Master-luck for Graz Against Unlucky Carinthians

Sturm Graz’s winning streak in Klagenfurt continues. However, luck was on the side of the champions in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with a 2-0 (0-0) win against Austria Klagenfurt. While Austria’s Christopher Cvetko missed a penalty (67th minute), Otar Kiteishvili converted a controversial handball penalty (71st minute) to take the lead. Mika Biereth scored the final goal (98th minute). Sturm celebrated its seventh win in seven away games in Klagenfurt since Austria’s promotion.

Klagenfurt would have more than deserved a point in a duel with many controversial penalty area scenes. Peter Pacult’s team found the right way to counter Graz’s offense right from the start, even without the suspended captain and defensive leader Thorsten Mahrer, and tried to achieve success with quick counterattacks.

Master-luck for Graz Against Unlucky Carinthians.

The Carinthians also had the better chances. A header from David Toshevski after a corner was too weak and too central (28th minute). Goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was also on hand ten minutes later when Ben Bobzien went alone towards the Sturm goal, but failed to put the ball in the net from a tight angle (38th minute). The guests, on the other hand, did not have a single shot on the Klagenfurt goal before the break. It was only dangerous when Seedy Jatta, the only new player in the starting eleven, did not hit the ball properly after Horvat’s pass (30th minute).

After about an hour, things got hectic, and referee Alan Kijas was in the spotlight three times within a few minutes. Sturm were lucky at first when Simon Straudi was free to shoot in the penalty area and was pushed from behind, but neither Kijas nor the VAR awarded a penalty (58th minute). A little later, Kijas awarded a penalty after a VAR check when Emanuel Aiwu met Toshevski in a running duel on the edge of the penalty area. Cvetko stepped up, but was stopped by Scherpen (67th minute).