GAK coach Messner led the team in the Bundesliga
Photo: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU
DThe GAK are champions of the 2nd football league with four rounds to go and are promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in 17 years. The Styrians watched the last game of the 26th round between Vienna and pursuers SV Ried from a distance on Sunday. The Upper Austrians would have had to win in Vienna to preserve their theoretical chance. But Vienna prevailed 2:1 (2:1), which means Ried can no longer catch up with GAK mathematically.
There was a first official reaction from the Bundesliga on Sunday afternoon: “Congratulations to GAK on the championship title in the Admiral 2nd League and on their return to the top division! The way in which the club once again demonstrated comeback qualities and dominated this season is impressive,” said CEO Christian Ebenbauer and added. “It is very fitting that GAK, as a traditional club, is completing its return to the top division exactly 20 years after its Bundesliga championship title and in the 50th Bundesliga season.”
The club itself initially sent out the following message to the fans via social networks. “History is written. We are CHAMPIONS of the 2nd league and after 17 years we can now say what every Red could only dream of.” There were also congratulations online from Sturm Graz fans who were happy about a comeback of the Graz derby in the Bundesliga.
On the field, Vienna made everything clear for the GAK on Sunday. Kevin Boateng gave the hosts a deserved lead at the Hohe Warte in the 13th minute after a beautiful solo and a shot into the near corner. But the equalizer was hanging in the air five minutes later when a shot from David Bumberger was deflected by the defense onto their own crossbar. Mark Grosse then put the ball into the Vienna goal to make it 1-1 in the 25th minute. But just two minutes later, Vienna made it 2-1 again through Noah Bischof. That was also the break point.
After the break, the match sputtered along and Vienna maintained its lead. A goal that supposedly made it 2-2 by Ante Bajic was disallowed due to offside. While Vienna celebrated its fourth home win in a row, a series of four wins ended for SV Ried.