SK Austria Klagenfurt made an important statement in the Regionalliga Süd on Saturday. In front of 850 spectators at the Wörthersee Stadion, the Violets beat previously unbeaten league leaders ATUS Velden 3-0 (1-0). Sebastian Pschernig netted a brace for the first two goals, before Daniel Owusu set the final score in the closing stages. After four games without a win, head coach Carsten Jancker's side could finally celebrate three points again.
Following the disappointing results of recent weeks, Austria were under pressure against the league leaders. The team showed from the outset that they wanted to put the recent setbacks behind them and tried to press the visitors early on. As early as the third minute, Luka Verbič had the first chance following a corner, but his effort went just wide of the goal.
In the tenth minute, things got dangerous at the other end. After a quick counter-attack, two Velden players bore down on the Klagenfurt goal. Austria captain Manuel Kuttin reacted decisively, rushed off his line and prevented a possible early deficit with his intervention.
What followed was a hard-fought encounter in which both teams gave little away at the back. After a good half hour, Austria managed to become more of a threat going forward again. In the 36th minute, referee Philip Gadler pointed to the spot for the Violets after a handball in the box.
Tristan Schoppitsch took responsibility but was denied by Velden goalkeeper Oliver Koch. Sebastian Pschernig reacted quickest to the rebound and tucked the ball away for a deserved 1-0 lead (38'). That was how the sides went into the half-time break.
Austria continued to push for a second goal after the restart. In the 56th minute, Daniel Kalajdzic had a big opportunity following a delivery from the right, but the striker did not catch the ball cleanly and missed the target.
The decisive moment came in the 71st minute. After a cross from the right, Velden's goalkeeper could only clear the ball poorly out of the box. Sebastian Pschernig was waiting on the edge of the area and converted with a superb half-volley to make it 2-0. It was already the midfielder's second goal of the afternoon.
The Violets remained dangerous afterwards and had the next chance shortly after. Following an attack down the flank, the ball came into the box dangerously, but Daniel Owusu was unable to make the most of the opportunity at first.
In the 82nd minute, the forward did better. After a pass from Fabian Rötzer down the right, Owusu was in the right place inside the box and slotted home for 3-0. That settled the contest for good. Austria saw out the lead comfortably in the closing stages and were able to celebrate an important home win after the final whistle.
With the victory, Austria inflicted the first defeat of the season on league leaders Velden while also ending their own run of four games without a win. After 13 rounds, the Violets now have 23 points and sit fourth in the table, three points behind leaders Velden.
Carsten Jancker's side are back in action this coming Friday, 30 October. Austria travel to ATSV Wolfsberg for a 19:00 kick-off.
