Good game, but no points in Graz

Austria took the lead through Haris Tabaković, Manprit Sarkaria equalized for Sturm. A converted penalty by Tabaković meant 2-1 for Violett, which was also the halftime score. After the break, Sturm turned the game around with goals from Kiteishvili and again Sarkaria within two minutes, and Austria was beaten 2-3.

Dominik Fitz and Haris Tabaković returned to the starting lineup after their suspensions, Aleksandar Jukić and Nikola Dovedan remained on the bench. Coach Michael Wimmer made the team's alignment a bit more defensive this time, due to which James Holland and Matan Baltaxa started in midfield instead of Matthias Braunöder and Manuel Polster.

Sturm coach Christian Ilzer made five changes to his team ahead of Sunday's Cup final. The back four featured three new faces in Sandro Ingolitsch, David Affengruber and Amadou Dante. Otar Kiteishvili and Bryan Teixeira started in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 system.

Haris scored twice - violet lead at the break

Sturm Graz had the first opportunities on this Wednesday evening. After a corner by Manprit Sarkaria, David Affengruber put a header just beside the goal (2nd). Emmanuel Emegha headed towards Christian Früchtl, but the Austria goalkeeper remained the winner in this duel (5th). Austria came forward with a corner from Dominik Fitz, which Marvin Martins just missed (8th). After a foul on Reinhold Ranftl, Fitz circled the free kick precisely to Haris Tabaković, who ensured the violet lead with a powerful header (10th). During the goal celebration, an Austria fan injured himself by falling into the stadium ditch, we wish him a speedy recovery!

James Holland sent Andreas Gruber on his way, Arthur Okonkwo in the Graz goal deflected the ball for a corner. This resulted in a finish from Johannes Handl, but it went past the goal (14th). After that the home side came up again, Kiteishvili missed a chance from a promising position (19th). In the 23rd minute, Manprit Sarkaria took a free kick from the edge of the penalty area and the ex-Austrian shot under the wall to make it 1-1.

A volley from Baltaxa went wide of the goal (33rd) before referee Markus Hameter ruled a penalty for Austria after a handball by Affengruber. Haris Tabaković grabbed the ball and scored ice-cold to make it 1-2 - the 14th goal of the season for the Swiss (39th).

A direct corner kick by Dominik Fitz landed on the crossbar (45th), and the game went into the break with a narrow lead for the Violets.

Sturm turned the game around

After the change of ends, Lukas Mühl initiated a counterattack with a great pass, Andreas Gruber passed to Haris Tabaković, who failed to beat Okonkwo (49th). Kiteishvili shot just past the goal, Manfred Fischer slammed the ball against the crossbar from 15 meters (53rd, 55th). Alexander Prass, who had just been substituted, appeared in front of Früchtl after a pass from Sarkaria, but missed (58th) - the game swung back and forth.

Sturm equalized in the 62nd minute, Otar Kiteishvili scored after Prass' assist to make it 2-2. Just one minute later, Manprit Sarkaria beat Christian Früchtl and Sturm had turned the game around - Sarkaria scored for the sixth time against Austria.

Manuel Polster replaced the stricken Baltaxa and served the ball ideally to Andreas Gruber shortly after his substitution. Gruber took a full shot, Okonkwo fished the good shot out of the corner (69th). A finish by Dominik Fitz was blocked by Stefan Hierländer, a shot by Gruber went over the goal (75th, 81st). Shortly after, Gruber left the field for Nikola Dovedan. James Holland took heart with a long shot already in stoppage time, but just like Polster missed the goal a little later (90th+2, 90th+5).

Austria suffered a 2:3 defeat against Sturm.

SK Sturm Graz - FK Austria Wien 3:2 (1:2)

Sturm: Okonkwo; Ingolitsch (74. Schnegg), Affengruber, Wüthrich (46. Geyrhofer), Dante; Hierländer, Gorenc Stankovič; Sarkaria, Kiteishvili (74. Horvat), Teixeira (87. Bøving); Emegha (56. Prass)

Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Martins, Mühl; Ranftl, Holland, Fischer, Baltaxa (68. Polster); Gruber (81. Dovedan), Fitz, Tabaković

Goals: Sarkaria (23rd, 63rd), Kiteishvili (62nd); Tabaković (10th, 39th, penalty).

Yellow card: Affengruber (36.)

Merkur Arena, referee Markus Hameter, 12,725 spectators