SK Austria Klagenfurt head into the winter break on a high. On Friday evening our Violets celebrated a 3-1 away win at ATSV Wolfsberg, following up the 3-0 against ATUS Velden with a second victory in a row. Goals from Matthias Dollinger, Sebastian Pschernig and Fabian Rötzer rounded off the autumn season in style.
After the convincing home win against then league leaders ATUS Velden, our Austria wanted to pick up three more points in the final match before the winter break. The side coached by Carsten Jancker travelled to the Lavanttal full of confidence, with Jancker sticking with the same starting eleven that had been successful against Velden.
Jancker had stressed before kick-off that the trip to the Lavanttal would be anything but easy. Wolfsberg were well organised and tried to give our team as little space as possible. Even so, Austria went in front after 24 minutes. Matthias Dollinger drove a free kick from the right low towards goal and caught the hosts' keeper by surprise. The ball found the net and our Violets had their first reason to celebrate.
The lead held until shortly before the break, when Christopher Waich made it 1-1 in the 45th minute. That left everything wide open for the second half.
Our Austria, however, did not let the late equaliser throw them off course. Although Wolfsberg continued to put up a fight, the team stayed patient and looked for ways to regain the lead.
In the 70th minute it was Sebastian Pschernig who provided the next moment of violet joy. After his brace against Velden, he once again showed his eye for goal, making it 2-1 with a low effort from around 30 metres. Three goals in two matches underline the midfielder's outstanding week.
Being back in front gave our team extra assurance. Wolfsberg had to take more risks in the closing stages and Austria made use of the spaces that opened up. In the 85th minute our Violets broke quickly after a mistake by the hosts. Fabian Rötzer was teed up in front of goal by Tristan Schoppitsch and finished for 3-1. That settled the contest.
At the final whistle our Austria could celebrate three more points and a successful end to the autumn season. The two wins against Velden and Wolfsberg give the team momentum for the challenges ahead.
Six points from the last two matches are a good way to sign off, but also an obligation for the months to come. Because one thing is clear: our Austria still have big ambitions. Now it is about taking the right steps during the winter break in order to attack again in the spring.
