Austria took Sturm off the top of the table with a 1-1 draw

Crowd crowd

Graz became a sports city on Sunday. In the heart of Graz, the ice hockey cracks of the 99ers celebrated their first championship title with 7,000 fans, and in the southeast almost 15,700 gathered to see their kickers take at least one step towards the championship trophy. The air in the stadium initially turned neither orange nor black and white, but violet. Pyrotechnics prevented a timely kick-off.

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After the smoke break, the Grazers’ actions were once again too transparent. Hödl had the first good chance after a nice pass from Jatta in the 25th minute, but Sahin-Radlinger saved. Previously, storm goalkeeper Chudyakov had caught a Fischer shot and Aiwu had put his goalkeeper in danger with a dangerous back pass.

However, many playback errors, especially those from Graz, characterized the game. Boateng had the best chance after Aiwu was the last man to fly in – that’s when Chudyakov showed his skills. Before the break Sturm acted more determinedly, became a little more dangerous, but without result.

What can be better in the second half? Listing this would make a long novel. A Malone header that missed the goal by around eight meters does not count. And then the defense was also mediocre: After a corner from the Korean Tae-Sok, the defender headed Tin Plavotic completely alone to take the lead (54th).

Sturm tried, Sahin-Radlinger saved on a good Malone chance. The Austria goalie also made a phenomenal save from Kiteishvili. But not as a newcomer Paul Koller managed to put the ball in the Austria goal in the 85th minute. It was – fitting for Sturm in 2026 – a goal from a free kick.

Sturm had more of the game at the end and wanted to win, but the resources were useless.

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Austria-Trainer Stephan Helm was happy with the 1-1 draw with Sturm, “although a win was possible due to the chances. But we have to work hard for everything, everything is very close in this league.”
Sturm is now in the role of hunter. “It was very disappointing. We are having problems asserting ourselves at the front, we have to be more forceful and efficient,” says coach Fabio Ingolitsch. Postscript: “But it’s not easy because all the clubs in Graz defend with a block at the back.”