Before the game in Graz, fans from both camps marched to the stadium from different directions. According to the police, there were no significant incidents. However, the game might only begin following a delay of several minutes, as smoke from Bengal fire had caused poor visibility. The police operation, in which several hundred officers took part, lasted late into the night. Four people had been expelled for brawling, the Styrian state police said in a broadcast. There were “a few reports of physical harm” between fan groups. A security employee was attacked and slightly injured.
As expected, the second-placed Sturm-Truppe in the Bundesliga dominated the game on the field, but hardly got into the last zone, also because the final pass didn’t arrive. And because the big outsider, who found the first chance through ex-Sturm kicker Benjamin Rosenberger (12th), was very orderly on the defensive with a five-man chain and didn’t allow much completion. The most dangerous thing was an Ajeti header (18′), the striker’s shot went wide (26′) and a Prass shot was too weak (36′).
Shortly following the change of sides, the game was briefly interrupted because numerous pyrotechnics had been ignited once more. As a result, a flag in the storm sector was also set on fire, but the game might continue. Little changed in the game, Sturm set the tone, but continued to struggle. Ajeti failed to get a header on goal, and Jakob Jantscher, who was in the starting line-up, also missed the ball at the far post (55′).
Ten minutes later, the Storm Annex was redeemed. After a long pass from Ljubic, Ajeti skilfully lifted GAK goalie Christoph Nicht and then put the ball into the empty goal. The ninth-placed team in the 2nd division almost forced an extra time, when veteran Michael Liend free-kicked from 17 meters out, storm goalie Jörg Siebenhandl brilliantly parried to a corner (93′). The Graz derby ended with a 1-0 win, just like the last one in 2007.
“Jörg made his big appearance at the end of Liendl’s free-kick gift,” said Sturm coach Christian Ilzer, praising the goalkeeper and criticizing the referee. In the end he was allowed to breathe a sigh of relief. “A perfect backdrop, as a city derby deserves. But we really struggled to get this win,” summed up the Styrian, whose team travels to Bundesliga leaders Salzburg on Saturday.
WAC had no trouble in Linz, as Raphael Schifferl headed in following Omic’s free-kick cross before the break (36′). Immediately following the restart, a double strike from Tai Baribo (47′) and Maurice Malone (48′) set things straight. The two players only had to get the ball over the line following coming in from a short distance. The Linzers only managed the consolation goal with a header through striker Ronivaldo (83rd). The Wolfsbergers are in the last eight for the third time in a row. In the last two editions, the final stop was only in the cup semi-finals.
