Salzburg sizzling after title triumph

FC Salzburg have secured the Austrian Bundesliga title with a 2-2 home draw against defending champions FK Austria Wien today.

Zickler return
High-profile coaching duo Giovanni Trapattoni and Lothar Matthäus knew their side needed just a point to clinch the championship but looked like getting all three in front of a packed crowd when fit-again Alexander Zickler headed Salzburg in front on two minutes. However, Milenko Acimović stunned the home side with two goals in six minutes around the half-hour.

Kovac clincher
Salzburg roared back after the interval and the decisive equaliser finally came in the 66th minute when Niko Kovac headed in a corner. There was to be no further scoring, meaning the trophy would be going to Salzburg for the first time since the 1996/97 campaign. With five matches to play, Salzburg have a 19-point lead on second-placed SV Mattersburg, who lost 3-1 at SK Sturm Graz.

European goal
The triumph leaves Trapattoni and Matthäus to look forward to a place in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. Trapattoni said: "This title is of great importance to me since our president has always given us his trust and has always believed in us. Plus, all of us here have worked together and have given everything to the success. It is now our goal to assert ourselves in Europe as well."