Bundesliga: storm after victory against Salzburg runners-up
With the surprising victory, Sturm takes the final step to second place, which is already three laps before the end after Rapid’s 2-2 draw against Klagenfurt. The reward is entry 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 visible 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. Only Maximilian Wöber/Nicolas Seiwald/Brenden Aaronson remained in the starting line-up ahead of goalie Philipp Köhn. Sturm countered with a weakened replacement. Christian Ilzer had five regular players – including Gregory Wüthrich, Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and Rasmus Höjlund – to replace. After all, it is still enough for a starting XI of exclusively established Bundesliga players.
Swinging first half
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′). Before that, both teams had chances through Sesko (2nd) and Manprit Sarkaria (11th) with big shots. Despite coordination difficulties on both sides, a lively start was ensured 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 defense, but the ÖFB team player shot a few centimeters past the right post.
Then Jantscher headed the ball across to Anderson Niangbo, who 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 goes on in balance. Salzburg had the ball more often, but didn’t develop the usual power. Sturm remained dangerous in the transition game and after standard situations.
Jantscher makes the decision
Successful attacks became rarer after the change of sides – and Jaissle made three changes in midfield after just under an hour. Surprisingly, his team rarely combined as well as they did in the 70th minute, when Aaronson’s lob failed at Jörg Siebenhandl and he 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.
Comments on the game:
Christian Ilzer (Sturm coach): “It’s a fantastic feeling to secure the runner-up title at home in front of our fans. And against the reigning champion. I like “Best of the Rest” even better as the runner-up. We have mastered many challenges brilliantly this season. We had peak periods and troughs, but the team always stood together and we scored even in difficult periods. Enjoyment is the order of the day. But it is important to complete the last three games optimally. And also to respect that Sturm II will become champions in the regional league.”
Matthias Jaissle (Salzburg coach): “When Salzburg loses, the disappointment is always great. Kudos to Sturm, they’ve been doing very well throughout the season and have a clear idea for the game. There were two teams at work today, which required changes and required changes. Of course, the focus was already on the next party. That shouldn’t be an excuse, we didn’t manage to come close to our level of performance today. We also had chances but weren’t effective. And when we conceded goals, there was also an invitation from our side.”
Admiral Bundesliga, 29th round
Wednesday:
Sturm Graz – Salzburg 2: 1 (1: 1)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 10,625 spectators, SR Schüttengruber
Consequence:
1-0 Hunter (14′)
1-1 Sesko (22′)
2-1 Jantscher (72′)
Storm: Siebenhandl – Jäger, Affengruber, Borkovic, Dante – Hierländer, Ljubic, Niangbo (74th / Kronberger), Kuen (90th / Stückler) – Sarkaria, Jantscher (88th / Lang)
Salzburg: Köhn – Van der Brempt, Piatkowski, Wöber, Bernardo – Capaldo (62nd / Bernede), Seiwald (62nd / Junuzovic), Aaronson (76th / Diambou), Kjaergaard (62nd / Sucic) – Adamu, Sesko
Yellow cards: Jäger or Bernhard, Wöber
The best: Jantscher, Jäger, Hierländer or Capaldo, Köhn