Image: GEPA pictures/Chris Bauer
The defending champions then successfully defended their league lead in the home game against Hartberg (5:1) and took a two-point lead into the league break. Then the first of two direct duels takes place in Graz.
The game was already decided at halftime. Mika Biereth (4th, 18th), Tomi Horvat (23rd) and William Böving (39th) shot the favorite at his feel-good oasis to his 14th victory in the 23rd round. Sturm not only celebrated the cup title in the 2008 European Championship stadium last year, but also remained victorious in the sixth game against Austria. For Peter Pacult’s team, the European Cup mission began with a bitter setback. The biggest defeat of the season was set.
The storm quickly cleared things up
Graz’s preparation for Klagenfurt was short due to the European Cup appearance in Lille (1:1) on Thursday. If there were any doubts about the freshness, Christian Ilzer’s men quickly dispelled them. After an advance by defense chief Gregory Wüthrich, Böving picked up the pace for the first time, and Till Schumacher cleared the following cross pass to Biereth, who only had to push in (4th).
Both teams had their moments in the entertaining starting phase, but the Styrians were much more callous. Alexander Prass gave Klagenfurt the supposed equalizer with a fatal bad pass into the legs of Max Besuschkow. But the German chased the big chance over the empty goal (16th). That was a key moment. Less than two minutes later it was 2-0.
Biereth nodded a Prass cross over the line from close range. Menzel had previously distinguished himself against Otar Kiteishvili. It was the eighth competitive goal for the winter loanee from Arsenal. Klagenfurt faltered, Thorsten Mahrer made a serious bad pass, then things happened at lightning speed: Kiteishvili found Horvat in the backcourt, who scored his sixth goal of the season for the first time with his weaker right (23rd). Goalie Philipp Menzel was no longer decisive with his right hand.
Straudi left the field injured
Pacult covered his face in horror on the bench. To make matters worse, Simon Straudi had to make way for Kosmas Gkezos (29′). Pacult probably made a voluntary change after 36 minutes: Jonas Arweiler, a second powerful striker, came alongside Nicolas Binder instead of Solomon Bonnah. The Violets once again had to make do without striker Sinan Karweina, who should be able to play again after the international break.
The Graz team, with the shaky candidates Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Wüthrich in the starting line-up, remained adamant. After a long, wide ball from Jusuf Gazibegovic into the back of the defense, Böving also scored before the break (39th). The Dane shook off the Carinthian escort with ease, and not just in this scene.
With the will to limit damage on the one hand and measured forward momentum on the other, the 6,045 stadium spectators saw significantly fewer highlights in the second half. Biereth missed a great opportunity for the first time after a cross (64th) and was asked to have a one-on-one conversation by referee Alan Kijas a little later. The young Dane had sarcastically applauded his opponent Nicolas Wimmer after he had stopped him again with a foul.
In fact, the hosts were now able to hold their own better. Opportunities for cosmetic results presented themselves against a storm in slow motion but only in the finish. Goalkeeper Viteszlav Jaros was there against Andy Irving and Wimmer.
My themes
For your saved topics were
new articles found.
info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.
info
By clicking on the icon you open your “my topics” page. They have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.
info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.
Add the topic to your topics.
Source: Nachrichten
