NEWS
Diakite's Dream Debut! Sturm Deals LASK First League Defeat
Sturm rewards itself for an improved performance by dealing the Linz side their first Bundesliga defeat of the season, but has to pay a bitter price for it.
To conclude the 6th round of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga, SK Sturm secures a 2-1 home victory against LASK.
This snaps the Linz side's streak of 13 unbeaten Bundesliga matches – the double winners fail to leave the field as winners for the first time this season and simultaneously suffer their first defeat.
Despite this, the Athletiker remain at the top of the table, level on points with SK Rapid. FC Red Bull Salzburg are just one point behind, with Sturm Graz now four points back.
Penalty?
The first moment of controversy in the top match occurs in the 11th minute.
Bello goes down in the Graz penalty area after a challenge with Heil, and referee Gishamer points to the spot. However, VAR overturns the decision, awarding LASK a free-kick and Heil a yellow card.
Mamageishvili Rewards Sturm
After a cautious start, the Graz side take control in the course of the first half and create good chances to take the lead. Jatta misses the best of these, denied by Jungwirth from a good position (26').
But Sturm keeps pressing and rewards themselves before halftime. Jatta wins the ball deep in his own half and drives it forward.
Hödl finds the perfect moment for the pass to Mamageishvili. It initially looks like the Georgian will turn away, but he then executes a skillful cut-back and coolly places the ball into the far corner (34').
LASK Equalises Late
Just when it looked like the Graz side would take a halftime lead, the visitors from Linz still manage to snatch a late equaliser.
Sturm cannot adequately clear a cross by Malic, and Danek lurks at the back, putting the ball into the net (45'+2').
So, the teams head into halftime with the score at 1-1.
Diakite with Dream Debut - Jatta Injured
The first unfortunate incident of the second half occurs in the 49th minute when Jatta goes down after a challenge with Andrade and has to be substituted due to injury.
This leads to Oumar Diakite making his Sturm debut. And the Ivorian strikes immediately: A long ball through to the front, the LASK defence completely misjudges it, and Diakite is able to chip Jungwirth - 2-1 (59').
The best chance to equalise falls to substitute Kalajdzic, but Malic clears it off the line (65').
Kiteishvili Fails to Seal Win from the Spot
The game is on a knife's edge. There are many challenges, misplaced passes, and plenty of work for referee Gishamer.
In added time, Sturm is awarded a penalty after a foul by Andrade, which Otar Kiteishvili, however, sends over the crossbar (90'+7').
Sturm nevertheless holds onto the lead and inflicts LASK's first league defeat since March 22, 2026.
