The “Bulls” dominated the Styrians in the first half, but only managed one goal, and that after a set-piece situation: Ratkov headed the ball from a cross from Maurits Kjaergaard in the six-yard box and converted it to give the hosts a deserved lead (15th).
Salzburg set the tone before the break and had the better opportunities after the break, but Sturm stayed in the game and equalized in the finish: After a cross from the right by “Joker” Max Johnston, Kiteishvili headed in to make it 1-1 ( 80.). League leaders Salzburg are still two points ahead.
Reactions to Salzburg – Storm
The spring of the Admiral Bundesliga began with a 1-1 draw between league leaders Red Bull Salzburg and pursuers Puntigamer Sturm Graz. The reactions to the draw were varied.
Salzburg dominated before the break
In front of 15,239 spectators, Salzburg coach Gerhard Struber relied on the three-man chain that he had rehearsed in winter preparation, as he did in the cup opener against LASK (3:2). In the center, the ÖFB international Flavius Daniliuc was replaced by a trained central defender Lucas Gourna-Douath, for whom there was no space in the defensive midfield either. Daniliuc, on loan from Salernitana until the end of the season, made a strong Bundesliga and Salzburg debut.
APA/Krugfoto Ratkov headed in powerfully to give Salzburg the lead
Experienced Andreas Ulmer had to help out in an unfamiliar position on the right wing because regular Amar Dedic was unavailable due to thigh problems, as were possible alternatives Leandro Morgalla (ill) and Nicolas Capaldo (injured). Ratkov was given preference over Luka Sucic on offense. In Sturm, Gregory Wüthrich returned to the defense center at the expense of David Affengruber. Otherwise, Christian Ilzer trusted the formation from the cup against Vienna Austria (2-0).
Ratkov made it 1-0 with a good header after a corner from Maurits Kjaergaard. The Serb had knocked on the door for the first time in a similar situation a few minutes earlier (11th). Salzburg dictated the first half. Ulmer tested storm goalie Vitezslav Jaros with a half-volley (24′), Oscar Gloukh pushed the ball past the far corner from a tight angle after Fernando’s pass (43′). Sturm did not fire a shot on goal before the break. Arsenal loan striker Mika Biereth was hanging in the air, as was his man next to Manprit Sarkaria.
Storm improved after the break
The Graz team came out of the locker room a little better with a change in their starting behavior and a system change to two defensive midfielders. But Salzburg still had the better chances. Gloukh aimed too imprecisely after an individual action (56th), Fernando made a mistake in a good position (60th). Kjaergaard’s shot landed at Jaros (64th), and the Liverpool loanee was also the winner in a one-on-one with Ratkov (72nd). Central defender Oumar Solet missed the supposed match point when he shot the ball over the goal from seven meters with a clear shot (78′).
APA/Krugfoto In the end Sturm saved a draw in Salzburg
This took revenge when Sturm struck with the first real goal scene. After a cross from substitute Max Johnston, Kiteishvili evaded his guard Solet and scored with a diving header from five meters. The Georgian had already scored a remarkable goal in the 2-2 draw in the first duel of the season in Graz in September. Afterwards, Sturm even briefly pushed for the winning goal. A final Salzburg free kick from Sucic landed on the outside bar (90th).
Salzburg is now unbeaten in six home games against Sturm in the league. Eight of the most recent nine duels with Graz ended with a one-goal difference or a draw. Sturm has only lost one game away from home this season in domestic business – in November at LASK (1:3), who reduced the gap to the top duo to three or five points with a home win against Austria Klagenfurt on Sunday (5 p.m.). could.
Voices about the game:
Gerhard Struber (Salzburg coach): “It was an emotional game in which we invested a lot. In the end it hurts that we didn’t reward ourselves with three points. The chances were there. Then it was a cross where we were careless. All in all, a lot of investment for one point. We deserved more, that’s a bit unpleasant. We were clearly better here today than Sturm Graz. I think Sturm Graz barely even got over the halfway line in a controlled manner in the first half. We also had three top chances in the second half. You have to add more, then the game is over.”
Christian Ilzer (Storm coach): “We are happy today. Salzburg had more chances, but we managed to adapt. In the first half we didn’t understand how we had to play against Salzburg. We were better in the second half and it was a game on equal terms. We showed a different face. We found more direct routes into the attacking third and there was more energy. That’s why we deserve this compensation. Salzburg had a significant increase in chances, of course. In the end we are happy to have taken a point.”
Admiral-Bundesliga, 18. Runde
Freitag:
Salzburg – Sturm Graz 1:1 (1:0)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 15,239 spectators, SR Lechner
Torfolge:
1:0 Ratkov (15.)
1:1 Kiteishvili (80.)
Salzburg: Schlager – Solet, Daniliuc (67th/Gourna-Douath), Pavlovic – Ulmer, Bidstrup (74th/Sucic), Diambou, Kjaergaard (74th/Guindo) – Fernando (67th/Daghim), Ratkov (90th Simic) , Gloukh
Sturm Graz: Jaros – Gazibegovic (76./Wlodarczyk), Wüthrich, Lavalee (76. Johnston), Schnegg – Gorenc Stankovic – Horvat (46./Affengruber), Kiteishvili, Prass – Sarkaria (90./Hierländer), Biereth (66./Böving )
Yellow cards: Diambou, Fernando and Schnegg respectively
