Austria won their first match in the qualification group 2-0 against Kazakhstan earlier this month.

Red Bull Salzburg saved coach Huub Stevens’ scalp as the team avoided defeat against Austria Vienna away from home in last night's (Weds) goalless draw.

The Dutchman was put under serious pressure after his team was beaten 3-1 by third league club Blau-Weiß Linz in the second round of the ÖFB Cup last week. The Bundesliga title-holders did not do well in the league either with just one victory in five matches.

The Bulls, however, performed significantly better in front of the eyes of ex-Sturm Graz captain Ivica Vastic, former SV Austria Salzburg boss Hermann Stessl, ex-Social Democratic (SPÖ) Interior Minister Karl Blecha and 10,300 fans against Austria Vienna yesterday.

The three-time league champions kept the home side from finding any decent opportunities to score in the first 70 minutes, but Austria Vienna’s Roland Linz, Peter Hlinka and Schumacher all had great chances to seal three points in the final moments of the thriller.

Austria Vienna’s supporters said farewell to former captain Milenko Acimovic before kickoff. The 33-year-old Slovenian announced earlier this month he had decided to retire from professional football as his right knee started swelling after all kinds of activity. A surgery around half a year ago did not lead to an improvement.

Rapid Vienna suffered a third defeat in a row last night. The team of Peter Pacult lost against second-placed SV Ried 1-3.

SV Mattersburg are still tail lights of the 10-team league after yesterday’s 0-3 loss against 2009 ÖFB Cup finalists Magna Wiener Neustadt.

Newly-promoted Wacker Innsbruck keep the top spot. The team of Walter Kogler beat struggling Kapfenberg 4-2 last night.

Sturm Graz crushed LASK Linz 4-0 already on Tuesday.

The league continues with four matches next Saturday before Sturm and Austria Vienna clash on Sunday (live on ORF 1, kickoff: 4pm).

Meanwhile, the Football Federation (ÖFB) said around 10,000 tickets for the national team’s next Euro2012 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Vienna’s 50,000-seat Ernst Happel Stadium on 8 October have already been sold (ticket information: www.oefb.at).

Austria won their first match in the qualification group 2-0 against Kazakhstan earlier this month.