In front of 14,007 fans, Rasmus Höjlund equalized the 0:1 from last week’s first leg in Lodz, Poland, in the 27th minute, but the Grazers didn’t want to score the redeeming second goal in regular time. Sturm were even lucky with a late header from Denis Garmasch in injury time. In extra time, Kostyantin Vivcharenko was the first to equalize for Dynamo (97′). After yellow-red for Sturm’s Manprit Sarkaria (105th + 1), Viktor Zygankow (112th) closed the sack against the decimated Grazer from the point of view of the guests from Ukraine.
By leaving the Champions League, Sturm not only missed millions in revenue, but also a play-off duel with Benfica Lisbon. The Portuguese defeated Danish club Midtjylland 3-1 in the second leg, 7-2 on aggregate. Sturm continue in the Europa League. The Styrians don’t have to survive another round there, but have already secured their ticket for the group phase. The draw for the group stage will take place on August 26, 2022.
Höjlund scores to make it 1-0
Graz’s Danish top scorer gave the Graz fans hope for a happy ending with his opening goal.
Graz efforts are rewarded
Sturm coach Christian Ilzer put his trust in the team that started in the narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Lodz. Kiev coach Mircea Lucescu made two changes: the goalscorer from the first leg, Olexandr Karawajew, was initially on the bench, replaced by Dynamo star Zygankov. Olexandr Sirota took over from Denis Popow in central defence.
Graz immediately tried their luck on the offensive, but the guests had the first good chance. After a strong transition, Mykola Schaparenko shot just over the goal from a good position (5th). At the other end, the Kiev defense put goalkeeper Georgij Buschchan under pressure with an inaccurate back pass, but the keeper cleared the ball just before the goal line (16′). Just two minutes later, Buschtschan was on the post again when Sarkaria appeared dangerously in front of goal from the left and fired. Captain Stefan Hierländer then found his master from a distance in the Dynamo keeper (20′).
Dynamo almost own goal
In the 16th minute, the visitors’ defense put their own goalkeeper under pressure, but the situation turned out well for Kyiv.
A little later, the offensive efforts of the Styrians were rewarded. Höjlund launched an attack himself via Alexander Prass, who found the 19-year-old Dane with a fine hole pass, who scored the celebrated lead for Sturm with a left-footed shot into the far post (27′). Vitali Buyalsky missed the immediate equaliser, who failed to properly head the ball from close range in front of Jörg Siebenhandl (33′). As a result, Dynamo gained the upper hand, but they went into the break with the 1-0 lead – also because a long-range Prass shot just missed the Kiev goal (44th).
Latte saves Sturm in extra time
At the beginning of the second half, Zygankow tested Siebenhandl (57th) with a creative free-kick variant. On the other side, Buschtschan defused a Horvat shot (64′) and an Affengruber header after a corner (65′). After 75 minutes, the game was over for the only goal scorer up to that point: Höjlund had to be substituted for Ivan Ljubic.
The game now increasingly took place between the penalty areas, goal scenes were scarce in this balanced phase. Substitute Garmasch missed the equalizer in stoppage time when he headed the ball to the crossbar after a corner kick (90+2). Therefore, there was a 30-minute second helping.
Garmash hits the crossbar
A powerful header from the experienced Ukrainian in injury time smacked off the crossbar back into the field.
Kyiv forces decision
Dynamo then struck in extra time. Zygankow found the free-standing Wiwtscharenko with a diagonal ball into the penalty area, who shot Siebenhandl ice-coldly through the legs with his left hand (97′). A possible turnaround by the Styrians was then torpedoed by a yellow-red card for Sarkaria (105th). Zygankow made the decision after a well-played counterattack (112′).
Zygankov makes the decision
The Ukrainians, who previously eliminated Fenerbahce Istanbul – also after extra time – now have two games against Benfica (16/17 August in Lodz and 23/24 August in Lisbon) to qualify for the Champions League to qualify. Sturm, on the other hand, can console himself with the Europa League. At the end of August, the Styrians will find out about their opponents.
Comments on the game:
Christian Ilzer (Sturm-Trainer): “We were equal. Except for hitting the crossbar, our defense had almost everything under control. We had chances to make it 2-0. But then details were missing to rise against a strong opponent. In the end we offered too much and Kyiv took advantage of it with their class. Of course we are all very disappointed that we just didn’t make it over two games.”
Stefan Hierländer (storm captain): “Of course it’s very bitter. In the first half we have to take a 2-0 lead. The 1:1 was then too easy. It’s a bit of an emptiness right now, somehow there could have been more.”
Mircea Lucescu (Dynamo-Coach): “It was a very difficult game for us. We initially managed to stay in the game and then turned it around in the last 30 minutes. Sturm Graz was physically very strong with good pressing. We decided this game with our experience.”
Champions League, third qualifying round, second leg
Tuesday:
Sturm Graz – Dynamo Kyiv 1: 2 a.e.t. (1: 0/1: 0)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 14.007, SR Kruzliak (SVK)
Tore:
1:0 Höjlund (27.)
1:1 Wiwtscharenko (97.)
1: 2 Zygankow (112.)
Sturm: Siebenhandl – Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wüthrich, Dante (102nd Schnegg) – Hierländer (102nd Demaku), Gorenc-Stankovic (102nd Fuseini), T. Horvat (84th Lang), Prass (115th Wels) – Sarkaria, Höjlund (75.Ljubic)
Kyiv: Buschchan – Kedziora (71. Karavajew), Sabarny, Syrota, Dubintschak (71. Wiwtcharenko) – Schaparenko, Sidortschuk, Buyalsky, Schepeliew (82. Garmasch/99. Andrijewski) – Zygankow, Besedin (75. Wanat)
Yellow cards: Gorenc-Stankovic, Gazibegovic, Wüthrich, Prass, Demaku or Sidortschuk, Garmash, Karawajew, Vanat, Zyngankov, Buschchan
Gelb-Rot: Sarkaria (105.+1)
First leg: 0-1 – Kyiv with a total score of 3-1 in the play-off against Benfica Lisbon (match dates: August 16/17 home and August 23/24 away)
