The promoted team managed to mathematically stay in the qualifying group on Saturday with three rounds to go with a 2-0 (1-0) away win at WAC. In addition to their own three points, the decisive factor was that bottom team Austria Lustenau did not get beyond a 0-0 draw in the parallel game at WSG Tirol. This means that the people of Watten will also remain in the upper house for another year.
Simon Seidl scored in the 6th minute following a major defensive mistake to give Blue-White the half-time lead. In the second half, the Upper Austrians scored another quick goal – Alexander Briedl (55th) rewarded himself for a good performance with his first goal of the season. WAC, eighth in the Bundesliga, appeared weak and unimaginative for long stretches and was unable to add any more. With their second win this week, Linz moved up to ninth place in the table following Tuesday’s 2-1 win once morest Altach. The lead over Lustenau is now ten points.
The hectic initial phase in the Lavanttal Arena had its first contentious scene following just a minute. In the Carinthian penalty area, Linz goalgetter Ronivaldo and WAC goalkeeper Lukas Gütlbauer were in a fight, the Brazilian native fell following hard contact. However, the VAR did not see any good reason to overturn the decision on the pitch and recommend a penalty.
WAC made a mistake at 1-0
In the 4th minute, Alem Pasic lost concentration in the opposite penalty area, which almost proved costly. After an unusual bad pass from the blue and white player, Augustine Boakye was in the penalty area with his back to the goal, but luckily for the guests his Fersler lacked the sharpness. Almost two minutes later, Linz took the lead following WAC defender Cheick Diabaté wildly played a back pass into the free space in front of his goal. This became an invitation for the onrushing Seidl, who went around Gütlbauer and scored to make it 1-0.
The WAC only managed a few coherent and constructive offensive actions in the first half, and the error rate in the defense remained high. The Whites, who were only visually superior, often took too long to get the ball to a teammate. Shortly following the break, Boakye (49′) tested Nicolas Schmid in the Upper Austrians’ goal – but that was not an omen that a sustained increase in performance was to follow.
Clear performance
Six minutes later, Linz won the ball thanks to energetic duels on the left side, and then they quickly moved forward. With a bit of luck, the ball came via Seidl to Briedl, who drove his way into the penalty area and finished with his left. WAC coach Manfred Schmid then changed for the fourth time, but even the changes mightn’t change the picture on the pitch. Coach Gerald Scheiblehner’s team brought home the victory with concentration and calmness.
