Sturm Graz continued the perfect start to the new year. The runner-up won the Styrian derby at TSV Hartberg in the Bundesliga on Saturday with a deserved 2-1 (2-0) and thus also the third game this year. Thanks to goals from Manprit Sarkaria (11th) and Tomi Horvat (44th), Sturm reduced the gap to leaders Salzburg to three points and pulled away from third-placed LASK by eight points.
For a long time, Hartberg hardly came up with any dangerous actions, but after an hour he got stronger and scored the first goal through Dario Tadic (75th). But the equalizer didn’t succeed. Storm coach Christian Ilzer had to replace the injured top performers Gregory Wüthrich, Jakob Jantscher, Otar Kiteishvili, Albian Ajeti and William Böving and rebuilt his team in five positions. The fact that the Grazers have a deep squad was proven right from the start. Two newcomers in the starting XI gave the lead, Sarkaria headed a cross from David Schnegg to make it 1-0. Goal just before the breakThe hosts’ quick response was thwarted by goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who defused a Rene Kriwak header (13′). Otherwise, the defensively compact Grazers, strong in one-on-one battles, allowed very little and had a huge chance to make it 2-0 in the 26th minute. Bryan Teixeira, who was brought in from Lustenau in the winter and was in the starting eleven for the first time in the Schwaz-Weißen, appeared alone in front of the Hartberger goal, but went wide. Shortly before the break, the striker made it perfect as a preparer. The Frenchman fought for the ball, kept an overview in the penalty area and served Horvat, who deliberately scored. After the break, Hartberg tried very hard to avert the defeat and became more dangerous after an hour. Tadic, who came on shortly before, initially missed a great chance to score the goal (63′). At the other end, Horvat (64′) and Sarkaria (70′) probably had the final decision on their feet, but missed from the best position. Tadic, who was there after Donis Avdijaj’s shot was blocked by Okonkwo, ensured an exciting final phase with his goal. Storm, however, brought the lead over time and celebrated after the success in the cup quarter-finals against Salzburg and the 1-0 against Rapid and is unbeaten in the Bundesliga since August or 13 games.
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