Sturm Graz celebrates dramatic derby victory: GAK disappointed again!

Sturm Graz celebrates dramatic derby victory: GAK disappointed again!

SK Sturm Graz won the 201st Graz derby in a thrilling duel 2-1 against GAK 1902. In front of around 11,000 enthusiastic fans, the game started promisingly for the “Rotjackets”, who took the lead through Marco Perchtold in the 78th minute. A goal that made the spectators cheer and brought the apparent first red derby victory in almost 19 years within reach. But the cheers didn't last long laola1.at reported.

Sturm's “Blackys” found their way back into the game in the final phase: First, Otar Kiteishvili equalized with a header in the 86th minute. The GAK also lost its captain Perchtold after a controversial yellow-red card. Sturm countered perfectly in stoppage time and Malick Junior Yalcouye scored the decisive 2-1 (90th + 2). Despite the lead, GAK coach Rene Poms was confronted with unexpected emotional turbulence. "Today it hurts brutally. Because firstly you're losing a derby and then of course the way in which," explained Poms after the final whistle Ligaportal.at executed.

The GAK showed a solid defensive performance in the first half, but was hardly able to make any impact offensively. The deficit in the second half caused the team to become careless. Poms emphasized that such individual mistakes should no longer happen: “We know exactly what we have to work on.” The next derby could not take place until next season unless GAK stays in the Bundesliga. Next Sunday the team will face Rapid, while it remains important for Sturm Graz in the fight for the top of the table to carry the momentum from this derby into the next games.