For the second time in a row, Sturm Graz beat Rapid in the cup final. After trailing at the break, the Styrians turn around a fiercely contested match in Klagenfurt with an early and a late goal in the second half
Sturm Graz became cup winners for the seventh time on Wednesday. In an intense final against Rapid in Klagenfurt, the Styrians turned a 0:1 deficit at the break into a 2:1 victory and repeated last year’s coup. They had also prevailed against the green and white team back then. After Seidl’s goal for Rapid (43′), it was an own goal from Querfeld (49′) and a strike from Horvat (81′) that decided the game.
Sturm, who still have a chance of winning the double as Bundesliga leaders, were the better team, at least in the second half, and once again shone with their fitness. Rapid, on the other hand, still have to wait for their first title in 16 years.
Three days after the draw in Salzburg, Sturm brought on Jatta for Böving in attack and Schnegg replaced Lavalee in defense. Rapid coach Robert Klauß, who had recently been criticized by Christian Ilzer for resting several regular players, actually fielded a clear A-team this time, led by goalscorer Burgstaller
Rapid with the first strike
In front of 30,000 spectators in the sold-out Wörthersee-Arena, the opponents fought an intense, fast-paced duel with few playful elements, many changes of possession and two early chances. Rapids’ Cvetkovic headed just wide from a corner in a top position (4′) and Jatta failed to get the ball under control a few meters from the Vienna goal (5′).
Klauß was forced to make a change less than a quarter of an hour into the match when Grgic stepped on the foot of his team-mate Auer in the heat of the moment and was unable to continue. Oswald came on and Kasanwirjo moved to the left side of defense. The Dutchman also almost had to leave the pitch later on after being hit full in the face by Biereth (40′), but was eventually able to continue
A little later it was 1:0 for Rapid. The goal was mainly down to Grüll, who first took the ball off Gazibegovic like a bull, then gazelle-like let several defenders off in the penalty area and finally forced Jaros to make a save – Seidl converted the rebound without any problems.
Prior to that, there had also been good opportunities through Jansson (outside net/25th) and on the Sturm side through Horvat and Biereth (Hedl saved at the far post/20th) and Jatta (33rd). The latter headed over the goal after an elegant assist from Gorenc Stankovic (33′).
Sturm gain the upper hand after the break
A very even game in the first half initially belonged to Graz after the restart, which was slightly delayed due to smoke in the stands. Biereth tested Hedl (47′), but Rapids’ goalkeeper had no chance shortly afterwards. It was his team-mate Querfeld who pushed Affengruber’s header over the line from close range. Grün-Weiß failed to provide a real answer after that and were almost constantly under pressure – especially from set-pieces.
The game seemed to have taken a decisive turn in the 65th minute when Wüthrich made it 2:1 from a corner kick. However, as the VAR confirmed, the Swiss had used his hand to help
A quarter of an hour later, however, the time had come: Sturm actually turned the game around after a throw-in including a poke in the penalty area by Horvat. An alleged foul prior to the goal stood up to the VAR check, but heated up the tempers of Klauß and others. The Viennese team put up a fight in the final stages, but the effect was limited. Jaros had to intervene once more against Burgstaller in stoppage time