NK Publikum Celje produced a stirring away performance to beat Sturm Graz 3-2 in the UEFA Europa League, with Armandas Kučys scoring twice before Aljoša Matko struck a late winner at the Merkur Arena. Sturm Graz had led early and again shortly after half-time, but Celje’s persistence and sharper finishing in the final third turned a difficult evening into a memorable victory.

Sturm Graz 2-3 Celje: Visitors refuse to fold

The match began at a high tempo, with Sturm Graz pressing aggressively and looking to turn home advantage into an early lead. Their reward arrived in the 12th minute when Seedy Jatta finished off a quick attacking move, sending the home support into optimistic voice. Celje, however, were not rattled by the early setback and gradually played their way into the contest.

Celje levelled in the 34th minute through Kučys, whose movement inside the penalty area created the opening for a well-taken equaliser. The goal changed the rhythm of the game. Sturm’s early dominance faded, and Celje began to find space between the lines, forcing the hosts to defend deeper than they would have liked.

Key moments

• 12’ – Sturm Graz 1-0: Seedy Jatta gives the hosts the lead with an early finish.
• 34’ – Sturm Graz 1-1: Armandas Kučys equalises for Celje after a patient attacking move.
• 49’ – Sturm Graz 2-1: Otar Kiteishvili restores the home side’s advantage early in the second half.
• 72’ – Sturm Graz 2-2: Kučys scores his second of the night, finishing calmly inside the area.
• 88’ – Sturm Graz 2-3: Aljoša Matko strikes late to complete the comeback for Celje.

Kiteishvili’s goal at the start of the second half appeared to have given Sturm Graz the platform to close out the match. The home side had chances to extend their lead, but they were unable to find the decisive third goal. Celje stayed patient, kept their shape and punished the Austrian side when the opportunities arrived.

Tactical story: transitions decide a five-goal contest

Sturm Graz’s game plan was built on intensity. They pressed high, tried to win the ball in the attacking third and used quick combinations to break through Celje’s back line. That approach worked in patches, particularly during the opening 20 minutes and again immediately after half-time. The problem was that it also left space for Celje to exploit when the press was bypassed.

Celje grew into the game by being more economical in possession. Rather than forcing the ball forward, they circulated it patiently and waited for Sturm’s midfield to step out of position. Kučys’ movement was central to that plan, while Matko’s late contribution underlined the visitors’ belief that the game remained within reach even after conceding twice.

Standout performers

Kučys was the outstanding player on the pitch. His two goals were taken with composure, and his movement consistently troubled Sturm’s centre-backs. Matko’s late winner was the headline moment, but it was the product of Celje’s persistence and willingness to keep attacking despite the scoreline swinging against them.

For Sturm Graz, Jatta and Kiteishvili both delivered important goals and carried threat in attacking areas. The home side’s disappointment will centre on their failure to manage the game after taking the lead for the second time. In a match of fine margins, their inability to convert pressure into a two-goal cushion proved costly.

What the result means

The 3-2 win is a significant result for Celje in the Europa League league phase. It rewards their resilience and gives them a valuable away victory against a strong Austrian opponent. Sturm Graz, meanwhile, are left to reflect on a game they led twice but failed to close out.

The full-time score is Sturm Graz 2-3 NK Publikum Celje. It was a match full of momentum shifts, quality goals and late drama, and it ended with the visitors celebrating a result that could prove important when the league-phase standings are finalised.