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Sturm Graz sends Altach into the qualifying group

Sturm Graz celebrates a home win against Altach.(Bild: GEPA)

SK Sturm Graz defeated SCR Altach 2-0 at the end of the regular season in the Austrian Bundesliga. This means that the Vorarlberg team has missed out on a place in the championship group. Altach also had to play with one man down in the final phase after a sending-off. For Sturm, on the other hand, these were important points in the battle for the championship. 

Defending champions Sturm Graz enter the championship group of the Austrian Bundesliga as leaders after a commanding victory over SCR Altach. Coach Fabio Ingolitsch's Styrians prevailed 2-0 (0-0) against the Vorarlberg team in the 22nd round on Sunday and took the lead in the table from Salzburg before the points were shared. For the cup finalists from Altach, however, their recent run of success came to an end, and SCRA were denied a place in the top six.

In front of 15,007 spectators, Jacob Peter Hödl (58') put the Styrians on the road to victory with a well-placed shot. In the final phase, "Joker" Belmin Beganovic (84') sealed the deal with a spectacular long-range shot in a numerical superiority. SCRA defender Benedikt Zech had previously been shown a yellow-red card (77'). For Altach, who enter the qualifying group in eighth place, it was their first defeat in seven competitive games under coach Ognjen Zaric.

Zaric, who took over from current Sturm coach Ingolitsch at the beginning of the year, fielded the same starting lineup in Graz that had achieved a historic entry into the cup final against Salzburg (1-0) on Wednesday. Ingolitsch had to do without suspended midfield boss Jon Gorenc Stankovic, so 17-year-old Luca Weinhandl made his Bundesliga debut in the starting lineup. The Sturm coach made a total of five changes to the team that drew 2-2 with WAC last week, and they proved their worth.

Hödl impresse
Hödl had a chance to take the lead in the sixth minute, but Filip Milojevic made a last-ditch save just before the line. Altach grew into the game as it progressed, and after half an hour, Sturm goalkeeper Matteo Bignetti made a good reflex save to deny Patrick Greil's dangerous header. At the other end, former Altach player Paul Koller headed twice just wide (32nd, 42nd).

Jacob Peter Hödl(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Altach's hopes of reaching the championship group faded due to the interim results in the other stadiums, but the Vorarlberg team continued to press for the lead in a balanced match. In the 36th minute, Sturm's defensive leader Jeyland Mitchell made two saves, and shortly afterwards Bignetti was on hand to save a shot from Vesel Demaku (43').

Zech's sending-off seals the deal
After the break, Mitchell scored from an offside position to give his side the lead (51'), but the goal was correctly disallowed. Shortly afterwards, however, the "Blackies" had reason to celebrate: Seedy Jatta made a good run down the left wing and played a perfect pass to Hödl in the center, who slotted the ball into the left corner for his second goal of the season. Graz almost added another immediately afterwards, but Ryan Fosso's lob narrowly missed the Altach goal (62'). In the final stages, Zech was sent off for a professional foul (77th minute), which decided the match. Sturm pressed forward and increased their lead with a spectacular long-range shot from Beganovic (84th minute).