Without shining, LASK managed to advance to the quarter-finals of the ÖFB Cup with a 2-1 win against second division team Voitsberg. There was no real class difference between the outsiders from Styria and the top team from the upper house.
Voitsberg striker Martin Krienzer had already hit the side netting in the second minute – and after half an hour he had the leather fidgeting in the net: after LASK defender Hrvoje Smolcic was careless, the 24-year-old was ice cold alone in front of LASK goalie Jörg Siebenhandl stayed (33rd).
With the first really successful action, coach Markus Schopp’s team immediately equalized: Rober Zulj made it 1-1 (42nd) after a nice interaction between Adil Taoui and Valon Berisha.
Voitsberg hit the aluminum three times
Zulj also had his legs in the game when he scored the opening goal: after his corner, Maksym Talovierov’s header hit the crossbar, and substitute Philipp Ziereis scored with a follow-up shot (47′).
As the game progressed, the Linzers were also lucky to keep their lead over time: in a triple chance in the 59th minute, Christoph Urdl and Krienzer only hit the aluminum, Maximilian Suppan failed because of LASK goalie Jürgen Siebenhandl. In the finish, Christoph Strommer’s header (85th) once again hit the crossbar to prevent a goal being conceded.
“We had a hard time”
In the end, LASK was able to celebrate promotion to the cup quarter-finals – but the performance will not have satisfied LASK coach Schopp. “We struggled to find the right solutions. We are not yet ready to play opponents variably. The equalizer before the break was very important; after the 2-1 we could have decided the game earlier. The opponent then threw everything forward with a lot of courage, and we were lucky a few times. Nevertheless, we are happy that we are one step further.”
LASK captain Robert Zulj saw it similarly: “It was a real cup fight, in the cup the only thing that counts is getting through. But it wasn’t a good performance from us.”
ePaper
**Interview with LASK Coach Markus Schopp Following the ÖFB Cup Match Against Voitsberg**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Coach Schopp. Congratulations on your team’s advancement to the quarter-finals of the ÖFB Cup. It seemed like a challenging match against Voitsberg. What are your thoughts on the game?
**Markus Schopp:** Thank you. Yes, it was quite a struggle for us. We didn’t find the right solutions on the pitch, which made it difficult to impose our game. Voitsberg played very well and showed that they can compete.
**Editor:** Voitsberg managed to score first and seemed to test your defense early on. How did you see that opening goal from them?
**Markus Schopp:** It was a careless mistake on our part, and we were punished for it. Krienzer had a great chance and finished it coldly. That really put us under pressure, and it was crucial for us to respond quickly, which we did with Zulj’s equalizer right before half-time.
**Editor:** Rober Zulj’s goal seemed to shift the momentum. How important was that goal in the context of the match?
**Markus Schopp:** Absolutely vital. It not only gave us a lift going into the break but also allowed us to regroup and approach the second half with renewed confidence. However, we should have put the game away earlier, especially after going 2-1 up.
**Editor:** Your team was tested multiple times, especially with Voitsberg hitting the post on several occasions. How do you at LASK deal with those moments of luck?
**Markus Schopp:** It’s a part of the game, isn’t it? Sometimes you need a bit of luck, and today we got it. But we can’t rely solely on that. We need to be more clinical and control the match better. We were fortunate a few times, specifically when they hit the woodwork.
**Editor:** Looking forward, how do you plan to address the issues you faced in this match before the next rounds?
**Markus Schopp:** We have to work on our adaptability and decision-making under pressure. It’s clear that we need to be more versatile in our gameplay. The cup competition is about progressing, but we need to prepare well for what’s next.
**Editor:** Thank you, Markus, for sharing your insights. We wish you and LASK the best of luck in the quarter-finals!
**Markus Schopp:** Thank you! We’re looking forward to the next challenge.
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