Sturm Graz 1-1 Austria Lustenau
Sturm Graz and Austria Lustenau played out a 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga's fourth round at the Merkur Arena on Saturday evening. The result keeps both sides in the middle reaches of the table, with the hosts still fourth after five matches and the visitors sitting eighth. To be fair, neither side had much to complain about after ninety minutes.
Dominik Weixelbraun gave the visitors the lead in the tenth minute, a quick intervention before Sturm could settle into their rhythm. The hosts responded with a penalty of their own, Sadio Jatta converting in the sixty-fifth minute after the referee pointed to the spot. By then the game had opened up a bit, with both sides trying to find a winner.
There were several changes across the second half, mostly tactical rather than forced by injury. Sturm brought on Emran Soglo, Albin Gashi and Simon Seidl together in the sixty-seventh minute, while Austria Lustenau made three substitutions around the same time. The visitors also saw Lamine Afrifa and Weixelbraun come off before half-time changes were made.
The match ended with drama for the away side. Daniel Schierl received a red card in the ninety-eighth minute after a second yellow, leaving Austria Lustenau to see out the remaining minutes with ten men. Sturm had additional bookings in stoppage time through Goran Gorenc Stankovic and Giga Mamageishvili, while Hakan Ismailcebioglu joined the list for the visitors.
Sturm dominated the statistics with 63 per cent possession and 112 attacks compared to 51 for the visitors. They registered four shots on target against six for Austria Lustenau, though both sides created two big chances each. The hosts had more corners and crosses, but the visitors were more effective in defence with 48 clearances to 25.
The draw means Sturm remain four points clear of the visitors in the table. Both teams have now played five matches, with the hosts having won two and the visitors one. The result extends Austria Lustenau's unbeaten run to three games, though they will rue the late red card that denied them a chance to press for victory.