Austria defeats storm and holds up the tension – Diepresse.com

Austria won the top game against Sturm Graz earns 2-1 and is again the first pursuer of the defending champion because Salzburg against the WAC not over a 1: 1 came out.

Only three points behind five outstanding rounds make Austrias revived title hopes. Already on Sunday there will be reunion in Graz, with a victory, the Viennese would take over the lead due to the duel won.

In front of 14,452 spectators in the Generali-Arena, both Maurice Malone (40th) and his storm partner Nik Prelec (61.) entered the shooting list on Austria. For the Grazer, the balance of Max Johnston (45th) was too little, after three wins they collected a defeat again. The best defensive defensive in the duel with the best offensive kept the upper hand. Austria may continue to dream of the first title since 2013 and remains insurmountable for Sturm this season. There had been a 2-2 in the league, a 2-0 in the Cup quarter-finals.

Wüthrich returned

The grazers were against 2-0 against Blue and white Linz Only one change, defense chief Gregory Wüthrich moved back to his traditional position after his lock. Austria coach Stephan Helm changed his team to Salzburg in two positions. As expected, Johannes Handl had to fit on the knee, for him the recently blocked Philipp Wiesinger moved right into the triple chain. In the four series in front of it, Hakim Guenouche opposite Matteo Perez Vinlöf was preferred on the left.

The very intensive game was characterized by numerous duels on both sides, whereby the Viennese could set more accents on the offensive. Tin Plavotic met the outdoor network (13th) after a corner, Abubakr Barry came to the end from eight meters, but pushing the ball into the hands of Sturm-Tormann Kjell Scherpen (26th). Sturm only first reported in front of the opposing goal in the 35th minute. At first there was not much missing from a long shot from Malick Yalcouye, then Samuel Sahin-Radlinger held a Wüthrich head after the following corner kick.

Malone introduces victory

That did not change the fact that the Viennese were better in the game inside. Scherpen was able to turn a fisherman’s shot drained by the head of Malone (39.). Shortly afterwards, the storm goalie was able to ward off a plavotic shot to the side, Reinhold Ranftl brought the ball back into the middle, where Malone headed. The joy lasted briefly. Johnston hit the corner with the left. The Viennese had reported in vain for a foul throwing from Yalcouye. According to ex-referee Thomas Steiner, this was justifiable in terms of regular technology. In this case, the VAR would not have been allowed to intervene in the event of an error. The imminent response from the domestic response prevented the interior rod with a shot from Malone (45.+3).

Even after the restart, the home side gave the tone. Malone failed due to Scherpen (50th), who, after Sahin-Radlinger had destroyed a grgic chance on the other side (52.), also defended a Fitz shot (56.). Five minutes later, the Dutch was able to fend a barry degree directly in front of the feet of Prelec, which had no trouble. In a Ranftl shot, he prevented the 1: 3 (67th). So it remained exciting. With the best chance of the Grazer by Kiteishvili, Aleksandar Dragovic saved the line (83.). With this, Austria won again against storm after four winless home games. A series of generally four mandatory games was also finished. (APA)