Despite a strong performance, coach Christian Ilzer’s team lost 2-1 (1-0, 1-0) after extra time against the Ukrainians in front of 14,000 fans in the Graz Merkur Arena. Coach Mircea Lucescu’s team won the first leg 1-0, and Kyiv advanced with a total score of 3-1. For Sturm it is now in the Europa League. Graz. Rasmus Höjlund had put Graz in the lead (27th). Kostiantin Vivcharenko equalized in extra time (97′), Viktor Zygankow shot the 16-time Ukrainian champion to victory (112′) and into the next round. By leaving the Champions League, Sturm not only missed millions in revenue, but also a play-off duel with Benfica Lisbon. The Portuguese clearly prevailed against Danish club Midtjylland with a aggregate result of 7-2.
Sturm coach Christian Ilzer put his trust in the team that started in Lodz in the first leg. Kiev coach Lucescu made two changes: the goalscorer from the first leg, Oleksander Karawajew, was initially on the bench, replaced by Dynamo star Zygankov. In central defence, Oleksander Sirota took over from Denis Popov.
Graz immediately tried their luck on the offensive, but the guests had the first good chance. After a strong transition, Mykola Schaparenko shot just over the goal from a good position (5th). At the other end, the Kiev defense put goalkeeper Heorhij Buschchan under pressure with an inaccurate back pass, but the keeper cleared the ball just before the goal line (16′). Just two minutes later, Buschchan was on the post again when Manprit Sarkaria appeared dangerously in front of the visitors’ goal and fired from the left. Captain Stefan Hierländer then found his master from a distance in the Dynamo keeper (20′).
A little later, the offensive efforts of the Styrians were rewarded. Höjlund launched an attack himself via Alexander Prass, who found the 19-year-old Dane with a fine hole pass, who scored the celebrated lead for Sturm with a left-footed shot into the far post (27′). Vitali Buyalsky missed the immediate equaliser, who failed to properly head the ball from close range in front of Jörg Siebenhandl (33′). As a result, Dynamo gained the upper hand, but they went into the break with the 1-0 lead – also because a long-range shot from Prass just missed the goal in Kiev (44.)
At the beginning of the second half, Zygankow tested Siebenhandl (57th) with a creative free-kick variant. On the other side, Buschtschan defused a Horvat shot (64′) and an Affengruber header after a corner (65′).
The scorer’s game was over after 75 minutes and Höjlund had to be substituted for Ivan Ljubic. The game now increasingly took place between the penalty areas, goal scenes were scarce in this balanced phase. Substitute Denis Garmasch missed the equalizer in stoppage time when he headed the ball to the crossbar after a corner (90+2). Therefore, there was a 30-minute second helping.
Dynamo then struck in extra time. Zygankow found the free-standing Kostiantin Wiwtscharenko with a diagonal ball into the penalty area, who shot Siebenhandl ice-coldly through the legs with his left hand (97′). A possible turnaround by the Styrians was then torpedoed by a yellow-red card for Sarkaria (105th). Zygankow made the decision after a well-played counterattack (112′).
The Ukrainians, who previously eliminated Fenerbahce, now have two games against Benfica (16/17 August in Lodz and 23/24 August in Lisbon) to qualify for the Champions League. Sturm, on the other hand, can console himself with the Europa League. The draw for the group stage will take place on August 26, 2022.
Source: Nachrichten
