2023-08-13 05:48:00
The soccer runner-up had to settle for a 0-0 draw once morest Klagenfurt at home in the Bundesliga on Saturday and, following a red card for David Schnegg, also had to do heavy work in high summer temperatures before the mission impossible in the European Cup. PSV Eindhoven come to Graz with a comfortable 4-1 lead in the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday. “We didn’t expect to be outnumbered for 60 minutes in our program,” was how Sturm coach Christian Ilzer summed it up following the first loss of points in the league. Four days following the slap in Eindhoven, the Grazers were initially dominant, but in the front line with the storm duo Szymon Wlodarczyk / Bryan Teixeira without any penetration. Ilzer missed “speed” in his squad, which was downright slowed down by Schnegg’s prevention of an obvious goal chance (33rd).
“The exclusion was unnecessary. Not only by Schneggi, it was also not well defended,” criticized defender Gregory Wüthrich. “I’m very disappointed. We didn’t expect it to be the same, but we have to blame ourselves. We didn’t put enough energy on the pitch in the first half.”
His team almost crowned a willful effort in the finish with the third “treble” in the third league game. But David Affengruber’s shot saved the crossbar for the guests, who were unable to capitalize on their superior numbers. Simon Stradi was unlucky with a shot at the inside post immediately following the break. After that, however, there was only offensive piecework from the violets, who were unbeaten like Sturm.
“If you’re in the majority for 60 minutes, more is possible. We didn’t have enough compelling chances, but we’re happy with the point,” commented Christopher Wernitznig. “The 0-0 is fine for both sides,” said Peter Pacult. Nobody wanted to object to the findings of the Klagenfurt coach that day.
After all, Ilzer was able to note “good mental learning during the game” among his men. “From the 60th minute we finally felt that we might run away one man less and generate the energy with our spectators to win this game even when we were outnumbered.” A similarly harmonious teamwork will be needed once morest Eindhoven on Tuesday to pull themselves out of trouble once morest the big Dutch club. “There is always hope in football,” said Tomi Horvat. “We’re doing our best and we’re hoping to win.”
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