Exciting title race
LIVE: LASK sees another red card against Sturm
The second top-of-the-table clash between Sturm Graz and their pursuers LASK also ended in a turbulent 1-1 draw. The Styrians failed to convert a long—and ultimately even double—numerical advantage into a victory and a four-point lead. It was only a penalty awarded by the video assistant referee (VAR) that ultimately secured the draw.
As a result, the defending champions’ lead at the top of the table has shrunk to just one point with four rounds remaining, as Salzburg moved into second place following a 3-1 win over Austria. LASK trails by another point.
15,187 spectators watched the home team squander their numerical advantage. After a goal by Moses Usor (52'), LASK even had a brief chance to take the league lead. Yet Joao Tornich had already received a yellow-red card in the 18th minute. After another red card for Samuel Adeniran (67'), the equalizer came. Otar Kiteishvili converted a penalty kick (78'), just as he had in the draw three days ago in Linz.
LASK with early chances
AtLASK, Dietmar Kühbauer saw no reason to make changes to his starting lineup following their dominant performance. Fabio Ingolitsch reshuffled the Sturm defense—albeit out of necessity. Emanuel Aiwu moved into the backline to replace the injured Jeyland Mitchell, who sat on the bench. Arjan Malic and Emir Karic took over on the wings.
The Graz side had clearly learned their lesson from their clear defeat in Linz. Determined to win the ball early, they dictated the opening minutes. However, the more determined Linz side fired the first warning shots through Samuel Adeniran. The American shot over the bar once (12th minute), and on his second attempt, Daniil Chudjakov was there to make the save (14th minute). By then, at the latest, LASK had found their rhythm. Kasper Jörgensen had the next chance with a central header (18th minute).
takes the lead with a textbook counterattackLASK defender Joao Tornich received an early yellow card after stepping on Seedy Jatta’s foot (6th min). Shortly thereafter, the match was over for the central defender following another yellow-card foul (18th min). The tone of the game was thus set. Sturm didn’t pose much of a goal threat at first, however. It took Otar Kiteishvili to create any real danger. The Georgian was unlucky with a thunderous shot off the post from 20 meters (42').
LASK came close to taking the lead just seconds after the restart through Moses Usor, and the goal would come shortly thereafter. Sturm’s own corner backfired on them. Maurice Malone failed to connect properly with the ball from a good position, before the Linz side launched a textbook counterattack through Horvath on the immediate rebound. The captain won the sprint duel with Kiteishvili and found Usor, who powerfully scored his eleventh goal of the season.
Sturm scores again on a penalty kick
While Sturm had little success finding openings, the Linz side weakened themselves once more. Adeniran was sent off with a yellow-red card after repeated reckless challenges (68'). Down two men, LASK dug in even deeper, and Sturm continued to create little from open play. In the 76th minute, the VAR intervened after Gizo Mamageishvili was brought down in the penalty area. Kiteishvili sent LASK goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth the wrong way.
The final minutes played out like a handball match, with Sturm gradually tightening the noose. But Jon Gorenc Stankovic (84th, over the bar), Malone (89th, saved by Jungwirth), and Jusuf Gazibegovic (92nd, wide) all missed the chance to score the winning goal.
SK Sturm Graz – LASK 1:1 (0:0)
Graz, Graz-Liebenau Stadium, 15,187, Referee Talic
Goals:
0:1 (52.) Usor
1:1 (78.) Kiteishvili (penalty)
Sturm: Chudjakov – Vallci, Aiwu (66. Mamageishvili), Koller – Malic (46. Gazibegovic), Fosso, Gorenc Stankovic, Karic – Kiteishvili – Malone, Jatta (85. Wilson)
LASK: Jungwirth – Cisse, Tornich, Andrade – Jörgensen, Coulibaly (88. Kacavenda), Horvath (94. Kebe), Bogarde – Usor (72. Bello), Kalajdzic (46. Mbuyamba), Adeniran
Yellow-Red Cards: Tornich (17th min./repeated fouls), Adeniran (67th min./repeated fouls)
Yellow cards: Jatta, Vallci, Mitchell and Cisse
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