3-1 home win against Sturm Graz

Austria Wien celebrates a 3-1 home win over Sturm Graz at the end of the year and moves back into the top six in the table. After falling behind early on, Reinhold Ranftl equalises before Johannes Eggestein puts the Violets ahead before half-time. Joker Kelvin Boateng puts the icing on the cake in stoppage time in the second half.

Stephan Helm fielded the same eleven against the Styrians that had last started against WAC. This included birthday boy Philipp Maybach, who celebrated his 18th birthday today. Alongside him was Kang Hee Lee, with captain Manfred Fischer, Abubakr Barry and Johannes Eggestein forming the attacking trio.

Ranftl & Eggestein turn the game around

After play was halted in the opening minutes due to limited visibility for the VAR, the visitors took advantage of their first opportunity. Following a corner, Arjan Malić was on hand at the far post to give Sturm an early lead (7'). However, the Violets did not let this throw them off their game and continued to combine skilfully in the opposition's penalty area.

And on this Sunday, the Violets' clinical finishing was back: Taeseok Lee played Eggestein in on the wing, who brought the ball into the penalty area with great vision, where Reinhold Ranftl had moved up and was perfectly positioned to score the deserved equaliser (19')!

Austria continued to dominate the game and created several dangerous chances in front of goal, while the defence kept Sturm Graz well under control and allowed them few opportunities. At the other end, it was Taeseok Lee again who this time played a fine pass to the Violets' captain, forcing the visitors' captain to commit a foul – referee Talić did not hesitate and immediately awarded a penalty. Johannes Eggestein remained confident from the spot and put the Violets ahead with his fifth goal of the season (37')!

Defence stands firm, Boateng seals the deal

In the second half, there was another brief interruption before the game picked up pace again. After an hour, Maybach sent Eggestein on his way with an ideal ball into the box, but the German was prevented from shooting at the last moment by a Sturm defender (62'). Ex Austria player Maurice Malone missed a great chance at the other end when, after a short clearance from Samuel Şahin-Radlinger, he hit the bar from a few metres out (68') – lucky for the Violets.

With 20 minutes to go in regular time, Maybach's day was over and he was replaced by Sanel Šaljić, who was making his comeback after an injury break. Although Sturm had several set pieces in the closing stages, the Violets' defence hardly allowed anything dangerous and defended confidently throughout.

Deep into stoppage time in the second half, substitute Kelvin Boateng beat his opponent in the visitors' penalty area after a long ball from Tin Plavotić, then rounded goalkeeper Christensen and sealed the deal with his first goal for the Violets (90+9')!

With this home win, Austria climbed to fifth place in the table and goes into the winter break two points behind second place.

Austria Wien – Sturm Graz 3-1 (2-1)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger – Wiesinger, Dragović, Plavotić – Ranftl, Maybach (Šaljić 71'), Kang Hee Lee, Taeseok Lee – Barry, Eggestein (Boateng 90+3'), Fischer © (Raguž 90+5.)

Sturm: Christensen - Malić (Bendra 80.), Mitchell, Geyrhofer, Karić (Hierländer 63.) - Gorenc-Stanković © (Chukwuani (80.) - Horvat, Kiteishvili, Hödl (Rózga 74.) - Malone, Jatta (Beganović 46.)

Goals: Ranftl 19., Eggestein 37. (penalty), Boateng 90+9.; Malić 7.

Yellow cards: Barry 73., Wiesinger 81.; Jatta 45+4., Kiteishvili 90+4.

Generali Arena, 13,463 fans; referee Arnes Talić