The Norwegian won the title by just 13 points after chief rival Didier Cuche could only finish ninth, while Beat Feuz crashed out - harming his chances in the race for the overall crown.

And to make matters worse for Feuz, slalom specialist Marcel Hirscher claimed third place - his first podium in a speed event - to earn vital points in his bid for the overall.

Innerhofer won the race in one minute 21.24 seconds, with a 0.02 second lead over France's Alexis Pinturault while Hirscher was a surprise third, just 0.06 adrift.

It means the Austrian now trails Feuz by 75 points in the overall cup standings with two events left, the slalom and giant slalom which he has dominated all winter.

"I made a classic mistake and I skidded out," said Feuz. "Hirscher is now the favourite but I will keep fighting."

Hirscher was delighted with his unexpected podium place.

"It's almost unreal, I can hardly believe it," he said. "I was feeling good but I didn't expect such a result.

"I don't want to make calculations, we'll make them on Sunday. Feuz showed today that mistakes can happen any time."

Croatia's Ivica Kostelic, last year's overall champion, decided to miss the super-G and pin all his hopes on Sunday's slalom and the discipline's title.