Final score at Sturm Graz against LASK 2:0

2023-06-03 14:52:00

In a duel that is irrelevant for the table, Christian Ilzer’s team deservedly won 2-0 (2-0) at the end of the championship group on Saturday. The player from Linz was the only storm pursuer already in third place before the last round and ended the season seven points behind Graz.

Full-back Jusuf Gazibegovic put the Ilzer team ahead with a fantastic free kick from 18 meters into the Tormanneck (27th). Before the break, Alexander Prass scored his third goal of the season (38′). For the Styrians it was the first win of the season against LASK in the league, in the cup semi-finals Graz had triumphed 1-0 against Upper Austria. In addition, there was a conciliatory end to the season, most recently there had been bankruptcies against Rapid (2: 3) and Salzburg (1: 2).

The long-time striker Jörg Siebenhandl, whose future is still open, received his farewell game from Ilzer. The 33-year-old was said goodbye to six other storm players before kick-off. LASK trainer Dietmar Kühbauer rotated his starting XI to six positions, Thomas Goiginger was back in the starting XI for the first time since February. In addition, Filip Stojkovic, Marvin Potzmann and Robert Zulj sat out injured. Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, who is moving to serial champions Salzburg, was not in the squad again.

In summery temperatures in the sold-out arena in front of 15,000 spectators, the Ilzer-Elf started the game with more momentum after the honor kick from ski racer Cornelia Hütter. But Manprit Sarkaria after a few seconds and Prass, completely free after a one-two with Sarkaria (6th), missed good chances. It took almost half an hour before Gazibegovic let Graz cheer. After a nice dribble against two LASK defenders, the strong Prass followed up with a lob from an acute angle.

Linz, on the other hand, hardly came into their own, and Siebenhandl didn’t have to intervene even after a Michorl free-kick from 18 meters out (45′). After the change of sides, only the LASK fans caused artificial fog and a three-minute break. Then little changed in the game, even if the guests from Linz radiated a little more danger. A shot by Moses Usor (52nd) was blocked at the last moment. Top-class goal chances remained in short supply, probably also due to the lack of explosiveness.

In the final phase, Bryan Teixeira failed from 15 meters to LASK goalie Tobias Lawal (79th). The striker, who came from Lustenau in the winter, is still chasing his first goal in the storm jersey.