Moroccan forward Osame Sahraoui delivered a standout performance for Lille, scoring the opening goal to inspire a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Sturm Graz in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The win strengthens Lille’s position in the race for the knockout stages, leaving the Austrian side’s hopes in tatters.
Sahraoui set the tone early with a composed finish into the far corner following a dynamic run into the box. Just before halftime, Mitchel Bakker doubled Lille’s lead, slotting a clever effort past Sturm Graz goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov.
However, the visitors responded immediately, as Otar Kiteishvili fired a stunning strike from a tight angle to reduce the deficit.
The second half saw Sturm Graz equalize within minutes of the restart. William Bøving delivered a precise low cross, allowing Kiteishvili to net his second with a clinical side-foot finish from close range.
Both teams created chances in the ensuing chaos, with Lille’s Alexsandro Ribeiro and Jonathan David coming close to restoring the lead, while Kiteishvili narrowly missed a hat-trick for the visitors.
The decisive moment came when Lille substitute Hákon Haraldsson, barely a minute on the pitch, unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner to finally break Sturm Graz’s resistance. The goal secured all three points for Les Dogues, moving them within one point of the top eight in the league phase standings.
