In the run-up to the game between Austria and Sturm, three players were honored in Vienna – the favorites. Jakob Jantscher received the award for the Bundesliga season player. Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz was named goalkeeper of the season for the second year in a row, while Braunöder was named youngster of the season. With a win, the violets wanted to secure third place and thus the Europa League playoff, which in turn would guarantee a fixed place in the group stage of the Conference League in the event of elimination. For Sturm, it wasn’t about much, especially since the Graz team had already secured the runner-up title.
Austria celebrated the lead in the 21st minute. Suttner brought a corner kick dangerously into the five. Martel was then able to screw up and defeat storm goalkeeper Siebenhandel with a head. But six minutes later, Jantscher equalized with a volley from five yards out to make it 1-1. Practically in return, however, there was again a jubilant mood at Austria. Braunöder played Fischer on the wing. He saw that storm goalkeeper Siebenhandl came too far out of his goal. With a lob, Fischer put the violets back in the lead.
As a result, the hosts had better chances of scoring the next goal. First, Martel headed another dangerous Suttner corner just wide of the left post (39′), after the break, the lightning-fast Noah Ohio did not bring a Stanglpass to Fischer exactly enough after a promising counterattack. An era ended in the 65th minute: Grünwald received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 330th game for Austria.
Grazer got better and better on the pitch, but Pentz was never really challenged. Instead, Fitz showed up with a decisive joker goal, as in the 2-1 win in Klagenfurt last week: The 22-year-old shot from about 20 meters and sank the ball in the left corner, Siebenhandl didn’t look happy again. A little later, Joker Keles opened a long violet closing time with his goal through Siebenhandl’s legs. Even a nice hit from Sarkaria didn’t change that.
In the long-distance duel with their archrival, Rapid also fought for third place. The Hütteldorfer were guests at the WAC in Carinthia. But the Wolfsbergers still had chances for third place. In any case, the statistics spoke a clear language before the game. Rapid has won five of the last seven games. Rapid was the better team from the start. In the sixth minute, Knasmüllner had a promising opportunity after a free kick from Auer. But the ball went just wide of the goal. The guests rewarded themselves in the 35th minute. Aiwu played a high ball to Grüll, who gave Rapid the lead with a shot into the far post.
The WAC got better as a result and was able to cause danger, especially through standard situations. Nevertheless, the score was 0:1 in the second 45 minutes.
The second half began with a Baumgartner header that Gartler blocked (52′), after which Rapid became more dangerous again. Grüll and Zimmermann failed to get through to Kofler (53′ each), and a shot by Robert Ljubicic rolled just wide of the far corner (61′). Knasmüllner also found his master in Kofler (69th).
The missed opportunities should take revenge a little later. In the 74th minute, Thorsten Röcher played to Liendl and the director put the ball on for Baribo, who equalized while lying down. Seconds later Baribo managed a Fersler on the substitute Jasic, who was successful with a low shot. As a result, Hütteldorfer ran in vain to equalize, which would have been enough for fourth place. Overtime is now waiting in the form of two more games – possibly against LASK with ex-Rapid coach Dietmar Kühbauer.
In the last home game of the season, Red Bull Salzburg hosted Austria Klagenfurt. Salzburg were already the champions. In addition, it was also clear that the Klagenfurt team would end the championship group in sixth and last place. Peter Pacult’s team tried to set dangerous accents with the switching game. But the bulls then increased the pressure. In the 13th minute, Moser was able to parry a shot from Sucic. Sucic was previously served by Adeyemi with an ideal pass to the backcourt. Salzburg defender Solet showed his attacking qualities after 28 minutes. After a hook, he took off with his left foot. Klagenfurt goalkeeper Moser was there once more and made a save.
Matthias Jaissle’s team grew in strength as a result. Shortly before half-time, a Junuzovic free-kick went just wide of the goal, in the end centimeters were missing to make it 1-0 (39′). But shortly after the change of sides, Gemicibasi headed into the left corner and gave the Klagenfurt team the lead. After 51 minutes, Gemicibasi could have fueled his brace. But Salzburg goalkeeper Mantl parried his free kick superbly and steered the ball over the goal. Salzburg went after the equalizer as a result. This was finally achieved in stoppage time thanks to Koita’s dust-off.