Jantscher ensured the seventh win in the eleventh game of the season with a placed shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 32nd minute. With the success over the Rieder, Sturm not only rehabilitated himself for the defeat in the Styrian derby against Hartberg before the international break, but also celebrated a successful dress rehearsal for the upcoming European Cup duel. On Thursday, the Graz team will receive the Spanish top club Real Sociedad on the third match day of the UEFA Europa League (9 p.m.).
In the table, Sturm not only shortened the gap to Salzburg to eight points, but also increased the cushion on the new third Wolfsberg to eight points. For the Rieder, however, the recent misery continued. The Upper Austrian have been waiting for a victory in the league since August 29 or five games. Nevertheless, Ried is still in fifth place. However, the gap to the second-placed Graz team is already ten points.
Ried only keeps up at the beginning
The Rieder were only able to balance the initial phase in Graz, the former storm player Seifedin Chabbi also missed the only good chance the guests had due to a mistake by David Affengruber (12th). After that, coach Christian Ilzer’s storm troop clearly dominated the action, developing a plus of 13-2 shots in the first half.
Samuel Sahin-Radlinger defused a Gazibegovic long-range shot (14th), Jantscher shot into the clouds from the best position, as the ball had jumped slightly (16th), a shot by Stefan Hierländer was blocked (23rd) and with a direct decrease Anderson Niangbo wasn’t missing much (31st).
A minute later the spell was finally broken. Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and Kelvin Yeboah each won their header duel, Jantscher also took the ball with his shoulder, made Constantin Reiner look old with a hook and hit the Sahin-Radlinger who had come out of the goal.
Sturm misses further opportunities
After the break, little changed in the game, Sturm stayed on the trigger, but failed to make things clear with a second goal. Gregory Wüthrich headed over it (61st), Hierländer only hit the outside netting (78th), Manprit Sarkaria put the ball over it (89th). Nevertheless, the home side were able to rehabilitate themselves for the 3-2 defeat in Hartberg immediately before the league break. On Thursday, Graz are hoping for the first points in the Europa League in the third attempt.
Admiral Bundesliga, eleventh round
Sunday:
Sturm – Ried 1: 0 (1: 0)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 8.109, SR Jäger
Goal: Jantscher (32nd)
Sturm: Siebenhandl – Gazibegovic (66th Jäger), Affengruber, Wüthrich, Dante – Hierländer (83rd Geyrhofer), Gorenc-Stankovic, Niangbo (66th Ljubic), Prass (76th Kuen) – Yeboah, Jantscher (76th Sarkaria)
Ried: Sahin-Radlinger – Reiner, Lackner (94th Mikic), Plavotic – Stosic (63rd Bajic), Ziegl, Offenbacher, Wießmeier (70th Satin) – S. Nutz, Chabbi, Pomer
Yellow cards: Gazibegovic, Geyrhofer or Reiner, Bajic
The best: Wüthrich, Gorenc-Stankovic, Jantscher or Pomer, Lackner
