VIENNA/PRAGUE, Oct 19 (SW) - Thanks to three Tim Matthys goals, Zulte-Waregem raced to a victory over Austria Wien in UEFA Cup Group F on Thursday with Espanyol using an early penalty to beat Sparta Prague.

Austria Wien - Zulte-Waregem 1-4
Actually the home side took the lead in the 22nd minute when Andreas Lasnik fired in from a Stepan Vachousek cross, but Matthys leveled just 10 minutes later with a perfectly-drilled low shot into the net.

The Belgians then stunned the crowd at Ernst Happel Stadion in the 56th minute as Matthys struck home another low shot, and he them completed his trebel on 69 minutes after receiving a pass from Stijn Meert.

Zulte, who are making their first-ever appearance in Europe this season, then sealed off the win late on with Wouter Vandendriessche adding a fourth goal.

Sparta Prague - Espanyol 0-1
The Czechs controlled the tempo of the match after the opening whistle, but it was the Catalan side who went in front in the 17th minute as Luis García slotted home from the penalty spot after being brought down by Michal Kadlec.

The home side picked up steam after the second half restart, but despite some fine play by Tomas Repka, they failed to find a way through the defensive line of the Spaniards.

That failure to break Espanyol cost Sparta in the 85th minute when Albert Riera fired one in for the visitors to ensure they left with three valuable away points.