Sturm Graz score four against Hearts in Champions League qualifying

Sturm Graz beat Hearts 4-0 in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. Jon Gorenc Stankovic opened the scoring after four minutes.

Jeyland Mitchell, Luca Weinhandl and Jurgen Heil added second-half goals. The Austrian champions built a large advantage before the return game in Edinburgh.

Stankovic scores from the first corner

Sturm began its European season with immediate pressure. Jacob Peter Hodl delivered an early corner toward the crowded six-yard area.

Captain Jon Gorenc Stankovic met the ball and directed his header into goal. Only four minutes had passed at the Merkur Arena.

The opening goal brought the home crowd into the match. Sturm continued attacking through Hodl, Leon Grgic and centre-forward Szymon Wlodarczyk.

Hearts settled after the difficult start. The Scottish side attacked down both wings and won several corners.

Daniil Khudyakov remained protected by his defenders during Hearts’ best period. Sturm also blocked several attempts before they reached him.

A penalty was awarded to Sturm late in the first half. The decision was withdrawn after a video review.

The score remained 1-0 at the interval. Hearts recovered some control, but Stankovic’s header remained the only first-half goal.

Three goals change the match after half-time

Sturm made one midfield change during the interval. Otar Kiteishvili replaced Niklas Seidl before the second half began.

The home side doubled its lead after fifty minutes. Jeyland Mitchell rose inside the area and scored with a firm header.

Hearts had little time to recover from the second goal. Luca Weinhandl reached the next attack and finished three minutes later.

The nineteen-year-old midfielder made the score 3-0. His goal completed a direct move before Hearts restored its defensive shape.

Jurgen Heil then joined the scoring after fifty-nine minutes. Sturm had added three goals during a short second-half spell.

The sequence decided the first leg. Sturm increased its lead from one goal to four within fourteen minutes.

Sturm’s goals came from four different players. Two arrived through headers, while Weinhandl and Heil completed open-play attacks.

Hearts keep competing after the fourth goal

Hearts changed three players shortly after the fourth goal. Miller, Alexandros Kyziridis and Kabore left the field.

Alexandros Kerjota, Bilal Guendouz and Oisin Ba-Sy entered during the same period. The changes added fresh movement.

The visitors still reached several crossing positions. Sturm defended the central area and protected the clean sheet.

Khudyakov dealt with the attempts that reached his goal. The defenders also cleared deliveries before Hearts found a close finish.

Sturm later introduced Axel Kayombo, Nelson Weiper and Janoah Fosso. The substitutions reduced the workload on the starting forwards.

No fifth goal followed during the closing half-hour. Hearts also failed to find the away goal that would reduce the deficit.

The match ended without another major change. Sturm kept possession during several late phases and completed the clean sheet.

A large crowd watches Sturm’s European opener

The attendance reached 15,822 in Graz. Home supporters filled the stands for Sturm’s first European fixture of the season.

Sturm started Khudyakov behind Heil, Albert Vallci, Mitchell and Amady Camara Soglo. Stankovic led the midfield beside Weinhandl.

Seidl and Hodl completed midfield. Seedy Jatta joined Szymon Wlodarczyk in the attacking line.

Hearts started with Alexander Schwolow in goal. Finlay Milne, Jamie McCart, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Christian Borchgrevink formed the defence.

Oisin McEntee, Blair Spittal and Miller worked through midfield. Their first-half shape kept the deficit at one goal.

Kyziridis and Kabore supported striker Claudio Braga. Hearts retained this front line until the second-half changes.

The four goals came from separate areas of Sturm’s team. A captain, defender, young midfielder and full-back all scored.

Sturm also avoided a booking during the main scoring period. The team kept its shape after building the four-goal lead.

The second leg takes place at Tynecastle

Hearts host the return game on 28 July. The Scottish club begins that match four goals behind on aggregate.

Sturm travel with four goals and a clean sheet from Graz. The tie remains part of the second qualifying round.

The winner meets Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze next. That third-round place depends on both second-leg results.

Stankovic gave Sturm the ideal opening before the match settled. The second-half burst then produced the decisive margin.

Mitchell scored first after the interval. Weinhandl followed quickly, and Heil completed the scoring before the hour.

Hearts created attacking phases but never changed the scoreboard. Sturm converted its strongest period into three consecutive goals.

All four goals arrived before the sixtieth minute. The final half-hour then passed without another score.

The first two goals came from headers. Weinhandl and Heil completed the remaining finishes during open play.