Sturm Graz has ended Salzburg’s ten-year dominance and been topped soccer champions for the primary time since 2011. The Graz staff gained 2-0 (0-0) within the final and decisive spherical at residence in opposition to Austria Klagenfurt on Sunday and introduced their lead of two factors over their pursuers throughout the end line. A transparent 7:1 (3:1) in opposition to LASK was not sufficient for Salzburg. The “Pink Bulls” have been champions within the Austrian higher home with out interruption since 2014.
The now four-time champion Sturm additionally secured the double following profitable the ÖFB Cup, however Salzburg ended the season and not using a title. Within the third sport of the championship group, Hartberg gained 3-0 (1-0) at Fast. The Viennese had been already fourth within the closing desk behind third-placed LASK. In fifth place, Hartberg booked the ticket for the European Cup play-off, wherein the final worldwide beginning place is in opposition to WAC or Vienna Austria.
Dramatic determination
In a heart-stopping finale on Sunday, the Styrians deservedly gained 2-0 (0-0) within the final spherical in opposition to Austria Klagenfurt and thus dethroned sequence champions Salzburg following ten titles in a row. For the Graz staff, who’re celebrating the double following profitable the cup for the primary time in 25 years and for the second time total, it was the fourth championship title within the membership’s historical past.
In a sport of endurance filled with storm possibilities, central defender Gregory Wüthrich redeemed the 15,325 followers in Graz-Liebenau within the 69th minute with a header from a nook. Shortly earlier than the top, “Joker” Amady Camara (ninetieth) secured the three factors. The staff of profitable coach Christian Ilzer secured their first championship title in 13 years with a lead of two factors and thus a profitable fastened place within the Champions League. A 7-1 win in opposition to LASK wasn’t sufficient for Salzburg.
David Affengruber needed to watch the thrilling title struggle from the stands as a result of muscular issues in his hip flexors; Dimitri Lavalée began for him in central protection. Ilzer compensated for the yellow card suspension of midfield director Otar Kiteishvili with a concentrated assault, Mika Biereth and Seedy Jatta stormed within the 4-1-2-1-2 system, William Böving acted within the midfield diamond. An hour earlier than the beginning of the sport, the followers within the enviornment, which had been offered out for weeks, had been frenetically cheering on the Sturm staff. “Get the double and develop into legends,” demanded the “Blackies” supporters, which now quantity 15,000 membership members.
Picture gallery: Sturm Graz gained the fourth championship title in membership historical past
(Picture: GEPA photos/ Hans Oberlaender (GEPA photos)) Bild 1/18
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Lengthy look ahead to redeeming hits
It took 5 minutes for the Ilzer staff to develop into harmful for the primary time. After a protracted nook, Jusuf Gazibegovic fired a volley straight on the objective from 18 meters, which Klagenfurt goalkeeper Phillip Menzel parried. Whereas Salzburg shortly opened the scoring with two targets within the long-distance duel, the Graz staff stored stepping into the hazard zone with their fast-paced soccer. Pictures from David Schnegg (sixteenth) and Tomi Horvat (twentieth) had been blocked or went over.
On the opposite aspect, storm goalie Vitezslav Jaros had no issues with a curler from Sebastian Soto (twenty third). A direct free kick from Jonas Arweiler (twenty eighth) from round 18 meters flew over the objective. The Carinthians, who needed to make do with out the suspended Andy Irving, obtained higher and higher into the sport and relied on fast switching play. The Pacult staff made life troublesome for the cup winners, and a sport of endurance developed for the Graz staff, who had been usually too imprecise within the closing third.
Within the thirty seventh minute, the luckless Jatta needed to go away the sphere as a result of harm. Shortly followingwards, Arweiler shot a volley over from place (39′). Graz’s second large likelihood was discovered by Biereth, who artistically created area following a protracted throw-in, however then missed it fully (42′). Precisely 22 seconds following the restart, Alexander Prass put an try from the sting of the penalty space simply vast of the left publish.
With the information that they needed to rating a objective and cheered loudly by the followers, the hosts pressed for salvation. Within the forty eighth minute it was virtually time, however Horvat might not get a move from Stangl into the objective, and some seconds later Böving failed when he was free-standing on the foot of the brilliantly reacting Menzel. A Biereth header (sixtieth) following a nook missed the goal, as did a Horvat long-range shot (62nd).
Within the 69th minute there was ecstasy within the stadium. Wüthrich rose excessive at a Horvat nook and headed the ball unstoppable for Menzel to take the lead. Numerous Sturm followers watched the ultimate part standing and noticed how the Pacult staff tried to equalize. And it obtained shut once more following a header from “Joker” Jaritz hit the bar (84th) and a Besuschkow shot missed the objective (89th). Shortly followingwards, Camara remained ice chilly on a counterattack and thus secured the championship title.
Reactions
Gregory Wüthrich (Sturm Graz) in a Sky interview: “To all Sturm followers, this title is for you. I really like you all. I did not have a simple profession, I all the time had setbacks. I needed to swallow quite a bit. It is a reward for the whole lot, I labored so exhausting for the whole lot.”
Jon Gorenc Stankovic (Sturm Graz): “I can not imagine it, it was an unbelievable season, an unbelievable sport, simply superior. It was a troublesome sport, Klagenfurt gave the whole lot to get a win right here. However not right here in the present day. That Double means the whole lot to me. Me and some guys labored for it for a few years.”
Jusuf Gazibegovic (Sturm Graz): “I can not comprise my feelings. It was one in all my greatest desires with the membership that I’ve discovered to like a lot during the last 4 years. The place I felt snug from day one, now one thing so large to attain is unbelievable. I am the happiest particular person on the earth. We knew it would not be straightforward as a result of Klagenfurt can also be staff. In fact we knew the way it stands. However that confirmed the morale of this staff, how we gained the sport, how we fought.”
SK Sturm Graz – SK Austria Klagenfurt 2:0 (0:0).
Graz, Merkur Area, 15,325 spectators SR Lechner
Tore:
1:0 (69.) Wüthrich
2:0 (90.) Camara
Storm: Jaros – Gazibegovic (seventy fifth Johnston), Wüthrich, Lavalée, Schnegg – Gorenc Stankovic – Böving (seventy fifth Camara), Prass – Horvat (86th Hierländer) – Biereth (86th Wlodarczyk), Jatta (thirty seventh Geyrhofer)
Klagenfurt: Menzel – Wernitznig (72nd Straudi), Mahrer, Wimmer, Schumacher – Besuschkow, Benatelli, Cvetko (82nd Robatsch) – Karweina (68th Jaritz) – Soto (72nd Maglica), Arweiler
Yellow playing cards: Lavalée or Mahrer
