2023-05-28 16:57:00
In the last home game, LASK performed the new dress for the first time – and it was inaugurated with a convincing performance over long stretches. Third place had already been fixed a week earlier, but the athletes were by no means slowing down as trainer Dietmar Kühbauer had promised.
The last game of the season in the Raiffeisen Arena was marked by separation immediately before kick-off: LASK said goodbye to captain Alexander Schlager, Marvin Potzmann, Jan Boller and Nemanja Celic, who will leave the club.
Only Potzmann was in the starting eleven because he stood in for the suspended Rene Renner – and following four minutes he was able to celebrate the 1-0. It was a perfect move once morest Austria’s pressing: the Viennese blocked all close pass options when goalkeeper Tobias Lawal accepted a back pass. Lawal played high into midfield to Robert Zulj, whose header was picked up by Florian Flecker and passed on to Keito Nakamura. The Japanese drove the ball to the penalty area and then deliberately shot it into the right corner. It was the 14th goal of the season for the 22-year-old, who continued to use it to promote himself. It should also have been the last home game for LASK for Nakamura – if the transfer fee is correct.
LASK continued to storm once morest an initially disoriented Austria, the attacks rolled in the direction of goalkeeper Christian Früchtl. Potzmann almost gave himself a parting gift, but his shot was blocked (18′). When Austria pressed for the first time, striker Haris Tabakovic finished following winning the ball, but the Swiss shot only grazed the side netting (22′). In return, Früchtl saved Austria from the second goal conceded when Zulj turned the ball.
Fitz equalized for Austria
Austria revealed many gaps on the defensive, but LASK was then less able to use them due to their own inaccuracies. LASK mightn’t save the momentum in the second half – and Austria equalized: Tabakovic’s shot in the five was blocked, Dominik Fitz used the rebound – 1: 1 (48th). After a three-minute VAR check because of a possible offside from Tabakovic, the Viennese were able to celebrate a second time.
Two LASK pole shots
The LASK understood this as a request and put the forward gear back on. Substitute Marin Ljubicic hit the post from a turn (64′), in the same wave of attacks Früchtl parried Sascha Horvath’s shot. Substitute Moses Usor also only hit aluminum (78th).
The centimeters that helped LASK in the other penalty area were missing: Filip Stojkovic’s arm prevented Austria from making it 2-1 when Tabakovic shot – but instead of a penalty, the decision following a VAR check was called offside.
When it was 2-1 for LASK, on the other hand, everything went well with the interaction of two jokers: Thomas Goiginger played the ball into the penalty area at the perfect moment, Ljubicic gave Früchtl no chance from the left with a well-considered shot into the right corner (80th). It was the twelfth goal of the season for the Croatia U21 team player.
Usor met for the first time
The crowning glory was Usor’s first goal: the Nigerian only had to play Zuj’s next perfect assist over the goal line. Substituted Ibrahim Mustapha sprinted to celebrate with his recently hapless colleague.
The two goals were no longer decisive for LASK. 15,843 fans were in the stadium, those who supported the black and white were already in a party mood due to the strong season when they said goodbye. Austria, on the other hand, was hurt by the defeat: With one round to go, the Viennese are now only fifth, two points behind city rivals Rapid (3-2 at Sturm Graz). In the end, this would mean the season extension in the European Cup play-off.
more on the subject
LASK said goodbye to four players
reactions
Didi Kühbauer (LASK trainer): “A great finish. The team showed from the first minute that we want to win the game. The important thing is that we have a good team from number 1 to number 25 and they showed that. The lads have it It’s incredibly well done. There’s Rapid and Austria, who have similar budgets, and we left them behind. Unfortunately, we don’t have the money from Salzburg.”
Michael Wimmer (Austria-Trainer): “In the first half we were discouraged and without conviction, not compact. We’re not interested in what happens in the other places, we can’t influence that. We have to keep to ourselves, we’re two points behind now. Football is everything possible. We have to get three points in Salzburg and we will play to win. We have shown that we can play once morest such teams, that we can beat such teams. If it is the case that we are fifth at the end of the day, then then we’re going to the playoffs and we have to get there through the playoffs.”
Author
Günther Mayrhofer
Sports Editor
Günther Mayrhofer
1685332407
#LASK #celebrated #successful #farewell #Austria