2:1 at BW Linz

Blau-Weiß Linz v Sturm Graz, LIVE from 5pm

Champions Sturm Graz win 2:1 at Blau-Weiß Linz.

(Bild: APA/EXPA/REINHARD EISENBAUER)

Soccer champions Sturm Graz have ended their results crisis in Linz. Christian Ilzer's team won 2:1 (1:1) at in-form fifth-placed Blau-Weiß on Saturday and will start their home debut in the Champions League on Wednesday against Club Brugge as Bundesliga leaders.

Mika Biereth scored from the spot (18th) and Otar Kiteishvili scored a penalty himself (71st) to give the double winners, who were superior for long stretches, their fifth win in the championship after three games without a win. Sturm are now one point ahead of Rapid and three ahead of Salzburg, who have played two games less. The joy in Graz was dampened by a hand injury to captain Jon Gorenc Stankovic. "It looks like a more serious injury," said Ilzer.

Thomas Goiginger scored his first league goal for Blau-Weiß (33') to make it 1:1, but Gerald Scheiblehner's side were unable to prevent their first home defeat of the season.

Sturm dominated from the start in front of a sell-out crowd (5,595), pinned Linz deep at times and took the lead after 18 minutes. Brighton loanee Malick Yalcouyé moved inside after some clever body movement and hammered the ball onto the crossbar from just outside the penalty area - Biereth tucked away the rebound. It was the first goal Linz had conceded at home this season following victories against Austria, Rapid and LASK. Scheiblehner had again fielded the starting eleven that had won twice recently. His team had a lot to do defensively against the variable champions and were completely harmless in attack for half an hour.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

The visitors could have increased their lead through William Böving, who failed to hit the ball properly after a low corner kick (33'), but instead invited their opponents to equalize. Max Johnston underhit an Anderson cross and goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen allowed the Stangl pass to Goiginger to slip through his fingers (33'). Sturm complained in vain about a handball in the build-up.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

The second half began for Graz without Gorenc Stankovic, who suffered an unfortunate arm injury in stoppage time following a corner. Tochi Chukwuani replaced the midfield stabilizer. The picture remained the same: Sturm set the tone, while Linz showed in a compact block why they had only conceded one goal in their last four competitive matches. The result was a few high-caliber goals.

Ilzer's lucky hand with substitutions
Ilzer tried to increase the pressure by bringing on Kiteishvili and Erencan Yardimci, who were initially rested. Kiteishvili's quick step also put the champions on the road to victory. The Georgian was quicker than Silvan Wallner in the penalty area and sent Andreas Lukse the wrong way with the subsequent penalty.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Ronivaldo had an equalizer on his feet
The home side then took more risks and created half-chances. Sturm remained more dangerous, but without the final emphasis. The champions seemed to be cruising home to their first win in almost a month without any major problems - before the match went up in smoke in stoppage time. Scherpen was on hand to make two brilliant saves from Ronivaldo (94', 95'), while Manuel Maranda hit the top of the crossbar with a follow-up shot.

The final score:

FC Blau-Weiß Linz - SK Sturm Graz 1:2 (1:1)

Hofmann Personal Stadion, 5,595 spectators (sold out), referee Gishamer.

Goals: 0:1 (18.) Biereth, 1:1 (33.) Goiginger, 1:2 (71.) Kiteishvili (foul penalty)

Blue-White: Lukse - Strauß (46. Wallner), Maranda, Mitrovic - Anderson (83. Gölles), Diabate, Briedl (74. Dobras), Pirkl - S. Seidl (64. Schmidt), Ronivaldo, Goiginger

Storm: Scherpen - Johnston (84. Geyrhofer), Aiwu, Lavalée, Gazibegovic - Gorenc Stankovic (46. Chukwuani) - Yalcouyé (72. Zvonarek), Horvat, Böving (58. Kiteishvili) - Camara (58. Yardimci), Biereth

Yellow cards: Strauß, Goiginger or Yardimci, Gazibegovic, Chukwuani