Sturm Graz’s winning streak in Klagenfurt continues. However, luck was on the side of the champions in the 2-0 (0-0) victory over Austria’s Klagenfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday. While Austria’s Christopher Cvetko missed a penalty (67′), Otar Kiteishvili converted a controversial handball penalty (71′) to take the lead. Mika Biereth got the last score (98th). Sturm celebrated their seventh success in their seventh visit to Klagenfurt since Austria’s promotion.
Klagenfurt would have earned more than a point in a duel with many controversial scenes in the penalty area. Peter Pacult’s team found the right way to counter Graz’s attack from the start, even without the suspended captain and head of defense Thorsten Mahrer, and tried to succeed with quick counter-attacks.
The Carnists also had better chances. David Toshevski’s header after a corner was too weak and too central (28′). Goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was also there ten minutes later when Ben Bobzien shot towards the storm goal alone, but he could not put the ball in the goal from a tight angle (38′). The hosts, however, did not get a single shot at the Klagenfurt goal before the break. It was only dangerous when Seedy Jatta, the only newcomer in the starting lineup, did not hit the ball correctly after Horvat’s pass (30th).
After about an hour, things got very busy, with referee Alan Kijas in the middle three times in a few minutes. Sturm was lucky at first when Simon Straudi shot free in the penalty area and was pushed from behind, but neither Kijas nor the VAR decided a penalty (58th). A little later, Kijas gave a penalty after a VAR review when Emanuel Aiwu hit Toshevski on the edge of the penalty during a running duel. Cvetko started, but was denied by Scherpen (67′).
As a result, the VAR was asked again after a duel between Biereth and Jonas Kühn, Kijas finally gave a handball penalty – a very controversial one. Kiteishvili did not miss the chance and gave Graz the lead with his first shot at goal (71′). Sturm had a few chances against the attacking Klagenfurt team, a shot from Tomi Horvat hit the crossbar (75′), Amady Camara and Biereth were not convincing enough ( 83′).
Finally, Biereth made everything clear in the 98th minute. Just before that, there was another shot in the Graz penalty area that required VAR, but it had no effect. Sturm got his second win in a row. At Klagenfurt, assistant coach Martin Lassnig and section director Sandro Zakany received red (68th).
2024-08-17 18:06:37
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