2023-08-12 19:20:00
LASK lived up to its role as favorites: Philipp Ziereis (12th) and Robert Zulj (49th) decided the city duel with the two goals, in which Blau-Weiss Linz defended as best they could, but were ultimately clearly inferior.
Picture gallery: The Linz city derby in pictures
The Linz City Derby 2023 (Photo: Albert Mikovits (pictureshooting.AT)) Bild 1/34
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It was a combative derby that never lapsed into viciousness. In the stands of the sold-out Raiffeisen Arena, the fans at the Linz Football Festival also fought a loud duel: 1,900 blue and white supporters in the fan sector sang as courageously against the overwhelming majority as their favorites fought against the favourites.
While LASK started in the usual 4-2-3-1, albeit with changed personnel, Blau-Weiss Linz coach Gerald Scheiblehner started with a derby surprise: instead of the back three, four defenders formed the last line of defence. Before that it was flexible: If LASK plays from its own defense, two blue-whites set up the central defenders as pass stations, behind them a row of three the others.
Scheiblehner tailored Rapid’s approach to his team in the Bundesliga kick-off two weeks ago against LASK (1-1). The Viennese had given the athletes no room to develop. In possession, it became a 4-3-3, but little came of it offensively.
LASK needed a few minutes to adjust. The guests started off strong. In contrast to the game against Rapid, the Black and Whites quickly found the courage to playfully overcome the first pressing line. With the first shot by Lenny Pintor, who fired wide after a dribble (6th), the athletes finally took control of the game.
Ziereis dusted off to make it 1-0
The first big chance also led to 1:0: A throw-in brought the blue-white defense out of the danger zone, Sascha Horvath chipped over the defense onto the right wing, where Filip Stojkovic headed the ball into the middle. Robert Zulj deflected the ball in the direction of the goal, goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid reacted brilliantly – but the ball fell in front of Ziereis’ legs, who shot unchallenged from ten meters to give LASK the lead (12th).
Image: GEPA pictures/ Walter Luger (GEPA pictures)
The first lead of the current season was the sense of achievement that LASK had been chasing in previous games. However, the home side did not play freely afterwards because the city rivals did not allow it. Blau-Weiss Linz was not impressed by the goal and got back into the game. However, this did not result in scoring opportunities.
The LASK was more dangerous. Zulj’s shot went well over the goal (35′), after the blue and white offside trap was overturned, Schmid saved the guests from the 0: 2: he parried Ibrahim Mustapha’s shot from the left (41′). Schmid would have had no chance if Mustapha had seen and served Zulj, who had run along in the middle.
Zulj’s dream goal to make it 2-0
LASK also approached the goal first after the break: Mustapha won the header duel against Danilo Mitrovic after Filip Stojkovic’s cross, but the ball sailed well over the goal (47th). Zulj scored two minutes later: Michorl immediately headed Schmid’s unsuccessful shot to the left, where Pintor played a double one-two with Zulj in a very small space. Pintor’s last pass was perfect, Zulj scored – 2:0 (49th).
Image: GEPA pictures/ Walter Luger (GEPA pictures)
“We are number one in Linz!” Was the loud reply from the LASK fans. With the two-goal deficit in the back, Blau-Weiss Linz stormed forward, but the LASK defense allowed little. Ronivaldo missed the goal with a header (56′), Conor Noß shot wide on the left when he had the best chance on the counterattack. Scheiblehner reacted with a triple change: Paul Mensah, Mehmet brahimi and Julian Gölles came on.
Lawal only intervened in the 68th minute
In the 64th minute, the LASK goal anthem resounded through the stadium again when Ziereis converted again after a corner kick – but the goal was not recognized because of a handball by Zulj. For the first time, LASK goalkeeper Tobias Lawal only had to intervene in the 68th minute – but Ronivaldo’s long-range shot posed no problems at all.
LASK played the lead home dry. Substitute Marin Ljubicic missed the chance to make it 3-0 (85′), which Schimd denied, and Andres Andrade’s header from a corner went over the goal (89′).
After the final whistle, the blue and white fans comforted their team after the courageous performance, in which they had no chance. For LASK trainer Thomas Sageder it was the first victory in the Bundesliga – and a very important one for the fans of the athletes. They celebrated their team after the final whistle. “We are number one in Linz!” and “The ASK rules in Linz!” became the hits of Derby night.
Author
Günther Mayrhofer
Sports Editor
Günther Mayrhofer
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