The double winner celebrated a 2-1 away win over TSV Hartberg in the 13th round of the Bundesliga and is leading the table by five points ahead of Wiener Austria, at least until Sunday. Tochi Chukwuani (11th) and Erencan Yardimci (57th) each scored with a header from Tomi Horvat’s corner. Marco Hoffmann’s goal (92nd) came too late for TSV.
Sturm showed no signs of fatigue in the early stages despite the Champions League Alex Reed appearance in Dortmund four days earlier. The guests clearly dictated the game and struck for the first time after less than ten minutes. First, TSV goalie Raphael Sallinger parried a shot from Mika Biereth, Horvat brought the following corner into the middle, Chukwuani rose highest and made it 1-0 for Graz.
Chance to make it 2-0 early was missed
Around five minutes later, things became very dangerous again in the Hartberg penalty area after a corner. The ball bounced from Emanuel Aiwu to Biereth, and Tobias Kainz’s volley just hit the crossbar with his head. Only then did the Hartbergers recover, Patrik Mijic narrowly missed the far corner with his first warning shot (22′). A little later, Donis Avdijaj stumbled from a promising position and then called for a penalty in vain (26′).
Sturm returned to the offensive towards the end of the first half. Max Johnston tested Sallinger, and Hartberg’s goalkeeper had to stretch for the resulting corner after a Yardimci header (39′). The first few minutes after the break were dominated by the home team, but the champions presented themselves in a hardened manner and once again demonstrated their qualities when the ball was at rest. Horvat again brought a corner with a lot of spin to the middle, this time Yardimci was there with a header.
This meant that Hartberger’s resistance was largely broken – although the home team still fought passionately for the consolation goal and were rewarded with a remarkable volley from Hoffmann into the far corner, the second defeat from the last twelve competition games could no longer be avoided. Sturm has now been unbeaten in nine league duels against the East Styrians and has scored 16 out of 18 possible points in the championship from the last six rounds.
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**Interview with SK Sturm Graz Coach, Christian Ilzer**
**Interviewer:** Congratulations on the recent victory against TSV Hartberg, Coach Ilzer! Your team continues to lead the Bundesliga. How do you feel about the performance today?
**Christian Ilzer:** Thank you! I’m very pleased with how the team performed, especially considering we just played in the Champions League. The players showed incredible focus and resilience. Scoring two early goals really set the tone for the match, and I think we dictated the game well.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the early goals. How significant do you think they were in controlling the match?
**Christian Ilzer:** They were crucial. Scoring early can take the pressure off and allows you to play more freely. Tochi Chukwuani and Erencan Yardimci both stepped up and executed well on set pieces, which is something we’ve been working on.
**Interviewer:** TSV Hartberg did manage to push back later in the game. Were there any moments that concerned you?
**Christian Ilzer:** There were a few moments where we dropped our guard, especially towards the end of the first half and briefly after the break. It’s crucial for us to maintain our intensity throughout the match. But I was happy to see that we reacted well and regained control before the end.
**Interviewer:** With this win, Sturm Graz remains unbeaten in nine league matches against Hartberg. What do you attribute this consistency to?
**Christian Ilzer:** It’s a combination of factors — a solid game plan, the players’ mentality, and our ability to adapt during matches. We’ve built a strong squad with depth, and everyone is ready to step up when needed. The chemistry on the field has been a big asset.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what’s your focus for the upcoming matches?
**Christian Ilzer:** We need to stay grounded. It’s important for us to analyze today’s game, learn from it, and continue building our momentum. We’re focusing on maintaining our form and keeping our heads cool as we head into more crucial matches.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Coach Ilzer. Best of luck with the remainder of the season!
**Christian Ilzer:** Thank you! We appreciate your support!
