With the surprising victory, Sturm took the final step to second place, which was already certain three laps before the end after Rapid’s 2-2 win over Klagenfurt. The reward is getting into the Champions League qualification. The guests from Salzburg had already ticked off their first goal on Sunday and this time subordinated everything to the last remaining one on May 1st. The second defeat of the season in the league was the result.
After the championship party, Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle started the rotary machine in Graz. Only Maximilian Wöber/Nicolas Seiwald/Brenden Aaronson remained in the starting line-up ahead of goalie Philipp Köhn. Sturm countered with a weakened replacement. Christian Ilzer had five regular players – including Gregory Wüthrich, Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and Rasmus Höjlund – to replace. After all, it was still enough for a starting XI made up exclusively of established Bundesliga players.
Swinging first half
This included defensive all-rounder Jäger, who appeared free in front of Köhn after a Jantscher free-kick cross and defeated him with a header (14′). Before that, both teams had chances through Sesko (2nd) and Manprit Sarkaria (11th) with central shots. Despite coordination difficulties on both sides, a lively start was ensured in front of 10,625 spectators.
Junior Adamu missed the first big chance to equalize (19th). Nicolas Capaldo used it ideally with a cross in the back of the storm defense, but the ÖFB team player shot a few centimeters past the right post.
Jantscher then headed the ball across to Anderson Niangbo, who, however, jumped past the play equipment with bad timing. In return, Sesko broke away from the Sturm defense at the right moment when Capaldo crossed in again and scored his fifth goal of the season from close range (22nd). Instead of 2:0 for Sturm it was 1:1. It went on evenly. Salzburg had the ball more often, but didn’t develop the power they were used to. Sturm remained dangerous in the transition game and after standard situations.
Jantscher makes the decision
Successful attacks became rarer after the change of sides – and Jaissle made three changes in midfield after just under an hour. Surprisingly seldom did his team combine as impressively as in the 70th minute, when Aaronson failed to lob Jörg Siebenhandl and missed the ball in the follow-up shot.
Shortly thereafter, the top scorer in the league turned away jubilantly. Jantscher scored his twelfth goal of the season after a Hierländer pass, Salzburg’s Kamil Piatkowski deflected the powerful shot decisively (72′). Siebenhandl held on to the three points against Sesko (76′), with a strong collective performance the Graz team brought victory to the dry end against the “bulls” who were putting pressure on again late on.
Admiral Bundesliga, 29th Round
Wednesday:
Sturm Graz – Salzburg 2: 1 (1: 1)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 10,625 spectators, SR Schüttengruber
Torfolge:
1-0 Hunter (14′)
1:1 Sesco (22.)
2:1 Jantscher (72.)
Sturm: Siebenhandl – Jäger, Affengruber, Borkovic, Dante – Hierländer, Ljubic, Niangbo (74th / Kronberger), Kuen (90th / Stückler) – Sarkaria, Jantscher (88th / Lang)
Salzburg: Köhn – Van der Brempt, Piatkowski, Wöber, Bernardo – Capaldo (62./Bernede), Seiwald (62./Junuzovic), Aaronson (76./Diambou), Kjaergaard (62./Sucic) – Adamu, Sesko
Yellow cards: Jäger or Bernardo, Wöber
The best: Jantscher, Jäger, Hierländer or Capaldo, Köhn
