Double is perfect
Sturm Graz against Austria Klagenfurt from 5pm LIVE
Sturm Graz have crowned themselves champions of the Bundesliga in a dramatic season finale. In a heart-stopping final on Sunday, the Styrians deservedly beat Austria Klagenfurt 2:0 (0:0) in the last round, knocking serial champions Salzburg off the throne after ten titles in a row. It was the fourth league title in the club's history for Graz, who won the Cup for the first time in 25 years and the double for the second time overall.
In a patient game full of Sturm chances, central defender Gregory Wüthrich redeemed the 15,325 fans in Graz-Liebenau in the 69th minute with a header from a corner kick. Shortly before the end, "joker" Amady Camara (90') secured the three points. The team of successful coach Christian Ilzer secured their first league title in 13 years with a two-point lead and a lucrative place in the Champions League. A 7:1 win against LASK was not enough for Salzburg.
Changes to the starting eleven
David Affengruber had to watch the thrilling title match from the stands due to muscular problems in his hip flexor, with Dimitri Lavalée starting in central defense in his place. Ilzer compensated for the yellow card suspension of midfielder Otar Kiteishvili with a full offensive, with Mika Biereth and Seedy Jatta in a 4-1-2-1-2 system and William Böving in midfield. The Sturm players were cheered on frenetically by the fans in the arena, which had been sold out for weeks, an hour before kick-off. "Win the double and become legends", demanded the supporters of the "Blackies", who now number 15,000 club members.
It took five minutes for the Ilzer team to become dangerous for the first time. After a long corner kick, Jusuf Gazibegovic volleyed straight at goal from 18 meters, but Klagenfurt goalkeeper Phillip Menzel made the save. While Salzburg quickly took a two-goal lead in the long-range duel, Graz kept entering the danger zone with fast-paced soccer. However, shots from David Schnegg (16) and Tomi Horvat (20) were blocked or went wide.
Pacult's team make it difficult for Sturm
At the other end, Sturm goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros had no problems with a roller from Sebastian Soto (23'). A direct free-kick by Jonas Arweiler (28) from around 18 meters flew over the goal. The Carinthians, who had to make do without the suspended Andy Irving, got into the game better and better and relied on quick transitional play. Pacult's team made life difficult for the cup winners, and it became a game of patience for Graz, who were often too imprecise in the final third.
In the 37th minute, the hapless Jatta had to leave the pitch due to injury. Shortly afterwards, Arweiler shot volleyed over from a good position (39'). The second great chance for Graz came from Biereth, who created space for himself artistically after a long throw-in, but then missed completely (42'). Exactly 22 seconds after the restart, Alexander Prass put an effort from the edge of the box just wide of the left upright.
Knowing they had to score a goal and cheered on loudly by the fans, the hosts pressed for redemption. It almost happened in the 48th minute, but Horvat was unable to get a Stangl pass into the net, and a few seconds later Böving was denied by the foot of the brilliantly reacting Menzel. A Biereth header (60') following a corner missed the target, as did a Horvat shot from distance (62').
The decision
In minute 69, there was ecstasy in the stadium. Wüthrich rose high to meet a Horvat corner and headed home to give Menzel the lead. The majority of the Sturm fans watched the final phase standing and saw how Pacult's team tried to equalize. And it came close again after a header from "Joker" Jaritz hit the bar (84') and a Besuschkow shot missed the goal (89'). Shortly afterwards, Camara kept his cool on a counter-attack to seal the title.
Here are the best pictures:
SK Sturm Graz - SK Austria Klagenfurt 2:0 (0:0)
Graz, Merkur Arena
SR Lechner
Goals:
1:0 (69.) Wüthrich
2:0 (90.) Camara
Sturm: Jaros - Gazibegovic (75. Johnston), Wüthrich, Lavalée, Schnegg - Gorenc Stankovic - Böving (75. Camara), Prass - Horvat (86. Hierländer) - Biereth (86. Wlodarczyk), Jatta (37. Geyrhofer)
Klagenfurt: Menzel - Wernitznig (72. Straudi), Mahrer, Wimmer, Schumacher - Besuschkow, Benatelli, Cvetko (82. Robatsch) - Karweina (68. Jaritz) - Soto (72. Maglica), Arweiler
Yellow cards: Lavalée and Mahrer
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