Sturm left no stone unturned even with latecomers WSG Tirol

The Conference League round of 16 celebrated an easy 2-0 (2-0) win against latecomers WSG Tirol on Sunday and are still two points behind the Bulls after the 20th round of the Bundesliga. Mika Biereth (9th) and Jon Gorenc Stankovic (12th) made things clear early on, which even red for storm defender Gregory Wüthrich (61st) couldn’t change.

Sturm, who will face the WAC (home) and Hartberg (away) in the regular round, are unbeaten with ten wins in all twelve upper house duels with the WSG so far. Biereth celebrated his first Bundesliga goal, Sturm’s fourth overall and was there for the third game in a row. The Tyroleans, on the other hand, are still in hibernation in terms of results and are five points ahead of bottom team Lustenau after their third defeat in the third game in 2024.

Sturm rotated through personnel

Sturm coach Christian Ilzer rotated properly three days after the European Cup success in Bratislava, also because goalie Vitezslav Jaros and David Affengruber were unavailable for a short time. Amady Camara, Tomi Horvat, Jusuf Gazibegovic, Niklas Geyrhofer and Luka Maric in goal came into the starting line-up.

The Styrians had no problems in this formation either. The passion demanded by WSG coach Thomas Silberberger, who was banished to the stands after the red card against WAC, was smothered by the guests with two quick goals in the opening minutes. After a long ball to the top, goalkeeper Adam Stejskal was still there to beat Camara, but Biereth maneuvered the rebound into the net with control and feeling. Three minutes later, Stejskal parried from Biereth as a result of a corner, Gorenc Stankovic nodded in from short range.

The WSG still made an effort, but was without luck. Matthäus Taferner, who was completely unchallenged, missed one of the few chances and his shot from eleven meters went well over the goal (26th). In principle, Sturm managed his lead confidently and could easily have increased it to 4-0 when Horvat hit the crossbar (33rd, 45th).

The change of sides brought nothing new. The few switching moments of the WSG, who continued to perform with commitment, failed to achieve success; at the best opportunity, Nik Prelec failed at the bar (55th). In return, Camara missed the best chance of making the preliminary decision against Stejskal (56th). A little later, Wüthrich flew off the field while crossing the path with the rushing Prelec for the “emergency brake”. But the Blackys kept the reins in their hands; after the draws in the hits against Salzburg and Rapid, they secured the first league “threesome” in the spring.