Arsenal loanee provides assist in draw to send title race to final day | OneFootball

Arsenal loan striker Mika Biereth provided an assist in Sturm Graz’s draw with LASK on Sunday, a result that extends their wait for the Austrian Bundesliga title.

Mika Biereth celebrating a goal for Sturm Graz (Photo via Sturm Graz on Twitter)

With four points between Sturm Graz and RB Salzburg and two games remaining, Sturm went into their penultimate league fixture against LASK knowing that a win would secure them the Austrian Bundesliga title.

Arsenal’s Mika Biereth has been on loan with Sturm for the second half of the season, and he was named in the starting lineup on the day, but it didn’t all go to plan.

Just 20 minutes into the game, LASK took the lead through Florian Flecker, leaving Sturm needing a comeback.

Biereth helped to provide that comeback, laying on an assist for Otar Kiteishvili to score a tap-in, and Kiteishvili then gave Sturm the lead early in the second half.

Mika Biereth celebrating a goal for Sturm Graz (Photo via Sturm Graz on Twitter)

But there was a late twist, with LASK scoring a 77th-minute penalty to secure a draw and send the title race to the final day.

With RB Salzburg winning their game, they’re now just two points behind Sturm, and they have the head-to-head advantage over their rivals.

If Sturm draw or lose in their final game, a Salzburg win would hand them the title. But if Sturm win, there’s nothing Salzburg can do.

Sturm face Austria Klagenfurt on Sunday, May 19th at 16:00 BST, whilst Salzburg face LASK at the same time. Both teams are at home.

Mika Biereth celebrates a goal for Sturm Graz against Slovan Bratislava (Photo via Biereth on Instagram)

Biereth has 11 goal contributions in 14 league games for Sturm since his January move, and he also provided two goal contributions in three games as they won the OFB Cup.

That cup win was Biereth’s first trophy in senior football, and he’ll look to secure his second on Sunday.

The highlights of last Sunday’s game are available here to those in regions where Sky Sports have the rights to Austrian football, and Biereth’s assist is at the timestamp 1:48.