CSKA and Austria back on track
Monday, December 1, 2003
Article summary
Round-up: The defending champions in Austria and Bulgaria reclaimed familiar ground this weekend.
Article body
Easy for Austria
Austrian title-holders FK Austria Wien lead the Bundesliga again after a 5-1 home victory against VfB Admira Wacker Mödling. Joachim Löw's side won easily while previous pacesetters SK Rapid Wien could only draw 1-1 at SV Mattersburg. Grazer AK are four points behind Austria in third place following a 1-0 reverse at SW Bregenz. At the wrong end of the table, SV Austria Salzburg inflicted a 3-0 home defeat on fellow strugglers and bottom club FC Kärnten.
Goalscorer Gargorov
Bulgarian champions PFC CSKA Sofia are also back on top after a 2-0 home success against PFC Cherno More Varna. New Bulgaria cap Emil Gargorov was the CSKA hero with two second-half goals. CSKA edged a point clear of PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, who lost 2-0 at PFC Slavia Sofia. First and second meet next week in Plovdiv in the last round of matches before the winter break. PFC Levski Sofia are now third following a 2-0 win at PFC Spartak Varna, while PFC Belasitza Petrich prevailed 3-1 in the southern derby at PFC Makedonska Slava.
Foldgast the difference
A late goal from substitute Peter Foldgast gave Danish leaders Brøndby IF a 2-1 home victory against FC Nordsjælland. Brøndby, tired after their midweek UEFA Cup exploits against FC Schalke 04, just about managed the win that kept them three points clear of Esbjerg fB, who beat Aalborg BK 4-2 at home. Reigning champions FC København won 2-0 at Viborg FF yet remain nine points behind Brøndby.
Victory for Varteks
Struggling NK Varteks achieved the weekend's outstanding result in Croatia, as Miroslav Blazevic's side inflicted only a third league defeat of the season on leaders HNK Hajduk Split. Coach Blazevic had threatened to quit in the event of a home defeat, but his team won through with goals from Nikola Safaric and Leon Benko.
Top three triumph
In Romania, meanwhile, there were wins for the top three clubs, FC Steaua Bucuresti, FC Dinamo Bucuresti and AFC Rapid Bucuresti. Adrian Pitu and Claudiu Raducanu gave leaders Steaua a 2-0 home success against FC Universitatea Craiova. A solitary strike from Ionel Danciulescu earned Dinamo the points at FC Apulum Unirea, while Rapid were 2-1 victors at FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt.
