Late equalizer

SCR Altach vs Sturm Graz, LIVE from 5pm

Altacher celebrating the equalizer against champions Sturm Graz ...

(Bild: GEPA)

Sturm Graz are not quite sure of first place in the Bundesliga at the end of the year!

The league leaders had to settle for a 1-1 draw on Saturday at the start of the 15th round due to a late goal conceded in the away duel with bottom side Altach and are now six points ahead of their two Viennese rivals Rapid and Austria for one day. Hütteldorfer welcome Blau-Weiß Linz on Sunday, while the favorites host LASK. A full round is still to come.

Mika Biereth put the favorites ahead with a goal from the penalty spot (45.+1) in front of 4366 spectators. However, Graz's 11th win in 15 games came to nothing, as "Joker" Lukas Gugganig (88') scored with his first touch of the ball for the Vorarlberg side, who were without a win in twelve games. After three competitive wins in a row, there was once again no success. It was the first points loss for interim coach Jürgen Säumel after a 7-0 win against Klagenfurt and a 1-0 win in the Champions League against Spanish first division side Girona.

Säumel did without a strong rotation, bringing in only two new players compared to the Girona match. Central defender Gregory Wüthrich made his comeback in the starting eleven, while Tomi Horvat was preferred to William Böving on the wing. As expected, Graz had more of the play, but Altach put up a good fight in a first half with few chances.

Sturm dangerous for the first time after 38 minutes
This was one of the reasons why Sturm only became dangerous for the first time in the 38th minute, and twice at that. Dejan Stojanovic made a strong save from a Horvat shot. After the following corner, Sandro Ingolitsch saved a volley from Otar Kiteishvili with his head just before the line. However, Sturm goalkeeper Daniil Khudjakov also had to make a save from a Vesel Demaku shot (42').

Mika Biereth

(Bild: GEPA)

Almost on the counter-attack, Sturm's Malick Yalcouye was not rewarded with a goal for a strong run (43'). A Horvat free-kick was deflected onto the bar by Ingolitsch, Stojanovic was able to fend off Emanuel Aiwu's first clearance, but was powerless to stop Biereth's second. The result was an almost four-minute interruption to check whether Biereth was offside. Despite TV images, this could not be proven with certainty, so the goal was recognized. The striker scored for the 11th time in the league and extended his lead in the scoring charts.

Ingolitsch with a golden touch
Graz should have made everything clear immediately after the restart. Horvat aimed just wide (49') and Seedy Jatta, who was ready to shoot, had the ball taken off his foot just in front of Ingolitsch's goal (50'). At this point, there was nothing to suggest that Altach would win a point. The home side came into the game better as the second half progressed, but were not rewarded with a Kameri header after a Gebauer cross (67'). It took a golden strike from Fabio Ingolitsch to equalize.

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(Bild: GEPA)

The substitute defender Gugganig headed the ball into the net after a Lukacevic corner kick in his first action of the game. A double strike was then in the air: Lincoln ran at Chudjakow, passed him with a hook, but wasted the action (90'). At least Altach got a point after three defeats. It was the second under coach Ingolitsch.

The result:
SCR Altach - SK Sturm Graz 0:1 (0:1)
Altach, Cashpoint Arena, 4366 spectators, SR Altmann

Goals: 0:1 (45.+1) Biereth, 1:1 (88.) Gugganig

Yellow cards: S. Ingolitsch, Kameri and Aiwu respectively

Altach: Stojanovic - S. Ingolitsch, Estrada, Koller, Lukacevic - Kameri (87. L. Gugganig), Demaku (66. Bähre), Kaiba (74. Jäger), Fadinger - Strunz (74. Lincoln), Kronberger (66. Gebauer)
Sturm: Khudjakov - Gazibegovic, Aiwu, Wüthrich, Lavalee - Horvat (73. Gorenc Stankovic), Chukwuani, Kiteishvili, Yalcouye (91. Le. Grgic) - Jatta (73. Böving), Biereth (82. Yardimci)