KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AFP) - Italy's Manfred Moelgg claimed his maiden World Cup success in the men's slalom here on Sunday.

Moelgg, 25, clocked 1min 42.29sec to finish 0.41sec ahead of Croatia's Ivica Kostelic with Austria's Hirscher third at 0.49sec.

"I'm delighted to finally win, I've been waiting a long time for this ... I've been patient with all my podiums without victory," said Moelgg, who finished second in Saturday's giant slalom.

Jean-Baptiste Grange held on to the World Cup slalom lead despite finishing fourth, but Moelgg is just 21 points behind the Frenchman with just one race to go in Bormio, Italy next week.

"I really went looking for this win, I desperately wanted it," explained the Italian.

"It was important to win here today. Last month Claudio Ravetto (Italian men's team chief) warned me that if I wanted to believe in the overall slalom title I had to win at Kranjska Gora. I've done that. Now I'm in the running for two Globes in Bormio (giant and slalom)."

There was no change in the overall World Cup standings with the leading three failing to feature - American Bode Miller, who leads with 1387 points, and Swiss Didier Cuche (1218) did not start, while Austrian Benjamin Raich (1123) fell during the first run.