Sturm beats favorite opponent WSG Tirol 1-0

2023-10-01 14:31:57

Runner-up Sturm Graz has found its way back to winning ways in the Bundesliga and at the same time deepened the crisis at WSG Tirol. The Styrians kept up with leaders Salzburg on Sunday with a deserved 1-0 (1-0) once morest their favorite opponent from Wattens following the 9th round. After two recent draws, coach Christian Ilzer’s team is still one point behind the series champions. The WSG is stuck in the bottom of the table with five points.

Thanks to a remarkable volley from Gregory Wüthrich (44th), the people of Graz were able to celebrate a successful dress rehearsal for the important Europa League away game at Rakow Czestochowa in Poland on Thursday. This means that the Ilzer team is still the only undefeated team in the league; once morest the WSG in the upper house there are now nine wins and two draws and not a single defeat. Coach Thomas Silberberger’s Tyroleans were also the only Bundesliga representatives eliminated from the ÖFB Cup during the week (1:3 at DSV Leoben).

On Sunday, Ilzer had to do without the creative genius Otar Kiteishvili, who was suspended, and a second offensive player, Manprit Sarkaria, was unavailable due to a sore thigh. On the other side, Silberberger tried a three-man chain, which became a five-man chain defensively. This should defuse the attacks of the offensively strong runner-up more consistently than in previous games.

This worked well in the early stages in front of 13,423 spectators. Sturm had significantly more possession of the ball, but there were initially few chances. David Affengruber found the first good opportunity in the 9th minute, but the header from the completely free central defender landed in the side netting. Shortly beforehand, a possibly criminal handball by WSG defender Kofi Schulz in the penalty area had caused a stir. Referee Sebastian Gishamer left the unintentional handball unpunished and the VAR confirmed the decision.

On the inferior pitch in the Merkur Arena, which will be changed on Monday, Szymon Wlodarczyk had the second good opportunity for the Ilzer team. The Polish striker’s shot from a tight angle landed on the crossbar (22′). Sturm presented itself dominantly, but without playing the compact Watteners once morest the wall. After half an hour, WSG goalkeeper Adam Stejskal saved a Gazibegovic free kick. It took 44 minutes for Wüthrich to sink the ball powerfully into the right corner from around 25 meters; Stejskal looked bad with the volley, which seemed durable.

A little later, Julius Ertlthaler tried it in the style of Wüthrich, but the volley just missed (45th + 3). After the break, little changed in the game. Sturm controlled, the WSG walled up and remained harmless offensively. In the 62nd minute, Stejskal had to parry another Affengruber header. In the final phase, Emegha replacement Seedy Jatta celebrated his league comeback in the attack. A little later, Sturm called for a penalty following Nik Prelec cleaned the ball hard in an aerial duel once morest Jatta.

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