SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Mario Matt pulled off an unlikely win in the Olympic men's slalom Saturday, sending Austria to a 1-2 finish in the final alpine event of the Games.
Matt ranks eighth in the slalom on the World Cup circuit this season and has had only one victory during the 2013-14 campaign, but he had the Saturday's fastest opening run by almost a half second.
After his closest rivals struggled during the second round, Matt easily held on to defeat World Cup slalom leader Marcel Hirscher by .28 of a second.
Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway was third, followed by Stefano Gross of Italy and Fritz Dopfer of Germany.
American Ted Ligety, winner of the giant slalom at these Olympics, found himself in sixth place after the first run and did not finish the second.
Andre Myhrer of Sweden was second following the first run, but he also found problems in the second trip down the course and was unable to get to the line.
