Triumph at the defending champions - Austria in the semi-finals!

The winning streak continues in the new year. Austria Wien deservedly won the UNIQA ÖFB Cup quarter-final against champions and cup winners Sturm Graz 2-0. Reinhold Ranftl gave the Violets an early lead and the defense around Aleksandar Dragović allowed little to happen. Shortly before the end, substitute Marko Raguž made the difference with his first competitive goal for Violett - a picture-book day.

Head coach Stephan Helm used his regular team after a good preparation against Sturm Graz, only Mirko Kos started in goal instead of Samuel Şahin-Radlinger - as is usual in the cup. Alongside Aleksandar Dragović, Tin Plavotić and Johannes Handl played in central defense. Reinhold Ranftl and Matteo Pérez Vinlöf covered the flanks, Manfred Fischer and Abubakr Barry formed the center. Maurice Malone and Nik Prelec started in front of playmaker Dominik Fitz.

Cup holders Sturm Graz already have two Champions League games under their belts and coach Jürgen Säumel opted for the winning team from the clash against Leipzig.

Reinhold Ranftl scored again - 1-0 at the break

Austria got off to a strong start, putting Sturm under pressure early on by winning the ball several times. After a cross from Matteo Pérez Vinlöf, Sturm goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen saved from Nik Prelec, who was ready to shoot (4th). Mirko Kos made a spectacular save from Seedy Jatta, and on the counter-attack Dominik Fitz sent Nik Prelec deep. The Austria striker failed to beat Scherpen, but then ideally laid the ball back to Reinhold Ranftl from an almost impossible position. The long-distance runner in the purple kit put the ball into the goal from the edge of the box - the Violets took a 1-0 lead (9').

In the 13th minute, Otari Kiteishvili appeared in front of our goal, but his shot missed the target. William Bøving also missed after Austria lost possession (25'). Vinlöf fired the ball over the goal from the back after a pass from Fitz (26'). The 16,000 spectators in the sold-out Merkur Arena in Graz saw a great game of soccer.

Sturm became stronger towards the end of the first half, with a shot from Malick Yalcouye going wide of the goal (36'). Kiteishvili missed from a corner (39'). Austria struggled to cope with the pressure from Graz, but Maurice Malone had the chance to make it 2-0 on the counter-attack, but was denied by Scherpen (42'). The Viennese went into the half-time break with a narrow lead.

What a fairytale: Raguž put the lid on it!

The second half began in much the same way as the first had ended - Sturm wanted the equalizer. Mirko Kos had to be treated after a save, but was able to continue. Jatta shot over the goal from one meter after a sharp cross from the side, but was offside anyway (55'). A shot from Matteo Pérez Vinlöf was blocked for Austria's first corner. The left-back was then replaced by Hakim Guenouche. After the corner, taken by Dominik Fitz, Tin Plavotić had a header that missed the target (60'). The Violets became more dangerous with quick counter-attacks, Malone was denied by the goalkeeper and Prelec failed to connect with the final pass after a great pass from Fitz (67', 68').

Stephan Helm then made two changes, with Andreas Gruber and Marvin Potzmann coming on for Malone and Barry. Gruber had a chance in the 78th minute after a pass from Fitz, but his shot was blocked. Marko Raguž replaced Nik Prelec a few minutes before the end, the Austria defense continued to stand firm and the champions and cup winners were unable to create any significant scoring chances.

In the 89th minute, the fairytale took its course, Marko Raguž scored for Austria after an assist from Reinhold Ranftl to make it 2-0. His first competitive goal since February 13, 2022, and the 1,400 Veilchen who had traveled with him stood on their heads. The game was decided, the Violets knocked the defending champions out of the competition and advanced to the UNIQA ÖFB Cup semi-finals.

SK Sturm Graz - Austria Wien 0-2 (0-1)

Sturm: Scherpen; Malić (87' Hierländer), Geyrhofer, Wüthrich, Lavalée; Gorenc Stankovič, Chukwuani (82' Camara); Yalcouyé, Kiteishvili; Jatta (60. Mayulu), Bøving (60' Horvat)

Austria: Kos; Handl, Dragović, Plavotić; Ranftl, Fischer, Barry (69' Potzmann), Pérez Vinlöf (60' Guenouche); Fitz; Malone (69' Gruber), Prelec (84. Raguž)

Goals: Ranftl (9'), Raguž (89')

Yellow cards: Jatta (30'), Yalcouyé (86'), Wüthrich (90+3'), Geyrhofer (90+5'); Pérez Vinlöf (5'), Fischer (90+3'), Kos (90+3'), Dragović (90+4'), Guenouche (90+5')

Merkur Arena, referee Christopher Jäger, 16,000 spectators