Austria round-up: Sturm storm past Kärnten

SK Sturm Graz produced a five-star performance to demolish FC Kärnten 5-1 at the Arnold Schwarzenegger stadium to stay near the top of the Austrian Bundesliga.

Level on points
Kärnten goalkeeper Roland Goriupp was helpless as Sturm cut loose in front of their own fans, defeating their opponents to remain level on points with second-placed Grazer AK.

Vastic opener
Ivica Vastic put Sturm ahead in the 28th minute after latching on to Arnold Wetl's pass. Alain Masudi made it 2-0 from close range just three minutes later after a neat exchange of passes involving Charles Amoah and Mario Haas. The visitors were given hope on the stroke of half-time when Marijo Maric reduced the deficit with a header after Thomas Höller's cross.

Rout completed
The home side dominated possession in the second half, however, with Haas netting with a header after a cross from Vastic. Two further goals in the final ten minutes from Imre Szabics (82) and David Mudzhiri (86) completed the rout.

Narrow win for Grazer
Grazer stayed ahead of their city rivals, though, by virtue of a narrow 1-0 away win at SV Ried. The game was decided by Günter Steininger's error in the 57th minute, the defender allowing himself to be dispossessed by Martin Amerhauser. Amerhauser then sprinted towards goal before firing past Ried keeper Milan Oraze.

Bregenz in control
Schwarz-Weiss Bregenz leapfrogged Lothar Matthaüs's SK Rapid Vienna to go seventh after winning 3-0 at home. Goals from Oliver Mattle (14), Axel Lawarée (32) and Florian Sturm (70) secured all three points for Bregenz, leaving Rapid third bottom.