Ried win ÖFB Cup
SV Ried fans are looking forward to see their team aiming for European glory next season after Austria Lustenau were beaten in the ÖFB Cup final yesterday (Sun).The second-league side performed well in front of 14,500 fans at Viennas Ernst Happel Stadium, but it was Ried who found the net. Markus Hammerer is tipped to be targeted by bigger clubs after his double strike four minutes before half time and around 20 minutes from the end. “Lustenau were the better side in the first half. Scoring two goals in the cup final feels incredible,” Hammerer said.It was the second cup triumph for the squad of Paul Gludovatz after 1998. Oliver Glasner, who captains Ried today, was already part of the team who crushed Sturm Graz in the final 13 years ago. Sturm won the league for a third time in the clubs history last Wednesday. Defending champions Red Bull Salzburg (RBS) finished the season in second ahead of last years vice champs Austria Vienna.”This is the greatest day in my career,” Glasner said yesterday. He revealed having considered quitting after three groin injuries last year. The defender added: “We have deserved to win the cup this season after having beaten Rapid Vienna and Sturm.”Ried finished the Austrian Bundesliga fourth ahead of several teams with a bigger budget such as 32-time league champs Rapid and Magna Wiener Neustadt. Now the Upper Austrian side are gearing up for the UEFA Europa League next season.Already last Thursday, Oberwart Gunners celebrated their first Austrian Basketball Bundesliga title after having beaten title holders Swans Gmunden in the final game of a thrilling best of five series.