-0 CASHPOINT SCR Altach
Rapid cruised past Altach in their home premiere as Guido Burgstaller made history for the club in Hütteldorf. Visiting keeper Dejan Stojanovic made save after save as Rapid racked up 29 shots across the 90 minutes, and once Nicolas Kühn smashed in from the left of the area after 29 minutes, it only took five more minutes for him to score his second, when a one-on-one chance fortunately bounced off his knee and in, sealing his first Bundesliga brace. Kühn could have had a hattrick, and perhaps so could Marco Grüll, who had a game high seven shots, but instead it was birthday boy Jonas Auer who was left unmarked at the back post to slot in for 3-0 on the hour. There was still time for assist-specialist Thorsten Schick to cut the ball back into the box for last season’s Golden Boot winner Guido Burgstaller, who clipped it home off the far post to make it 4-0. That put Burgstaller on the score sheet for a club record 11th successive Bundesliga home game (12th successive home game in all competitions), a feat only ever achieved in the league by Vaclav Danek in 1990, and Jonatan Soriano in 2015. Rapid are up to third for now, whilst Altach are still waiting for a first goal and a first point.
SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz 2-0 LASK
A rain-soaked Merkur Arena hosted a contest between the Bundesliga’s second- and third-placed teams from the previous season, and it was the hosts who came out on top thanks in no small part to a Tomi Horvat wondergoal. Sturm were pushing hard from the outset, and Otar Kiteishvili fired a low shot just wide before Horvat took aim and arrowed the ball high into the top corner from distance just prior to the half-hour mark. It was his fifth league goal but his first from outside the area, he also scored a stunner against the same opponents in last season’s cup semi-final! LASK had a penalty shout when they felt that Moussa Kone had been tripped in the area, but it was Sturm who would grab goal number two after the break. David Schnegg teed up a cross for Szymon Wlodarczyk to head home and settle the game after 77 minutes. That’s two goals in two league games for their new Polish striker, and two wins in two league games for SK Sturm, as they prepared for their UEFA Champions League qualifier in the perfect fashion. LASK remain on one point from their two matches so far.
SK Austria Klagenfurt P-P RZ Pellets WAC
Whilst the 28 Black Arena turf was deemed to be playable, the clubs came to the commendable decision to postpone the Carinthian derby, given that assistance work was still taking place in flooded areas nearby. Austria Klagenfurt donated the food and provisions prepared for the game to the firefighters, workers and volunteers who were helping with the flood defence and rescue efforts on Saturday evening.
The match will now take place on Wednesday, August 9th at 8:30pm.
SC Austria Lustenau 0-2 FK Austria Vienna
Andreas Gruber was the hero of the hour for Austria Vienna as they came out on top in a match which featured two saved spot kicks. The woodwork had help keep things at 0-0, before Gruber ghosted into the middle to convert from a low cross towards the near post after 29 minutes. Lustenau had a great chance to level shortly before the break, but away keeper Christian Früchtl went the right way to deny Lukas Fridrikas from the spot. The game remained close until Silva Kani got his first Bundesliga assist by picking out Gruber in the box, who controlled and fired home for 2-0 after 77 minutes. He’s now scored at least one brace for each of his four Bundesliga clubs (Sturm Graz, Mattersburg, LASK and Austria Vienna). It was then their turn to miss a penalty, as Aleksandar Jukic’s effort was well-saved by Domenik Schierl in the closing stages, nevertheless Austria Vienna won 2-0 just three days after their UEFA Conference League qualifying win in Banja Luka. They pick up a first victory of the season, whilst Lustenau remain on one point.
Blau-Weiß Linz 3-3 TSV Egger Glas Hartberg
In not only their first Bundesliga home game for 26 years but also the league curtain-raiser in their new stadium, Blau-Weiß Linz staged a stunning late comeback to snatch a draw against an in-control Hartberg side on Sunday. The day started well for the hosts, as Tobias Koch converted a third minute penalty - with a touch of fortune, as he slipped during the process, but a rasping finish from Maximilian Entrup brought Hartberg level after half an hour. He’s now scored in both of his first two Bundesliga games for Hartberg, something which no other player has done for the Styrian side. Entrup became the assist-provider just five minutes later when he played a square ball for Christoph Lang to side-foot home and turn the game on its head. On the eve of half time, Ruben Providence had the chance to make it 3-1 to Hartberg, but his penalty was smothered by home keeper Nicolas Schmid. After the break Dominik Prokop poked in the third for the guests regardless, but just as they looked set for a first win of the season, a quick-fire double from Ronivaldo and Julian Gölles pulled it back to 3-3 in the last five minutes, to the delight of the home crowd. Blau-Weiß Linz therefore claimed a first point of the season, Hartberg let slip a two-goal lead to end up with a draw for the second week running.
FC Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 WSG Tirol
It took the defending champions until the second half to hit the front against WSG, but once they did, they eventually ran out comfortable winners. After almost an hour without a goal, Maurits Kjaergaard’s corner kick was coolly headed home by Karim Konate to give Salzburg a deserved lead; Kjaergaard was the most frequent assist provider from corners last season with four. WSG were not entirely without chances, but although they battled on bravely, the home side would extend the lead late on. Oscar Gloukh missed a good one-on-one chance from the left, before Konate clipped home a classy finish from a similar situation following an Oumar Solet pass three minutes from the end. Salzburg made it 3-0 in stoppage time as Kjaergaard fed the ball into the box for Dorgeles Nene who might have left it for teammate Amar Dedic, but scored the goal himself! The home side maintained their perfect start with two wins from two and no goals conceded, WSG are currently without a point.
Redakteur: The Other Bundesliga
Fotos: GEPA pictures