Missed the Top Spot

Penalty Kick Earns Sturm a Point Against Newcomer Lustenau

Seedy Jatta scored on a penalty kick to tie the game at 1–1.(Bild: GEPA)

Sturm Graz missed out on a temporary jump to the top of the Austrian Bundesliga standings. The runners-up could not manage more than a 1-1 (0-1) draw at home on Saturday against newly promoted Austria Lustenau. Dominik Weixelbraun gave the Vorarlberg side an early lead (10th minute), and Seedy Jatta equalized on a penalty kick (65th minute). 

While the Graz team remains undefeated in the league, they now trail the top two teams, Rapid and LASK, by one point despite having played one more game.

Goalkeeper Daniil Chudjakow was unavailable for Sturm due to lumbago. In place of the Russian, new backup goalkeeper Ammar Helac made his debut for the Graz team. In addition, coach Fabio Ingolitsch switched up his attacking duo: Seedy Jatta and Szymon Wlodarczyk started up front in place of Axel Kayombo and Nelson Weiper. Lustenau coach Markus Mader fielded the same starting lineup as last week in the 2-1 home win against WAC.

(Bild: GEPA)

Another Slow Start for Sturm
His team got off to an ambitious start in front of 14,512 spectators in Graz-Liebenau. After a short corner, Danilo Soares sent a precise cross to Weixelbraun, who placed his header perfectly into the far corner. It was the former Rapid player’s second goal of the season. Sturm, which had gotten off to a rocky start—just as it had in its 1-0 win over Altach—gradually found its rhythm as the game progressed. Jacob Peter Hödl hit the near side netting (27’), and Lustenau goalkeeper Domenik Schierl safely stopped another shot by the ÖFB youngster (27’, 31’).

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Jatta and Wlodarczyk squandered opportunities due to poor ball control. Wlodarczyk missed the best chance to equalize when, after a pass from Simon Seidl, he waited too long and was blocked by Niklas Pertlwieser (34'). Shortly afterward, Fabian Gmeiner cleared a shot by Seidl off the line to save Schierl, who was already beaten (36').

After the break, the home team was lucky twice that Lustenau failed to finish their counterattacks decisively: Weixelbraun nearly scored his second goal (51'), and Dion Kacuri also couldn’t get past Helac (57'). The equalizer also came about somewhat fortuitously: Gmeiner’s upper arm had been struck by the ball during a duel with Jatta, and after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), a penalty kick was awarded. Jatta took his time before sinking the ball into the right corner. The Norwegian had previously scored Sturm’s game-winning goal against Altach.

(Bild: GEPA)

Turbulent Final Stages
Both teams had chances to decide the game. Helac tipped a free kick from Weixelbraun over the crossbar (76’); at the other end, a shot by substitute Gizo Mamageishvili was deflected away at the last moment (81’). Schierl stopped a shot by Hödl, and a follow-up header by substitute Belmin Beganovic narrowly missed the goal (90'). Deep into stoppage time, Lustenau’s goalie was shown a red card after a video review for a slight headbutt against Sturm youngster Luca Weinhandl (98'). Substitute forward Lenn Jastremski had to step into goal and punched the final corner kick of the match out of the danger zone.

Lustenau thus ended a long winless streak in Graz. They had lost all nine previous competitive matches at Sturm; now they earned their first point there. Sturm had previously won 15 consecutive Bundesliga matches against Lustenau. In their 22nd competitive matchup, this marked only the second time the Vorarlberg side had earned a point—the first since 1997. Lustenau picked up its first away point of the season and sits in fifth place in the standings. Sturm remained unbeaten in its 11th consecutive league home game, spanning both seasons. Next Sunday, the third-place team faces a big match against league leader Rapid.

Sturm Graz – SC Austria Lustenau 1:1 (0:1)
Graz-Liebenau Stadium, 14,512 spectators, Referee Weinberger

Goals: 0 –1 (10') Weixelbraun, 1–1 (65') Jatta

Sturm: Helac – Heil, Vallci, Petrovic (79’ Koller), Soglo (67’ Balbo) – Hödl, Gorenc, Stankovic, Weinhandl, S. Seidl (67’ Mamageishvili) – Wlodarczyk (46' Weiper), Jatta (79' Beganovic)

Lustenau: Schierl – Gmeiner, Chukwu, Pertlwieser, Soares – Kacuri (89' Grabher) – Weixelbraun (77. Ismailcebioglu), Afrifa (77. Delaye), Diarra, Gashi (67. Jastremski) – Verinac (89. Benjamin)

Red card: Schierl (98th minute/assault)

Yellow cards: Weiper, Mamageishvili, Gorenc Stankovic; Kacuri, Ismailcebioglu