Biereth scores a brace
LIVE from 14:30: Austria Klagenfurt vs Sturm
Sturm Graz got off to a perfect start in the championship group of the Austrian Football League with a shooting party at the Wörthersee. With a 4-0 (4-0) win at Austria Klagenfurt, the Styrians sent a strong signal to Salzburg in the championship race.
The game was already decided by half-time. Mika Biereth (4th, 18th), Tomi Horvat (23rd) and William Böving (39th) fired the favorites to their 14th victory in the 23rd round. Sturm not only celebrated the Copa title at the 2008 European Championship stadium last year, but also remained victorious against Austria in their sixth match there. For Peter Pacult's team, the European Cup mission began with a bitter setback. The highest defeat of the season was recorded.
Graz's preparation for Klagenfurt was a short one due to their European Cup appearance in Lille (1:1) on Thursday. If there were any doubts about their freshness, Christian Ilzer's men dispelled them in no time at all. Böving picked up the pace for the first time after an advance by defender Gregory Wüthrich, and Till Schumacher "cleared" the ensuing cross-field pass to Biereth, who only had to slide it in (4').
Both teams had their moments in the entertaining opening phase, but it was the Styrians who proved to be much more ruthless. Alexander Prass served Klagenfurt the supposed equalizer with a momentous misplaced pass into the legs of Max Besuschkow. However, the German chased the great chance over the empty goal (16'). That was a key moment. Less than two minutes later, it was 2:0.
Biereth nodded a Prass cross over the line from close range. Menzel had previously made an excellent save from Otar Kiteishvili. It was the Arsenal winter signing's eighth goal in a competitive match. Klagenfurt wavered, Thorsten Mahrer made a momentous mistake and then it was lightning-fast: Kiteishvili found Horvat at the back, who scored his sixth goal of the season with his weaker right hand for the first time (23'). Goalkeeper Philipp Menzel was unable to make a decisive save with his right hand.
Pacult threw his hands up in horror on the bench. To make matters worse, Simon Straudi had to make way for Kosmas Gkezos with an injury (29'). Pacult made a voluntary change after 36 minutes: Jonas Arweiler, a second powerful striker, came on alongside Nicolas Binder instead of Solomon Bonnah. The Violets were once again without goalscorer Sinan Karweina, who should be fit again after the international break.
Graz, with the shaky Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Wüthrich in the starting eleven, remained unyielding. After a long, wide ball from Jusuf Gazibegovic into the back of the defense, Böving also had his goal before the break (39'). The Dane shook off the Carinthian backline with ease, and not just in this scene.
With the will to limit the damage on the one side and a measured forward drive on the other, the 6,045 stadium spectators saw far fewer highlights in the second half. Biereth missed a great opportunity for the first time after a cross (64') and was called for a one-on-one by referee Alan Kijas shortly afterwards. The young Dane had sarcastically applauded his opponent Nicolas Wimmer after the latter had once again stopped him with a foul.
In fact, the hosts were now better able to hold their own. However, they only had a chance to put the finishing touches to the result against a Sturm in slow motion. Goalkeeper Viteszlav Jaros was on hand to save from Andy Irving and Wimmer.
SK Austria Klagenfurt - SK Sturm Graz 0:4 (0:4)
Klagenfurt, 28 Black Arena
SR Kijas
Goals: 0:1 (4.) Biereth 0:2 (18.) Biereth 0:3 (23.) Horvat 0:4 (39.) Böving ~
Klagenfurt: Menzel - Straudi (29. Gkezos), Mahrer, Wimmer, Schumacher - Wernitznig, Cvetko - Bonnah (36. Arweiler), Besuschkow, Schwarz - Binder
Storm: Jaros - Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wüthrich, Schnegg - Gorenc Stankovic - Horvat, Kiteishvili, Prass - Böving, Biereth
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