Striker Rasmus Höjlund with a brace (23′, 51′) was the guarantee of Graz’s success. Maurits Kjaergaard (87th) only managed the connecting goal. Sturm secured their second win against Salzburg in a row after a 2-1 win at the end of last season on April 27. With this, coach Christian Ilzer’s squad underlined that it might be possible to be involved in the fight for first place for a longer time this year.
In any case, a lot of self-confidence could be fueled for the upcoming first leg of the third qualifying round for the Champions League against the Ukrainian record champions Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday in Lodz, Poland. Salzburg, who won 1-0 in a friendly against Liverpool on Wednesday, are still on three points after losing their first competitive game of the season. The “Bulls” had won 3-0 against Vienna Austria at the start.
Storm defeated Salzburg
Sturm Graz won the second-round hit against champions Red Bull Salzburg. Two goals from Rasmus Höjlund made the difference.
–
Host on the trigger
In front of 12,317 spectators, Sturm was extremely aggressive right from the start and didn’t let the guests come into their own at all. The ball also ran forward as desired, and it became dangerous again and again in the Salzburg penalty area. “Bullen” goalie Philipp Köhn was lucky with a mixture of a cross and a shot by Amadou Dante, which landed on the crossbar (7′).
The 24-year-old Swiss turned a deflected Höjlund cross over the bar two minutes later. Immediately afterwards, he completely misjudged a Gazibegovic cross, but was lucky that Jon Gorenc-Stankovic didn’t head the ball on goal (9′).
Great performance by Höjlund
It got really bitter for Köhn in the 23rd minute. The keeper couldn’t stop a less than ideal back pass from Bernardo, and Höjlund, sliding up, put the ball in from close range. Manprit Sarkaria should have extended the lead, but his shot went just wide and Köhn made the save in a 1-1 duel in dire need (36th each). Salzburg could not be surpassed in terms of harmlessness before the break and never once shot dangerously at the storm goal.
Matthias Jaissle tried to bring a fresh impetus by bringing in Kjaergaard and Andreas Ulmer, but Sturm quickly followed suit. A textbook counterattack was started in their own penalty area, and after a pass from Dante, Höjlund grabbed the ball in his own half, let the recovered Nicolas Capaldo stand in the running duel and finished powerfully in the best goalscoring style.
Sesko misses a chance to equalize
After that, Salzburg were even more forced to move forward, but were hardly able to create top chances. For a long time, the most dangerous thing was a near-own goal by Gregory Wüthrich (72′). In the end, however, it got really exciting again. After a long Sucic cross, Ulmer returned the header to Kjaergaard, whose direct acceptance led to the goal.
Then Benjamin Sesko missed the chance to equalize (90′). Jörg Siebenhandl also saved the victory with a save from a long-range shot from Seiwald (95th).
Comments on the game:
Christian Ilzer (Sturm coach): “It was a well-deserved victory for my team, and I’m particularly proud of the way it was played. We brought all the essential virtues onto the pitch and allowed practically nothing until the 75th minute. Then it was a hectic final phase against the League Croesus. We still had a lot of chances in the first half and should have been up there.”
“I am very happy about this super win against Salzburg very early in the season. You win games against big opponents even before the kick-off through the conviction, the virtues, the self-confidence and also through the calmness of mind to solve things. Of course that gives a broad chest for Wednesday.”
Matthias Jaissle (Salzburg coach): “We have to take ourselves by the nose. Sturm Graz put the basic virtues on the pitch better. Graz were dominant in the first half, especially in the duels. It was similar at the beginning of the second half, then our game improved.”
“Congratulations to Sturm, they did very well. I said before that the championship is not a sure-fire success. The preparation went so well that we are not yet at 100 percent, we know that. Every single player will ask themselves why it didn’t work out today.”
Admiral Bundesliga, second round
Saturday:
Sturm Graz – Salzburg 2: 1 (1: 0)
Merkur Arena, 12,317 spectators, SR Weinberger
Torfolge:
1:0 Höjlund (23.)
2:0 Höjlund (51.)
2:1 Kjaergaard (87.)
Sturm: Siebenhandl – Gazibegovic (80th / Demaku), Wüthrich, Borkovic, Dante – Hierländer, Gorenc-Stankovic, T. Horvat (72nd / Ljubic), Prass – Sarkaria (90th / Schnegg), Höjlund
Salzburg: Köhn – Van der Brempt (76./Koita), Solet, Bernardo (46./Ulmer), Wöber – Sucic, N. Seiwald, Fernando (85./Adamu), Capaldo – Sesko, Okafor (46./Kjaergaard)
Yellow cards: Prass or N. Seiwald, Wöber, Solet, Sucic
The best: Höjlund, Dante, Wüthrich or Sesko, Kjaergaard
–
