2024-02-15 19:46:41
Sturm Graz can hope for more in the first European Cup spring following a 23-year break. The Graz team deservedly won 4-1 (2-1) on Thursday evening in the first leg of the second round of the Conference League once morest Slovan Bratislava and thus created an excellent starting position for promotion to the round of 16. The return game once morest the Slovakian champions in Bratislava is scheduled for next Thursday (9 p.m.).
Mika Biereth shot Sturm into the lead in the 4th minute in front of full stands in Liebenau. After the quick equalizer by Gerson Rodrigues (8th), captain Jon Gorenc Stankovic (27th) scored for the Styrians in the first half hour. Otar Kiteishvili added a foul penalty (64′) following the break. Slovan’s Vladimir Weiss was shown a red card for a foul just ten minutes following coming on as a substitute (78′). 18-year-old Amady Camara then scored the important fourth goal (91st) for Christian Ilzer’s team.
Sturm had demonstratively shown a lot of respect for the Slovakian champion (since 2017), who relies on many experienced players. Austria’s last European Cup representative this season did not want to accept the role of favorite. Ilzer relied on his strongest team, Dimitri Lavalee started on the left in the back four instead of David Schnegg. Kevin Wimmer was not there for Slovan due to a suspension, as was regular goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Rodrigues from Luxembourg, who was brought in in the winter, started in attack. The striker with Portuguese roots should cause Sturm big problems.
Sturm didn’t spend long trying out the European comeback. The Europa League switcher soon set the first pinprick. Arsenal loanee Biereth, released by Tomi Horvat, pushed the ball into the near corner with his right outside instep, surprising Slovan goalkeeper Martin Trnovsky. The Graz audience celebrated with a standing ovation, but the setback was to come before the ten-minute mark. Rodrigues was up and running following a long pass, left Vitezslav Jaros, who had rushed out, and pushed into the empty box. The VAR check showed that David Affengruber had canceled a possible offside position.
Things continued lively, with both sides initially missing excellent opportunities. Biereth missed a header (13th) from a good position, then David Strelec was completely free once more on the other side once morest Graz, who had moved further up, but he hesitated for too long. Rodrigues’ shot was cleared in front of the line (17′). An offside whistle followed, but it probably wouldn’t have passed a VAR check.
Sturm had to fight, but a standard situation gave them the lead once more. Affengruber heaved a Sarkaria free kick towards the middle, where Gorenc Stankovic headed in from a few meters. Trnovsky and Jaros then distinguished themselves with saves following long-range shots before the team went to the locker room following an entertaining 45 minutes.
Both teams returned to the field unchanged. Sturm took control of the game and almost quickly scored once more. Sarkaria was denied by Trnovsky from a tight angle (50′). After an hour, the attacker finally made way for William Böving, who now formed the Danish double attack with Biereth. Slovan acted harmlessly, Jusuf Gazibegovic had Rodrigues under control. A penalty gave the Grazers a deserved 3-1. Kiteishvili had the ball earlier in the penalty area once morest Tigran Barseghyan and was hit by the Armenian. The fouled player scored himself.
Coach’s son Vladimir Weiss then came into play at Slovan. The former England legionnaire didn’t spend much time on the field. After a frustrating tackle once morest Gazibegovic, Weiss initially saw yellow, but following VAR intervention, Swedish referee Mohammed Al-Hakim decided on red for the 34-year-old. White will therefore play no role in the second leg. Sturm initially missed a preliminary decision once morest ailing Slovakians. Horvat was denied by Trnovsky and missed from a good position. Camara, who came on in the 83rd minute, had a better shot from the edge of the penalty area; it was the teenager’s first goal for the Sturm professionals.
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