This was last seen in 2009
Salzburg against Sturm Graz LIVE from 20:45
Just like last year, the final of the ÖFB Cup pits Sturm Graz against Rapid. Defending champions Sturm prevailed 4:3 in a turbulent semi-final clash at serial champions Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday. The last time the "Bulls" conceded four goals was in 2009 against Altach.
Goals from William Böving (25'), Tomi Horvat (52'), David Schnegg (71') and Niklas Geyrhofer (81') turned the game around after Oumar Solet had put Salzburg ahead (12'). The Bulls only managed to score twice through Luka Sucic (80') and Aleksa Terzic (90').
Eleventh Cup final
The dream of a tenth double in 13 years is now over for Salzburg. Last year, Salzburg had already failed at home to Sturm in the Cup - then in the quarter-finals on penalties. Graz are in the Cup final for the eleventh time in the club's history and have won the trophy six times. The final against Rapid will be played again in Klagenfurt on May 1.
Sturm's playmaker Otar Kiteishvili returned to the team after the 1-0 home defeat against Salzburg on Sunday. Geyrhofer came into the defensive midfield because Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Dimitri Lavalee were suspended after the scuffle in the league match. Their Salzburg counterpart Lucas Gourna-Douath also had to serve a ban, but not his team-mate Solet, who was also involved in the wrestling match.
Solet of all people
In retrospect, the Bundesliga video assistant referees (VAR) admitted that the Frenchman should also have been sent off in Graz. However, due to the camera angle chosen, the situation would not have been clearly recognized. This was probably one of the reasons why Sturm coach Christian Ilzer indicated his grip with his hand on the neck after Solet's opening goal.
Salzburg coach Gerhard Struber decided not to play star striker Fernando for the time being in order to manage his workload. In place of the Brazilian, the hapless Karim Konate played alongside Petar Ratkov. Salzburg set the tone at the start in front of 11,494 spectators. Solet headed a Kjaergaard corner extended by Flavius Daniliuc under the crossbar. A short time later, Konate missed a great chance to make it 2:0, failing to beat striker Vitezslav Jaros one-on-one (13').
That paid off in the 25th minute, when Sturm struck after the first beautifully played action. Kiteishvili found Horvat with a lofted pass. The latter then set up Böving, who only had to push the ball over the line. Even without their stabilizer Gorenc Stankovic, Graz were better in the game from then on.
Quick reaction
Rain temporarily set in at the break and Sturm were still cheering in vain 30 seconds after the restart. Assistant Jusuf Gazibegovic was offside before Mika Biereth's goal. In the 52nd minute, the joy of the fans was justified: After a pass from Gazibegovic, Horvat did not quite hit the ball in the penalty area, but ÖFB team keeper Alexander Schlager allowed it to slip under his body and into the goal.
Struber reacted, bringing on Fernando and Sucic (both 55) after Roko Simic (46). Daniliuc had shot over the goal from a good position at 1:1 (51'). An attempt by Oscar Gloukh was deflected onto the outside of the net (58'). Schnegg made it 3:1 after a pass from Biereth, with Sturm's left-back scoring from the edge of the box into the right corner. This shot was not unstoppable either.
Wild final phase
The same applied to the final goal, which Sucic scored after a pass from Fernando. Jaros slid the ball into the goal from an acute angle. Sturm struck back less than two minutes later: After a Horvat corner, Geyrhofer was completely free to head home from the five-man box and restored the two-goal gap. The final goal was scored by substitute Terzic, who made a catch in the penalty area and finished into the far corner.
Sturm are now unbeaten in eleven consecutive cup games since October 2021. Salzburg, on the other hand, suffered their first defeat in a competitive match this calendar year. The Bulls were unbeaten in their last 15 games in domestic competition. The league leaders, who are five points ahead of Sturm, continue their league campaign on Sunday at home against Rapid. The runners-up from Graz will face third-placed LASK.
Red Bull Salzburg - SK Sturm Graz 3:4 (1:1)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena
11,494 spectators, refereed by Altmann.
Goals:
1:0 (12.) Solet
1:1 (25.) Böving
1:2 (52.) Horvat
1:3 (71') Schnegg
2:3 (80') Sucic
2:4 (81') Geyrhofer
3:4 (90.) Terzic
Salzburg: A. Schlager - Daniliuc, Solet (76. Koita), Pavlovic, Guindo - Diambou - Bidstrup (55. Sucic), Gloukh, Kjaergaard (89. Terzic) - Ratkov (46. Simic), Konate (56. Fernando)
Storm: Jaros - Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wüthrich, Schnegg - Geyrhofer - Horvat (83. Hierländer), Kiteishvili (91. Serrano), Prass - Biereth (76. Jatta), Böving (83. Camara)
Yellow cards: Ratkov, Koita and Geyrhofer respectively
Final on May 1st at the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt (20:45): Sturm Graz - SK Rapid
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