After catching up: Sturm Graz is ÖFB Cup winner

Sturm Graz became football cup winners for the seventh time on Wednesday. In Klagenfurt, the Styrians turned a 0-1 half-time deficit into a 2-1 win in an intense final against Rapid and repeated the coup from the previous year. Back then, too, they had prevailed against green and white. After the Rapids goal by Matthias Seidl (43rd), it was an own goal from Leopold Querfeld (49th) and a goal from Tomi Horvat (81st) that made the decision.

Sturm, who as Bundesliga leaders still have a chance of the double, were the better team at least in the second half and once again shone with their fitness. Rapid, on the other hand, has to wait for their first title in 16 years.

In front of 30.000 spectators in the sold-out Wörthersee Arena, the opponents fought an intense, fast duel with few playful elements, many changes of possession and two early chances. Rapids Nenad Cvetkovic headed just wide after a corner in top position (4th), Jatta couldn't get the ball under control a few meters in front of the Viennese goal (5th).

Mika Miles Biereth (left) and Nerayasho Kansanwirjo (right) in a duel. © APA / MAX SLOVENCIK

In keeping with the duel-happy action, Klauß had to make a substitution after less than a quarter of an hour because Lukas Grgic stepped on his teammate Jonas Auer's foot in the heat of the moment and he could no longer continue. Moritz Oswald came on, Neraysho Kasanwirjo moved to the left defense. The Dutchman also almost had to leave the field later after Mika Biereth hit him full in the face (40'), but was ultimately able to continue.

A little later it was 1-0 for Rapid. The goal was mainly due to Marco Grüll, who first took the ball from Gazibegovic like a bull, then let several defenders out in the penalty area like a gazelle and finally forced Vitezslav Jaros to make a save - Seidl used the rebound without any problems.

Matthias Seidl scored the 1-0 for Rapid. © APA / MAX SLOVENCIK

Before that there had also been good opportunities from Isak Jansson (outside net/25th) and on the attack side from Horvat and Biereth (Niklas Hedl saved in the follow-up/20th) and Jatta (33rd). The latter headed over the goal after elegant preparatory work by Jon Gorenc Stankovic (33').

A very even game in the first half belonged to the Graz team after the restart, which was slightly delayed due to smoke in the stands. Biereth tested Hedl (47'), a little later Rapid's goalkeeper had no chance. His teammate Querfeld maneuvered a header from David Affengruber over the line from short distance. Afterwards, the Green-Whites failed to provide a real answer and were almost constantly under pressure – especially from set pieces.

The game seemed to have taken a decisive turn in the 65th minute after a corner kick with the supposed 2-1 by Gregory Wüthrich. As the VAR confirmed, the Swiss had used his hand to help.

Fifteen minutes later the time had come: Sturm actually turned the game around after a throw-in and a poke in the penalty area by Horvat. An alleged foul that preceded the goal withstood the VAR check, but it heated up the temper, not least of Klauß. The Viennese rose again in the finish, but the effect remained manageable. In stoppage time, Jaros had to intervene again against Burgstaller.

ÖFB Cup, final Sturm Graz – SK Rapid 2:1 Goals: 0:1 Seidl (43rd), 1:1 Querfeld own goal (50th), 2:1 Horvat (81st)

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After catching up: Sturm Graz is ÖFB Cup winner

Sturm Graz won the ÖFB Cup against SK Rapid on Wednesday evening. The Styrians won 2-1 against the Viennese.

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