Semi-final fixed

ÖFB Cup: Sturm Graz vs. Austria – from 18.15 hrs

The "Veilchen" dethroned the Styrians thanks to goals from Ranftl and Raguz

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Vienna's Austria have reached the semi-finals of the Austrian Cup. The "Veilchen" celebrated a 2:0 away win against Sturm Graz in their first competitive match of the year on Saturday, dethroning the current title holders. 

Reinhold Ranftl (9.) and Marko Raguz (89.) scored to give the favorites their tenth success en suite in a competitive match. The Styrians, on the other hand, must now concentrate on defending their league title.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Sturm started in front of around 16,000 spectators in the sold-out Merkur Arena with plenty of confidence following their 1-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League final, with coach Jürgen Säumel leaving the starting line-up unchanged from Wednesday's game. Despite this, the visitors were a touch more proactive in the opening stages and were promptly rewarded.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Ranftl scored after Prelec's assist
Dominik Fitz took advantage of a transition situation with a pass to Nik Prelec. The Slovenian striker initially failed to beat Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, but then played the bouncing ball from the byline into the back of the net. Ranftl was lurking there, who tucked the artificial leather from just outside the sixteen - the Sturm defenders' attempts to save the ball were ineffective.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The home side then increased the pressure. Otar Kiteishvili missed the far corner (13'), William Böving lobbed the ball past Austria's Cup goalkeeper Mirko Kos and past the goal (25'), Malick Yalcouyé also failed to hit the target inside the penalty area (36'). Austria only managed sporadic attacks, but they were not without danger. A direct shot from Matteo Perez Vinlöf fizzed over the crossbar (26'), Maurice Malone put the ball too far forward on his way to a promising chance (42').

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Austria defended skillfully
Sturm took even more risks after the break, but there were still no compelling opportunities. Austria defended skillfully and created more and more space, but missed a number of counter-attacking opportunities due to misplaced passes. Säumel put all his eggs in one basket in the final stages and brought on new signing Fally Mayulu, among others, but Austria proved solid in defense before striking the decisive blow.

Ranftl marched through to the baseline and Raguz converted his cross from a turn in the style of a class striker to clinch the game. It was the first competitive goal in almost exactly three years for the attacker, who had been injured for a long time. It was the first time Sturm had lost a Cup match since October 27, 2021 (1-2 at home to Ried in the round of 16), after which the 2023 and 2024 champions had won 15 matches - including a 2-0 win in Graz against Austria in the quarter-finals a year ago.

Quarter-final: 

SK Sturm Graz - FK Austria Vienna 0:2 (0:1)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 16,000 (sold out)
referee Jäger

Goals: 
0:1 ( 9.) Ranftl
0:2 (89.) Raguz

Sturm: Scherpen - Malic (87. Hierländer), Geyrhofer, Wüthrich, Lavalée - Gorenc Stankovic, Chukwuani (72. Camara) - Yalcouyé, Kiteishvili - Jatta (60. Horvat), Böving (60. Mayulu)

Austria: Kos - Handl, Dragovic, Plavotic - Ranftl, Barry (69. Potzmann), Fitz, Fischer, Perez Vinlöf (59. Guenouche) - Prelec (84. Raguz), Malone (69. Gruber)

Yellow cards: Jatta, Yalcouye, Wüthrich, Geyrhofer or Perez Vinlöf, Kos, Fischer, Dragovic, Guenouche

SV Stripfing/Weiden - TSV Hartberg 0:2 n.V. (0:0)
Vienna, Generali-Arena
Goals: Mijic (102.), Havel (105.)

WAC - Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz 3:1 (2:1)
Wolfsberg, Lavanttal-Arena. 
Goals: Gattermayer (23.), Nwaiwu (29.), Zukic (50.) and Fetahu (37.).

Other games:
LASK - Red Bull Salzburg (Sunday, 18:15)