Lille edged out Sturm Graz in a dramatic 3-2 win in the Champions League on Wednesday, with substitute Hákon Arnar Haraldsson delivering a late winner just moments after coming onto the pitch. The Icelandic midfielder, introduced in the 81st minute, made an immediate impact by curling a precise shot into the top corner to secure all three points for the hosts with nine minutes remaining.
The victory lifts Lille to sixth place in the Champions League standings with 13 points, while Sturm Graz remains 29th with just three points and no hope of progressing further in the competition.
The match began slowly, with little to separate the two sides in a subdued opening half-hour. However, Lille found their rhythm late in the first half, igniting the contest. Osame Sahraoui opened the scoring in the 37th minute, pouncing on a defensive lapse to give Lille the lead. The home side doubled their advantage just before halftime when Mitchel Bakker latched onto a cross and drilled the ball into the net, giving Lille what seemed a commanding 2-0 advantage.
Sturm Graz, however, refused to back down and struck back immediately. In the dying seconds of the first half, Otar Kiteishvili brought the visitors back into the game with a spectacular finish, lifting a bouncing ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-1.
Buoyed by their late first-half goal, Sturm came out strong after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, Mika Biereth leveled the scoreline, tapping in a low cross from close range to stun the Lille crowd and set up an intense second period.
Both sides pressed for a winner, with chances coming at either end, but it was Haraldsson who delivered the decisive blow. Unmarked in the box after a quick Lille buildup, he showed composure and precision, curling the ball past the goalkeeper and into the top corner to restore Lille’s lead in the 81st minute.
Sturm Graz pushed for an equalizer in the dying moments, but Lille’s defense held firm to secure the victory in what turned out to be a pulsating encounter.
The win keeps Lille firmly in contention in the Champions League standings and highlights their resilience in high-stakes matches. Meanwhile, Sturm Graz’s spirited fightback fell short, leaving them to reflect on missed opportunities and their struggles in this season’s campaign.
