In a duel between two completely transformed teams, the Styrians got the upper hand for the first time this season. Lukas Jäger (14′) and Jakob Jantscher (72′) scored for Sturm, Benjamin Sesko equalized four days before Salzburg’s big double chance (22′).
Graz. With the surprising victory, Sturm took the final step to second place, which was already certain three laps before the end after Rapid’s 2-2 win over Klagenfurt. The reward is getting into the Champions League qualification. The guests from Salzburg had already ticked off their first goal on Sunday – and this time subordinated everything to the last remaining one on May 1st. The second defeat of the season in the league was the result.
After the championship party, Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle started the rotary machine in Graz. In front of regular goalie Philipp Köhn, only Maximilian Wöber/Nicolas Seiwald/Brenden Aaronson remained in the starting XI. The coach looked forward to the auditions of some players with fewer minutes of play. Only Sesko showed decisively.
Sturm countered with a weakened replacement. Christian Ilzer had to replace five regular players – including legionnaires Gregory Wüthrich, Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and Rasmus Höjlund. After all, it was still enough for a starting eleven of exclusively established Bundesliga players.
This included defensive all-rounder Jäger, who appeared free in front of Köhn after a Jantscher free-kick cross and defeated him with a header (14′). Both teams had previously “knocked on” with central shots by Sesko (2nd) and Manprit Sarkaria (11th) – and despite coordination difficulties on both sides, ensured a lively start in front of 10,625 spectators.
Junior Adamu missed the first big chance to equalize (19th). Nicolas Capaldo used it ideally with a cross in the back of the storm defence, but the ÖFB team player shot a few centimeters past the right post.
Shortly afterwards, the special 22nd minute of the game: Jantscher headed the ball across to Anderson Niangbo, who, however, jumped past the play equipment with bad timing. In return, Sesko broke away from the Sturm defense at the right moment when Capaldo crossed in again and scored his fifth goal of the season from close range (22nd). Instead of 2:0 for Sturm it was 1:1.
It went on evenly. Salzburg had the ball more often, but did not develop the usual power in the 1b suit. Sturm remained dangerous in the transition game and – despite the absence of the best headers – after standard situations.
Successful attacks became rarer after the change of sides – and Jaissle made three changes in midfield at the hour mark. Surprisingly seldom did his team combine as impressively as in the 70th minute, when Aaronson failed to lob Siebenhandl and missed the ball in the follow-up shot.
Shortly thereafter, the top scorer in the league turned away jubilantly. Jantscher scored his twelfth goal of the season after a Hierländer pass, Salzburg’s Kamil Piatkowski deflected the powerful shot decisively (72′). Siebenhandl held on to the three points against Sesko (76′), with a strong collective performance the Graz team brought victory to the dry end against the “bulls” who were putting pressure on again late on.
WAC Austria 1:1
In the fight for the European Cup places, the WAC and Austria Wien separated 1:1 (0:0). After the parallel game between Rapid and Austria Klagenfurt ended in a draw, everything remains unchanged in the table three rounds before the end. Wiener Austria is still level on points (22) ahead of WAC in fourth place.
Rapid-A. Klagenfurt 2:2
Hütteldorfer separated from Austria Klagenfurt with 2:2. The point felt like a win, however, as they equalized twice in front of 13,400 spectators. Rapid held third place, as Austria also drew at WAC (1: 1). The gap is still two points, also on Wolfsberger. Klagenfurt are missing four points in third place.
Source: Nachrichten
