2024-03-07 19:44:00
Sturm Graz’s successful run in the European Cup is about to end. Austria’s football runner-up and last representative in international business had to clearly admit defeat to OSC Lille at home 0:3 (0:1) in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League on Thursday. The goals for France’s fourth-placed team in Graz were scored by Jonathan David in a brace (29th, 51st) and Edon Zhegrova (71st). The second leg will take place next Thursday in northern France.
Sturm had to make do without midfielder Alexander Prass. The ÖFB team player was missing due to muscular problems in his hip. Coach Christian Ilzer spoke of a “serious failure” and relied on a defensive 4-2-3-1 concept. Lille also didn’t have the best line-up, but they could rely on the services of top star David in the attack center.
The Graz team were just passengers in the early stages in front of 13,825 spectators in their sold-out home stadium. Lille had significantly more possession of the ball, Sturm with six defensive players had little access to the game. Only after a quarter of an hour did the home team appear in the attacking third for the first time through Mika Biereth, a header from Jon Gorenc Stankovic after a corner went wide (21′).
Jaros saved Sturm from something worse
On the other side, David knocked on the ball for the first time with a volley (20′). The 16-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi provided the Canadian with the assist for the opening goal. A ball into the depths to Bouaddi undermined the entire storm defense, and David safely used the cross pass from the youngest player in European Cup history since the fall. Storm goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros defused a header from Hakon Haraldsson from close range (34′).
Three minutes later, his counterpart Lucas Chevalier did the same, parrying Manprit Sarkaria’s best attacking chance with his foot against Manprit Sarkaria, who was deployed by Tomi Horvat. Sarkaria was hit by Angel Gomes when he finished, but the video assistant didn’t see any clear foul play. Sarkaria was replaced by William Böving before half-time and was taken to hospital with a suspected serious ankle injury.
After the break, Jaros made another brilliant save against David (49′). Two minutes later, the Liverpool loanee also directed Haraldsson’s hammer onto the crossbar, but David converted the rebound to make it 2-0. The second best scorer in French Ligue 1 now has 19 competitive goals this season. David’s third goal was prevented by Jaros, who was there again after a serious mistake by David Affengruber (57′).
Sturm gave an offensive sign of life with an individual action from Otar Kiteishvili, but the Georgian’s artificial shot hit the crossbar (61′). At 0:3, Jaros, who had been extremely strong until then, was surprised by a cross from Zhegrova after a corner, which went into the goal behind him. Chevalier was there for a shot by Szymon Wlodarczyk (79′), a last attempt by Stefan Hierländer, who was also a substitute, went wide (92′). The home fans thanked the effort at the finish with a standing ovation.
The Styrians suffered their first defeat in the eighth competitive game of 2024. Lille, on the other hand, remains unbeaten in the Conference League this season. Sturm’s dream of the first European Cup quarter-final since the UEFA Cup in 1984 has now become a long way off. The Graz team are in the last 16 in an international competition for the first time since their sensational run in the 2000/01 Champions League under Ivica Osim.
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